Sanyo Cup and World Games teams announced

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is pleased to announce its teams to represent New Zealand at the 2017 Sanyo Cup and World Games.

The Sanyo Cup is a beach competition held annually in Japan. This year's event will take place at the Momochihama Seaside Park in Fukuoka from June 24-25 and New Zealand will join teams from Australia, USA, Great Britain, Netherlands, South Africa, Hong Kong and Japan.

The New Zealand team of 10 athletes (five male and five female) includes three Junior Black Fins from the 2016 Lifesaving World Championship team; captain Hamish Miller, Libby Bradley and Javon McCallum.

Joining them is Casie Fyall and Jessica Miller who both represented New Zealand at last year's Sanyo Cup.

The team also includes some newcomers to the High Performance programme; Claudia Kelly, Samalulu Clifton, Bayden Botha, Lincoln Waide and Oliver Puddick.

Sanyo Cup: New Zealand team

Casie Fyall - Waikanae
Claudia Kelly - East End
Jessica Miller - Mt Maungnaui
Libby Bradley - Mt Maunganui
Samalulu Clifton - Mairangi Bay
Bayden Botha - Mairangi Bay
Hamish Miller - Mt Maunganui
Javon McCallum - Fitzroy
Lincoln Waide - Mt Maunganui
Oliver Puddick - Mt Maunganui

Danny Morrison - Coach
Steven Vaughan - Manager

Following on from the Sanyo Cup will be the World Games which is a multi-sport event that was last held in Colombia in 2013.

This year's event will be held in Wroclaw, Poland from July 20-July 30 with 27 official sports and four invitational sports featured in the Games.

The lifesaving component is a pool competition only, taking place from July 21-22, and New Zealand will join teams from Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland and Spain.

New Zealand is sending a team of 10 athletes; five male and five female.

The team includes two Black Fins from the 2016 Lifesaving World Championship team Steven Kent and Natalie Peat along with Junior Black Fin Olivia Corrin.

Alongside them is previous High Performance squad members Adam Simpson, Andrew Trembath, Jacob Hales, Carina Doyle and Madison Kidd who have each had significant experience on the international stage from representing New Zealand at events such as the Sanyo Cup, International Surf Rescue Challenge and German Cup.

Some of the newcomers to Surf Life Saving New Zealand's High Performance programme included in this year's World Games team includes Ella Drinnan and Oscar Williams.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Sport Manager Mike Lord says the World Games is another step for our High Performance athletes in measuring themselves against our international opponents.

"New Zealand has a long history of being leaders in surf sports and we're looking forward to the opportunity to measure our progress at this stage of our campaign heading towards the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships (Rescue 2018), he says.

"This team is an exciting mix of skill and experience and it will be a great opportunity for them to make an impression on an international stage as they will all be pushing for a place in the teams for Rescue 2018 which builds great depth in our High Performance programme."

World Games: New Zealand team

Carina Doyle - St Clair
Ella Drinnan - Orewa
Madison Kidd - Papamoa
Natalie Peat - Papamoa
Olivia Corrin - Midway
Adam Simpson - Mt Maunganui
Andrew Trembath - St Clair
Jacob Hales - Papamoa
Oscar Williams - Piha
Steven Kent - Titahi Bay

Jonelle Quane - Coach
Mark Weatherall - Manager
Daniel Grant - Assistant Coach

Congratulations to all of the selected athletes.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Smith, Media & Communications Manager, SLSNZ
Phone 0276 488 823
Email lisa.smith@surflifesaving.org.nz