NZ Surf Life Saving Team aim to take World Title from the Aussies
Wednesday 29 August 2012, 6:14PM
By Surf Life Saving New Zealand
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Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) today announced the New Zealand team aiming to take the world title from Australia at the Lifesaving World Championships in November.
Earlier today SLSNZ Chairman Michael Bassett–Foss announced the team of 12 athletes, which includes four 2012 Olympians. He acknowledged the support from High Performance Sport New Zealand during the two year build up to the World Championships.
“The event takes place in November but really it’s a two year campaign which has resulted in a team that we feel is our strongest yet.” He added.
New Zealand team Coach, Scott Bartlett is looking forward to taking on the Australians and the rest of the world. “We have a team here that has the experience, talent and an absolute determination to win.”
New Zealand has won the event once in 1998. Over the last three biannual events New Zealand has continued to close the gap with the world champion Australian team, losing by a heart breaking margin two years ago.
‘”The combination of experience, new talent and having four Olympians, is going to give us the edge this time,” says Bartlett
The Lifesaving World Championships are held every two years and attract competitors from over 40 nations.
Rescue 2012 will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from November 7-18 and will include five separate competitions - World National Team Championships, World Interclub Championships, World Masters Championships, World Surf Boat Championships, and World Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships.
Athletes can compete in ten separate disciplines - swimming, simulated emergency rescue, Ironman / Ironwoman, surf-ski, board, beach sprints, beach flags, surf boats and IRB.
New Zealand Team
Max Beattie Omanu
Nikki Cox Westshore
Paul Cracroft-Wilson Fitzroy
Steven Ferguson Piha
Devon Halligan Midway
Chanel Hickman Mairangi Bay
Natasha Hind Lyall Bay
Steven Kent Titahi Bay
Samantha Lee Lyall Bay
Andy McMillan St Clair
Kevin Morrison Mairangi Bay
Laura Quilter Wainui
Surf Life Saving New Zealand has also named a team to compete in the inaugural Under 20 World Championships to be held at Rescue 2012.
New Zealand Under 20 Team
Chris Dawson Midway
Carina Doyle St Clair
Kodi Harman Papamoa
Emily Hodges Piha
Ben Johnston Papamoa
Danielle McKenzie Mairangi Bay
Dannielle O'Connor Omanu
Natalie Peat Papamoa
Ben Quilter Wainui
Karina Radley Mount Maunganui
Sam Shergold Mount Maunganui
Cory Taylor Midway
For more information go to: sport.surflifesaving.org.nz/rescue2012