THORNABY'S Chris Boddy was the North-East's stand-out performer as the new rowing season got under way with the opening World Cup regatta in Sydney.

Boddy, who first took up rowing at Yarm School, won a silver medal in the lightweight men's four along with Olympic silver medallists Pete Chambers and Chris Bartley, and Jono Clegg.

The British crew, who were only put together at the end of winter training, were in second place behind New Zealand for the majority of their final and produced a strong finish to hold off a fast-finishing Australian quartet.

"We have come a long way since this crew was formed," said Chambers. "It is good to be back racing, it's a reminder of why we do all the training."

Durham's Jess Eddie appeared in two finals, but was not satisfied with her fourth and fifth-placed finishes.

The former St Leonard's Comprehensive pupil teamed up with Katie Greves to form Great Britain's second-choice women's pair.

The duo finished fifth behind their team-mates Helen Glover and Polly Swann, who were one of four British crews to claim gold medals at the first of this year's three World Cup events.

Eddie returned to the water for the final of the eight, the event that saw her compete in an Olympic final at Eton Dorney last summer, but Britain could only finish fourth behind Australia, United States and Canada.

"It was frustrating really," said Eddie. "Our boat felt a bit dead and we didn't have the push that we normally have. It was always going to be a tough final and we went into it a little on the back foot, but that's no excuse."

Yarm's Tina Stiller returned to the senior ranks after failing to make the British team for last summer's Olympics, and secured a creditable fourth place in the women's quad.

Rowing with Olivia Carnegie-Brown, Monica Relph and Zoe Lee, Stiller helped the British boat overhaul Canada in the closing stages, with Australia, USA and New Zealand filling the top three places.

Dalton-on-Tees' Rachel Gamble-Flint was due to compete in the quad, but was forced to withdraw in the build-up to the regatta because of illness.

Britain's other gold medals came in the men's four, the men's eight and the men's double scull.

A number of Olympic gold medallists, including Stokesley's Kat Copeland, opted to have an extended break and not compete in the opening World Cup.

GB Rowing performance director Sir David Tanner said: "It's been great to get some top-level racing so early in the year especially as we start the Rio cycle. I am very pleased with our four gold medals - each of them special in their own way.

"We can go away with some good lessons learnt and look forward to the second world cup at Eton Dorney on our home waters in June."