Andrew Hodge named in Great Britain's biggest squad for World Cup meet

It will be the most important event the national team have competed in since the London 2012 Olympics, where they picked up four gold medals, two silvers and three bronzes.

Hodge, who was brought up in Hebden, near Skipton and is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, has been selected for the men’s eight.

It includes fellow Olympic men’s four champions Pete Reed and Alex Gregory. This trio all raced at Eton Dorney back in 2005 the last time the World Cup was hosted at the venue.

Reed and Hodge were in the winning GB four and Gregory was in a quad.

This year GB has raced an eight at the Sydney World Cup and at Essen International Regatta, winning on both occasions.

Tom Ransley, Dan Ritchie, Mohamed Sbihi and cox Phelan Hill, all Olympic or World medallists, complete the big boat line-up for this event.

Ritchie is well aware that there will be a healthy competition for the eight spaces available, especially considering that he has several Olympic champions as crewmates.

“Having them in the boat you want to raise yourself to their standard and they are obviously trying to keep you below them so that they can keep their spot,” he said.

“It’s a bit of pressure but they make you feel comfortable so that you can row to the best of your ability.”

Performance director Sir David Tanner CBE is optimistic that the team will be able to take full advantage of competing in front of a home crowd.

“We will have a big crowd at Eton Dorney on all three days and it will be a good opportunity to give our emerging and under-23 crews the chance to taste the intensity of World Cup racing alongside our more established and experienced stars”, said Tanner.

“We do not expect to repeat the heights of our medal haul from 2012 – after all this is a transitional year with some top rowers taking a break or having retired – but I am sure we will give the home crowd some exciting racing and something to cheer for,” he added.