MARLOW'S Mayor has expressed her elation after Katherine Grainger's Olympic rowing triumph.

Grainger, a Marlow resident, who trains at Marlow Rowing Club, finally grabbed gold after two silver medals at the last two Olympic games.

Mayor Jocelyn Towns was at Dorney Lake, in Eton, Dorney, home of the Marlow Regatta, to witness the triumph.

She said: "I felt elated for her, and it was brilliant for all of us. I was so pleased.

"The atmosphere was absolutely incredible, it was electric. There was such a good feeling and although I've been to many rowing events, I don't think I've ever experienced anything like that.

"You don't normally have that number of people.

"It was really exciting to be part of it."

Marlow's Zac Purchase, rowing with Mark Hunter, suffered a late, agonising blow in their final, being pipped for gold virtually on the finish line.

The pair were despondent afterwards and comforted by Marlow Bottom's Sir Steve Redgrave.

Cllr Towns said: "I was really gutted for them and I was so impressed with Sir Steve how he looked after them and encouraged them. They were clearly distraught and it was really moving."

She said they had nothing to be sorry for because silver was still a huge accomplishment.

She added on the success of the rowers, overall: "If anyone was in any doubt about what a great sport rowing is, the Olympics has dispelled that. It's really put rowing on the map."

Marlow's Olympic heroes are likely to receive some form of celebratory reception in the town but the Mayor said nothing has been decided yet.

"We'll certainly be looking into it but we don't know at the moment because the Olympics are still ongoing," she said.

Any such event is likely to be delayed until the Paralympics have taken place in September.