INTERNATIONAL rower Ben Smissen produced encouraging evidence that he has put his recent back problems behind him with an impressive performance in the Head of the Adur race at Shoreham on Sunday.

The 17-year-old from Deal powered to victory in the junior sculls in a time which was 11 seconds faster than that of the quickest senior sculler on the day.

Ben is hoping to row for Great Britain Under-18s in the Munich Regatta next month and said: "I have had no problems with my back for a couple of weeks now, and it was fine after Sunday’s race.

"But I am going up to the Olympic Medical Institute in London again this week just so that they can keep a check on things."