Rowing: Kiwi women poised to take advantage of Henley expansion

Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler celebrate victory at the 2017 World Rowing World Cup in Poznan, Poland. Photo/Getty Images

Female and male superstars of the rowing world are finally equal at Henley Royal Regatta, which celebrates its 168th edition, starting tonight, with the creation of three new events for women's pairs, fours and doubles.

Among those taking advantage are New Zealand, who can finally enter their full national team during a break between World Cup regattas.

New Zealand topped the medal table in Poznan, where their leading crews - Robbie Manson in the men's single, and Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast in the women's pairs - broke the world-best times.

Both will be strong favourites to win at Henley, if they can navigate safely past the wooden course-edge booms, as will the German men's eight, who meet New Zealand and Britain in the Grand, after defeating them with a world record time in Poznan.

The women's singles has benefited from the boom in women's teams, with its strongest roster for years. Top of the list are European champion Vicky Thornley and close rival Annekatrin Thiele from Germany, who won quads gold in Rio.

Thornley beat Thiele in both their single sculls finals this season, and could become Britain's first winner of the Princess Royal Challenge Cup since 2000.

The Remenham women's eights is well subscribed, with new-look crews from Canada, Holland and New Zealand coming up against Britain's fresh combination.

In the men's doubles, the absence of Britain's Nick Middleton and Frazier Christie potentially opens the door to Olympic lightweight champions Pierre Houin and Jérémie Azou, of France, who were only six seconds slower than New Zealand's openweight double, when both won their events in Poland.