Andy Hodge produced an impressive performance in the Great Britain Rowing Team’s Winter Assessment at Boston.

Despite having to brave icy conditions Hodge showed the Olympic hopefuls that he means business.

Olympic champion Hodge rowed in a scratch pairing with world and Olympic eights silver medallist Alex Partridge as his normal partner, Pete Reed, was recovering from a winter virus that ruled him and a number of top rowers out of the trial.

The switch certainly didn’t seem to disturb the Hebden ace as he and Partridge powered to victory in icy conditions.

They completed the course in 17min 03.41secs and finished 11½secs ahead of their nearest challengers, Moe Sbihi and Alex Gregory – both strong contenders for top seats in the men’s squad – were second today whilst World under-23 champions Constantine Louloudis and GeorgeNash laid down a marker by taking third slot ahead ahead of Greg Searle and Cameron Nichol.

Not renowned for their prowess over the longer distance rather than the 2km Olympic distance, 2011 men’s four World Champions Matt Langridge and Richard Egington were fifth.

Hodge underlined the confidence felt by the whole GB Rowing Team as 2012 rapidly approaches. He said: “This is a great squad to be in. We have so many good rowers all challenging hard for their seats in the squad. You know that you have to put in a good show here or someone else will do it and may take your seat.

“We have more testing in January, February and then the GB Rowing Senior Trials in March so we won’t know for some time yet which boat we will be in next year. Everyone is fighting hard and wants to be the best they can be in the Olympic year.”