Naske coming for Billy's trophy

Another international star will be snapping at the bow of the row boats of Olympians Mahe Drysdale and Damir Martin during the Billy Webb Challenge on the Whanganui River on December 11.

It was confirmed on Thursday evening that Under 23 single scull's world champion Tim Ole Naske from Germany will be making the trip to the southern hemisphere.

The 20-year-old German commented on the news on the Billy Webb Facebook page.

"I'm already very excited to compete with these high class athletes."

Naske won the Under 23 world title at Rotterdam in the Netherlands on August 26, comfortably winning the A final in 7m 23.37s, over two seconds clear of the Polish and Czechoslovakian rowers.

He had missed selection for the Rio Olympics, but has time on his side, having previously won Under 23 gold in the double sculls.

Naske made the German junior national team at the age of 17, winning the junior double sculls world title that year, followed by the junior men's single sculls and Youth Olympic Games single gold the following year.

In an interview with World Rowing, Naske said he discovered the sport at age 10 when he did a course at school.

"Rowing is the sport that suits me best because I'm mentally very tough and due to the fact that you always win races in your head, I have an advantage in this particular sport."

This year's challenge will be a single scull race over 5km.