OLYMPIC hopeful Alison Knowles staked her claim to a place in the London 2012 GB rowing team at the senior trials.

The Bournemouth oarswoman, a world bronze medallist in 2011 with the GB women’s eight, partnered Monica Relph to fifth place in the pairs event.

Pair specialists and world silver medallists Helen Glover and Heather Stanning won the event, with Knowles within the top-eight contenders for places in the women’s eight boat for the Games.

Further testing will follow the trials before the squad for the first world cup of the season is announced on April 4.