ROSS-ON-WYE's Morgan Baynham-Williams insists the future of the women's eight is in safe hands after she coxed them to a podium finish at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

While her compatriots jumped into action Down Under last week, 18-year-old Baynham-Williams had to wait until Sunday and the final day to strut her stuff at the Sydney Regatta Centre.

But after the long wait that is exactly what she did, as the Ross Rowing Club cox urged the women's eight across the line in 6:41.71 minutes.

It was far from straight forward however as they trailed fourth into the final stages of the race and needed a photo finish to secure their bronze medal.

But Baynham-Williams was quick to look to the future, insisting it looks very bright indeed.

"I am really happy to have won this bronze medal as it was a really tough race," the former Newent Community School pupil said.

For the rest of this story please see this week's Ross Gazette.