Strong New Zealand team for Oceania Championships

Swimming New Zealand has named a 35-strong team to compete in the Oceania Championships in Fiji in June.

Up to 18 nations are expected to compete with the pool competition to be staged at the Damodar National Aquatic Centre in Suva from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 June, with the 5km Open Water event on Monday 20th and the 10km open water on Saturday 25 June.

New Zealand edged Australia for wins 21 to 19 at the last Oceania Championships in Auckland two years ago.

The New Zealand team is:

Female: Annabelle Paterson (United, Auckland), Bobbi Gichard (Howick Pakuranga), Bronagh Ryan (Porirua City), Carina Doyle (North Shore), Chloe Francis (Parnell, Auckland), Ellie Eastwood (United, Auckland), Gabrielle Fa'amausili (United, Auckland), Georgia Marris (United, Auckland), Hayley Edmond (North Shore), Jacey Cropp (North Shore), Mary Tate (United, Auckland), Millie MacDonald (Parnell, Auckland), Monique King (North Shore), Yeonsu Lee (North Shore), Emily Rennell (Jasi, Christchurch).

Male: Andrew Trembath (Neptune, Dunedin), Bayley Main (Howick Pakuranga), Corneille Coetzee (North Shore), Daniel Hunter (Howick Pakuranga), David Van Der Star (Coast, Auckland), George Schroder (Hokitika), Isaac Foote (Masterton), Jackson Cropp (North Shore), Jacob Garrod (North Shore), Jonathon Rutter (Roskill), Julian Weir (Aquabladz New Plymouth), Mario Koenigsperger (Howick Pakuranga), Matt Hyde (Matamata), Troy Balvert (Aquabladz New Plymouth), Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore).

Open Water: Stefannie Gillespie (Zenith, Dunedin), Claudia Ashby (Fairfield, Hamilton), Sammy Winward (Aquagym, Christchurch), Jackson Dawson (Waterhole, Auckland), Matthew Scott (Enterprise, Gisborne).

CAPTION: Bobbi Gichard in action.