Billy Webb field grows

The list of challengers is growing to threaten Mahe Drysdale's grip on the Billy Webb Challenge trophy.

Two more elite names have been added to met the starting pistol of the Billy Webb Challenge on the Whanganui River on December 11.

John Storey, the New Zealand Olympian in quadruple sculls at London and Rio will join the challenge, as will Serbia's Radoje Djeric, a veteran of the 2011-2012 Olympics and world championships in coxless fours racing.

Storey lived up to his surname back in January of this year when he caused a huge upset at the Cambridge Town Cup rowing regatta at Lake Karapiro by beating Olympic gold medallist Mahe Drysdale in the single scull.

Storey took advantage of tailwind conditions to pip Drysdale by 1.65s.

His New Zealand crews finished seventh and tenth respectively in the Olympic quadruple sculls of 2012-16.

Djeric's best international result was tenth with the Serbian coxless four at the 2012 London games.

They join a solid international field for the Billy Webb challenge that consists of defending champion Drysdale, his Croatian Olympic silver medallist rival Damir Martin, and Germany's under-23 world champion Tim Ole Naske.