The Reading rowing star was yesterday named in the Great Britain squad for the European Championships in Poland later this month.

The 29-year-old is part of an quadruple scull along with Graeme Thomas, Charles Cousins and Peter Lambert.

Both Townsend and Cousins have both rowed for Reading University.

The four will be looking to follow up their success last year when they were silver medallists in the World Championships, finishing nine hundreds of a second behind Ukraine.

“It is small margins like that you want to make up,” said the former Chiltern Edge pupil.

“We are pleased to be back together again and obviously we want to push one step further this year.

“All four of us have trialled well and we got through some good work in the gym and on the rowing machines.

“We now have to make that gel and work in the boat throughout the season to try to show that extra bit of speed that all four of us think we have achieved individually.

“We are confident, as we should be, because we have delivered before, but we won’t be taking anything for granted.”

The pressure is on the whole of the Caversham-based, 50-strong GB squad as they look to qualify for next year’s Olympics in Rio.

“It is going to be a stressful year, but we are looking forward to it,” added Townsend.

Townsend agrees with Performance Director Sir David Tanner that, while GB expect to improve, other nations will also be upping their game.

“We must not be complacent,” said Tanner.

“This is an Olympic qualifying year and other nations will be stepping up. The depth of competition will be stronger and, against that background, we are looking at homing a squad that gives us the best chance of qualifying all out boats for Rio.”

The European Championships take place in Poznan on May 29-31.