About us

New Zealand’s emerging swim talent saved their best until last in the final test in the Trans Tasman age group series in Canberra today.

The kiwi development squad managed four wins and 17 podium places in the final test at the Australia Institute of Sport.

While they finished well behind the two Australian teams, they enjoyed their best effort in the two sessions of the final test.

Wellington’s Gareth Kean again led the way with a strong performance, winning the 200m backstroke with his time of 1:56.78 establishing a meet record, going under the previous mark of Daniel Bell, who has starred in the World Youth Championships this week. This effort also set a new national age group record.

The Capital club swimmer, coached by 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medal winning backstroker Gary Hurring, also took out the final of the 100m backstroke in 54.46, and helped the New Zealand team to an outstanding victory in the 4x100m medley relay.

Kean was awarded as the male swimmer of the series after today’s effort in the 200 metres backstroke.

The other win went to Australian-based former Manawatu swimmer Laura Baker, who took out a superb 800m freestyle battle. She edged out Australian Mikkayala Masselli-Sheridan to win in 8:46.24 with the Australian just 16/100ths of a second behind.

Australia Green edged their Gold opponents by just one point with New Zealand third.

“We were not as competitive this time but we definitely finished on a much stronger note,” head coach Simon Mayne said.

“We brought a very young group with us, with only two back from last year and most of them still eligible for a further two years.

“Gareth Kean, in particular, was quite outstanding and is a terrific prospect. Starn Simpson, Laura Baker and Samantha Lee were also impressive.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for us. Australia is an undisputed powerhouse in world swimming, and therefore this chance to take on their best age group swimmers in absolutely vital part of our development programme.”

Results, third test, Canberra:

Male:
100m Freestyle: H McEvoy 50.21, 1; J Magnussen 50.35, 2; N Varoy (NZL) 51.72, 3.
200m Backstroke: Gareth Kean (NZL) 1:56.78, 1 (Meet Record); A Kelshaw 1:57.33, 2 D Potts 2:03.41, 3.
200m Breaststroke: K To 2:15.55, 1; Starn Simpson (NZL) 2:19.63, 2; M Larkin 2:23.92, 3.
100m Butterfly: J Hadler 54.67, 1; Thomas McEwan (NZL) 56.89, 2; J Stack 57.01, 3.
400m IM: A Fraser-Holmes 4:19.45, 1; Mitchell Donaldson (NZL) 4:29.48, 2; A Clarke 4:30.11, 3.
400m Medley Relay: NZL (G Kean, S Simpson, J Nash, N Varoy) 3:44.19, 1; AUS Green 3:44.51, 2; AUS Gold 3:50.50, 3.
100m Backstroke: Kean (NZL) 54.46, 1; A Kelshaw 55.40, 2; M Ackermann 56.14, 3.
100m Breaststroke: To 1:02.81, 1; Starn Simpson (NZL) 1:03.00, 2; L Kinneally 1:06.22, 3.
400m Freestyle Relay: AUS Gold 3:22.81, 1; AUS Green 3:23.81, 2; NZL (Varoy, T McEwan, B Stark, Simpson) 3:27.86, 3.

Female:
200m Freestyle: K Pilgrim 2:01.42, 1; B Bennett 2:01.59, 2; S Lee (NZL) 2:04.22, 3.
100m Backstroke: C Sinclair 1:00.94, 1; W Ireland 1:02.06, 2; A Clark (NZL) 1:02.19, 3.
800m Freestyle: Laura Baker (NZL) 8:46.24, 1; A Maselli-Sherida  8:46.40, 2; J Ashwood 8:52.11, 3. 100m Breaststroke: J Legge 1:08.20, 1; T Wallace 1:08.84, 2; Ashley Rupapera (NZL) 1:12.45, 3.
200m Butterfly: M Mackay 2:12.10, 1; E Smith 2:16.33, 2; Emma Lowther (NZL) 2:17.87, 3.
400m Freestyle: B Bennett 4:16.11, 1; J Ashwood 4:16.51, 2; Laura Baker (NZL) 4:20.34, 3.
200m Breaststroke: Legge 2:29.54, 1; T Wallace 2:34.27, 2; Katie Kenneally (NZL) 2:37.79, 3.
Mixed 500m Freestyle Relay: AUS Gold 4:04.43, 1; AUS Green 4:05.59, 2; NZL 4:15.75, 3.