KERRI Gowler and Grace Prendergast's bronze medal in the pairs at the World Cup in Italy on Sunday lifted the spirits of the flood-hit Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club - but only briefly.
Gowler remains a member of the club and still wears their colours during high performance regattas. However, on Sunday, she and rowing buddy Prendergast were in the New Zealand strip, finishing a close third to the senior world and Olympic champion combination of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning from Great Britain.
Silver medallists at the 2014 world championships, Megan Kalmoe and Kerry Simmonds from the USA, snatched second.
Gowler would have been oblivious her clubmates back home were reeling from the flood waters that invaded the Aramoho shed on Sunday night.
AWRC head coach Ian Weenink said he watched coverage of the World Cup rowing on Sunday night and was definitely buoyed by Gowler and Prendergast's bronze.