Rowing: Drysdale powers through to Henley final

Mahe Drysdale. Photo / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand rower Mahe Drysdale has overcome a back injury to reach the finals of the Henley Regatta.

The four-time world champion beat Canada's Malcolm Howard with plenty of pace in the second half of the race in England, despite his lack of intensive training in recent weeks.

Drysdale suffered a small tear in a lower spinal disc in March and sat out the first two rounds of the World Cup series at Bled, Slovakia, last month and Munich, Germany on June 20. He will meet Sweden's Lassi Karonen in the Diamond Sculls final.

The New Zealand men's eight beat the Bled regatta-winning British team to set up a final today against world champs Germany.

The crew put the British under pressure from the start, with a time to the first checkpoint equalling the course record. They stormed home in 6m 01s - the second fastest time recorded in the regatta's 161 years and just seconds shy of the 1989 record.

Men's pair Eric Murray and Hamish Bond made their second consecutive open pairs final after defeating the crew from Leander. The duo face Britons Andrew Triggs Hodge and Peter Reed in the final.

The New Zealand women's quad team of Louise Trappitt, Emma Feathery, Paula Twining and Fi Paterson beat the Dutch crew, setting up a final against their British counterparts.

New Zealand senior eight champions West End Rowing Club knocked out US club champs Potomac to set up a final against British crew 1892.

Meanwhile, double sculls pair Storm Uru and Peter Taylor and the quad team of Nathan Twaddle, John Storey, Paul Gerritsen and Matthew Trott have been knocked out.

The series continues in Lucerne, Switzerland from July 9.

- NZPA