OLD Wrecks Rowing Club star Susan Little won a gold medal and got a hug from the sport's super-star Sir Steve Redgrave - and all without leaving dry land.

Susan, 52, of Kendal, powered her way to victory in the keenly-contested Women's 50-54 lightweight category of the British Indoor Rowing Championships by clocking 7 minutes 44.2 seconds for 2,000 metres on a rowing machine.

A crowd of 7,000 spectators at Birmingham National Indoor Arena cheered on the 2,500 who contested a range of age and weight classes, the largest ever turn out in the 13-year history of the event.

Members of Britain's Olympic gold medal winning Men's Eight and Men's Coxless Four squads also took their turns on the Concept 2 Indoor Rower, along with British heavyweight boxing champion Danny Williams and representatives of 55 different sports and pastimes.

Susan's gold winning effort caught the eye of Sir Stephen Redgrave, who presented her with her championship medal.