London Olympic silver medallist Kim Crow has returned to racing with a comprehensive win in the single sculls at the Australian rowing championships.
The 28-year-old Victorian hadn't hit the water competitively since becoming world champion in the category in South Korea last September.
The layoff was of little concern on Wednesday as she eased to victory at Penrith Lakes in Sydney, clocking a time of 7 minutes and 31.87 seconds.
NSW's Sally Kehoe was nearly five seconds behind while Tasmania's Kerry Hore finished third.
Crow's win is a solid lead-in to her clash with Mirka Knapkova, the Czech sculler who beat her to gold in London, at the World Cup event in Penrith starting this weekend that's part of the same regatta.
"It's always good to have a win... and get the feel of the burn in the legs before the weekend and World Rowing Cup 1," said Crow.
"Sally (Kehoe), Kerry (Hore) and I have been on the podium many times over the years in different orders so it was a good blast from the past to have those two up there alongside me and rowing so well."
In the men's single scull, 23-year-old Sasha Belonogoff (6:57.80) won in a tight finish ahead of Nick Purnell and Rhys Grant.
Josh Dunkley-Smith and Fergus Pragnell claimed gold in the men's coxless pairs by just 1.64secs while Renee Chatterton and Michelle Yann triumphed in the women's coxless pairs.
