THE excitement is building as the Olympics move into view – and so is the confidence in the GB rowing squad.

Gloucester rower Beth Rodford said winter training in Portugal had gone well and she wants to 'write her name' on one of the seats for the women's quadruple scull.

The 29-year-old said: "We normally go away to avoid the foul British weather so it was great to go to Portugal.

"We were in the boats, on the rowing machines and lifting weights and it all went really well.

"I am pleased with how I am rowing and how I performed in the trials before Christmas.

"All the squad have been training well and we are up on last year.

"The excitement is building and will really help our confidence.

"There is still a lot of rowing before the Olympics, there are a few sets of international trials, then the three World Cups.

"There is also going to be a lot of training to make sure my name is written on one of the seats in the boat.

"And I'm going to have to keep on working hard as there is always someone looking for a seat on the boat."

Rodford started her rowing career in Gloucester at the city's rowing club and in the 2010 Rowing World Championships raced to a gold medal.

And in last year's World Cups, Rodford took bronze in Munich and silver in Lucerne.

But it is London 2012 that holds the real dream.

She has already experienced the Olympic stage, racing in the 2008 Beijing Games in the women's eight, finishing fifth.

She said: "The Olympics are getting closer and closer now, and we know what we can achieve and it's very exciting."