Kent rower Dan Ritchie has been named in the Great Britain squad for the forthcoming World Cup season.

The 23-year-old, from Herne Bay, has been named as part of the GB men’s eight which will begin the season with the first World Cup meeting in Bled, Slovenia, at the end of the month.

The team will go on to take part in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships in August in Ontario before ending the campaign with the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand in early November.

Ritchie, who is a graduate of the GB Rowing Team’s Start programme and last year won a world under-23 bronze medal, was named in the senior team on Tuesday.

He said: "Not many people get to row for Great Britain, and to be selected into the men’s eight, one of the best boats there is, is a great honour." Ritchie said his focus was on being in the best possible shape ahead of the London 2012 Olympics – though he hopes to continue for at least two Games beyond.

He said: "I’m looking forward to 2012. It is going to be the highlight of my career – an Olympics in your own country, there’s something magical about it."

He revealed: "We have upped our training volume by a couple of per cent and we will step up again and again and really hit the Olympics as hard as we can.

"I’m 23 now but I want to be in the sport until 2020 at least. I want to stay in the sport as long as I can. I love rowing."