Australia and New Zealand ready for Trans-Tasman tug of war

Swimming Australia
Published: Jun 29, 2012 02:58:36 PM

The Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra will be the first stop for over 70 of the best young swimmers from across Australia and New Zealand competing in the 2012 Trans-Tasman series.

The series has the swimmers split into three teams (Australia Green, Australia Gold and New Zealand) racing for points, over six meets, taking them from Canberra on June 30, through Wagga Wagga and finishing in Melbourne on July 7, competing in two meets per location.

Renowned for unearthing future swimming stars, the tour has four London bound Olympic swimmers that still hold meet records. 

Olympic debutants Jayden Hadler Thomas Fraser-Holmes and Yolane Kukla along with Beijing gold medallist Bronte Barratt all used the tour as a stepping stone onto senior representative teams and all still hold meet records in their events.

Two teens eager to re-write these records are the young speedsters, 13-year-old Kyle Chalmers and 14-year-old Nicholas Groenewald.   

The duo stole the show at the 2012 Australian Age Championships in April, taking a total of nine Age Championship titles and seven Australian Age records between them.

Swimming Australia High Performance Youth Coach Vince Raleigh said the tour was an important step in the development of young swimmers and coaches.

“We’re preparing our junior swimmers for future Australian swimming teams and competitions.  The series is eight days long - the same as at major events, like the Olympic Games, and by putting the swimmers through a schedule of travelling and competing they get used to coping with travel, recovery and changes in environment,” Raleigh said.

“This group of swimmers have displayed great potential at junior meets so taking them on a tour that emulates a senior team environment allows a smooth transition for them in the future and can aid in their development as a swimmer,” Raleigh said.

Canberra based swimmer Bonnie Zhang will have the hometown advantage for the first two meets, going head-to-head with her rival, 14-year-old Alanna Bowles in the 400m freestyle on July 2.

Bowles picked up an impressive five titles at the Australian Age Championships in April, relegating Zhang to second in both the 400m and 800m freestyle finals. 

Zhang, who is competing for the Australia Gold team, will be looking to get one back on Bowles who will swim for Australia Green.

The following swimmers will be competing in the 2012 Trans-Tasman tour:

Australia Gold:

Amy Forrester 14, Megan Gianotti 15, Taylor Green 14, Karlene Pircher 14, Lucia Lassman 13, Emma Reid 14, Delainee Melia 13, Meg Bailey 15, Brooke Thornton 14, Tamsin Cook 13, Bonnie Zhang 14, Sophie Taylor 15, Hayden Hinds-Sydenham 15, Jesse King 16, Edward Marks 15, Jake Hodgetts 16, Damian Fyfe 14, Liam Cunneen 16, Kyle Chalmers 14, Vincent Dai, 14, Nick Robertson 16, Ryan Leonard 15, Joachim Bardrum 15, Joshua Parrish 14

Australia Green:

Lauren Retti 15, Jemma Schlicht 14, Alanna Bowles 14, Jenna Strauch 15, Shayna Jack 13, Kiah Malverton 15, Monique Rae 15, Chelsea Gubecka 14, Brittany McEvoy 15, Abbey Harkin 13, Lucy Soden 15, Eliza Ham 15, Mitch Davenport-Wright 14, James Traiforos 15, Lachlan Wells 16, Jacob Hansford 16, Nicholas Groenewald 14, Kazimir Boskovic 16, Angus Hannan 16, Alex Press 16, Mitchell Pratt 16, Matthew Meinema 16, Sebastian Cumins 15, Hayden Rae 15

New Zealand:

Caroline Baddock 17, Kyle Barnes 17, Cameron Blair 16, William Campbell 16, Carter Edgecombe 15, Hayley Edmond 17, Matthew Hutchins 17, Monique King 16, Julian Layton 17, Bayley Main 15, Georgia Marris 15, Robert McDonald 17, Emily McGill 17, Jo Marie Meyer 16, Samuel Perry 16, Melita Raravula 16, Caitlin Rennell 16, George Schroder 16, Naomi Smit 15, Liana Smith 15, Brittany Tucker 15, Ben Walsh 15, Julian Weir 16, Rima Williams 16