GREAT Britain para-rowers have won six medals in Paralympic Class-A finals at the Gavirate International Regatta on Lake Varese, Italy.

Maidenhead resident Tom Aggar, a World silver medallist last year and Paralympic Champion in 2008, battled to a silver and bronze in what could be billed as Great Britain versus Ukraine, especially in the final of the arms-shoulders single scull (ASM1x) in which Ukraine took gold, silver and fourth.

“Hard work, attention to detail and focus” continues to be the order of the day for the Great Britain Rowing Team, according to performance director Sir David Tanner as the100-days-to-Rio marker fell last Wednesday.

“We are just finishing two excellent overseas training camps. We’ve put in a lot of hard work and the speed of the boats in the training reflect this,” said Sir David.

The Great Britain squad returns to the UK later this week in advance of the European Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.

The event from May 6-8 is the first big-racing opportunity of the Olympic season.

The GB Rowing Team will also participate at the World Cups in Lucerne, Switzerland, from May 27-29 and Poznan, Poland, from June 17-19 as Rio preparation continues.

The team for the Olympics will be announced on June 9.

Twelve from a possible 14 Great Britain boats are qualified to date for Rio. It is likely that the women’s quadruple scull will race the final Olympic qualification regatta held in Lucerne from May 22-24.

“Our rowers are looking good and we continue to strive to find small increments within our overall strategy and longer-term plans,” said Sir David.

“Organisations like Science in Sport, our nutrition partner, and SAS Analytics, our data partner, are assisting us in this.”

“Our Lottery funding is, of course, hugely significant in funding our rowers and in allowing us to engage top people, including world-leading coaches, medical and science staff.

"We could not achieve what we do without all this support.”

Rowing is the nation’s most continuously successful Olympic sport with a gold medal from every Games since 1984 and a final tally of four golds, two silvers and three bronze medals from London 2012.

As part of British Rowing’s preparations for Rio 2016, the organisation is helping to prepare its clubs for the expected surge in interest, so there are even more opportunities for the public to get involved with the sport.

British Rowing plans to work with clubs across England to help run activities, as well as attending public events to showcase the various rowing disciplines, from indoor rowing to fixed seat to sliding seat and more.

Andy Parkinson, CEO of British Rowing said: “It's a hugely exciting time for everyone at British Rowing as we cross the 100 days to go marker.

"Our athletes and staff have worked tirelessly over the past few years to ensure we are in the good shape going into Rio 2016. We hope that Rio will inspire the next generation of rowers, coaches and volunteers, and potentially the next medallists in Tokyo 2020.”