OLYMPIC rowing champion Helen Glover has said she is delighted to be back in a boat with Heather Stanning.

The 28-year-old from Penzance will be reunited with her London 2012 gold medal winning partner at the World Cup Rowing meet in Aigubelette, France, which starts on Friday.

After the Olympics, Stanning stepped aside from rowing in order to concentrate on her career in the military which saw the 29-year-old go out to Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery last year.

The duo won gold in the coxless pairs at the London games, Team GB's first gold of the Olympics.

Glover said her and Stanning will be thrown into the deep end this weekend, but it will be good for them.

“It will be her first proper race since London 2012 and that was quite some time ago,” Glover said ahead of the race.

“But Heather has been back in training for a while now so we will be ready.

“This weekend will give us the chance to see where we are as we are coming up against a tough field.

“But it will provide us with a gauge of where we are as we look to defend our Olympic title in Rio in two years time.”

During Stanning's hiatus, Glover rowed with Polly Swann.

The pair won three World Cup races together along with claiming gold at the European Championships in Belgrade earlier this month and the World Championships last year in Korea.

Despite being reunited with Stanning, Glover said the door would not necessarily be shut for Swann, who will row as part of the women's eight team in France.

Glover said: “Our coaches are watching how we are doing all the time and will make changes to the teams in the boats they will do so.

“There is competition from everyone which can only be good for the team and if Polly performs well there is nothing stopping her getting back in the coxless pairs boat.”