WYE rower Steve Pearson put his shoulder to the wheel alongside the likes of cycling superstar Sir Bradley Wiggins at the British Rowing Indoor Championships.

And the Old Monmothian former world championship rowing finalist took gold at the London Olympics velodrome in the men’s over-50s 2km lightweight race.

It was the second major triumph in weeks for Steve, after he and his boat landed the age group title in the world’s biggest rowing race, the Head of the Charles in Boston, America.

More than 2,000 sports fans took part in the rowing machine event in London over distances of 2km and 500m, with Pearson steadily drawing away from his opponents before accelerating clear in the last 250m to win by a clear 10 seconds in 6.41.1.

Wiggins managed 6.22 in the open men’s class, a long way back on GB rower Adam Neill, who retained his title in 5.48.2.

Pearson and his crewmates were part of a 10,551-strong field for the Head of the Charles, watched by a giant 350,000 crowd from the riverbank.

And the Wye man’s Wallingford over-50s coxed four won their 25-boat class against the clock over the three-mile course by a clear 30 seconds in 17.05.