TOM RANSLEY hailed a “solid” performance from the Great Britain eights crew after claiming a silver medal in the World Cup at Lucerne.

York City Rowing Club star Ransley and his crew-mates pushed world champions Germany all the way to the line in the final of the second World Cup regatta.

At the 1,500-metre mark the GB crew were threatening to end the Germans’ three-year unbeaten run as they left Olympic champions Canada trailing in their wake.

Germany held on, adding to their gold in the opening World Cup meet in Belgrade, but Olympic hopeful Ransley said: “There are still things we can do better, but we have learned things we can take home and work on. To beat everyone apart from Germany is a solid performance. We know what direction we need to go in, so there are a lot of positives.”