HP swimmers in action at Wellington Championships

The Wellington Summer Championships have been given a boost with the presence of Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance squad.

Ten members of the squad will compete in the four-day meet at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre on 22-25 January.

New Zealand head coach Clive Power said the four-day championships form an important opportunity for his swimmers.

The squad, preparing towards the New Zealand Open Championships which act as the official trial for the Rio Olympics, has just completed the second of three 10-week training phases.

“At the end of each phase we have a competition and the Wellington Championships come at the completion of our second training phase, so it is perfectly placed,” said Power.

“Firstly it is a litmus test for our swimmers to evaluate their progress over this 10 week block, what has gone well and then what they need to focus on in the final 10-week block.

“It is also an opportunity to practice their race structures and protocols.

“The squad will be focussing on their number one strokes and therefore this is an important competition for us.”

A change of environment is also an important factor for the squad.

“It is an excellent chance for us to get out of our training pool, travel together and to compete in a different environment and a good opportunity for us to interact with swimmers from Wellington. “

The squad competing in Wellington is: Samantha Lucie –Smith, Sophie Wotherspoon, Chloe Francis, Bobbi Gichard; Nathan Capp, Ewan Jackson, Bradlee Ashby, Andrew Trembath, George Schroder and Jeffery Arona – Tuifana’e.