Rotorua's Julia Edward and her rowing partner Sophie Mackenzie have collected a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup II in Switzerland.
The double world champions in the women's lightweight double came out of the blocks in the thick of the field, working their way into the lead by the third quarter of the race but couldn't hold off Canada and South Africa who left the Kiwis in third.
"It was probably a reflection of where we are and where our training is at the moment, it gives us a bit of fire in the belly to move forward," Edward said.
In their first international outing of 2016 the New Zealand Olympic rowing team won eight medals, topping the medal table.
New Zealand rowing crews rowed in nine Olympic class finals and one international class and concluded the event with three gold, two silver and three bronze taking New Zealand to the top of the regatta medal table ahead of Great Britain.
