Triathlon New Zealand Buoyed by HPSNZ Support

Triathlon New Zealand Buoyed by HPSNZ Support

As funding announcements for all sports are revealed today, Triathlon New Zealand is buoyed by the acknowledgement from High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) as to the work being done in the restructured Tri NZ High Performance Programme (HPP) and the gains made in the first year of the new centralized Programme,.

The funding round from HPSNZ today sees Triathlon retain its position as a targeted sport and gain investment security for the next two years, with $1.25 million set aside for 2015, down from $1.4 million in 2014. Triathlon New Zealand sees the reduction in High Performance funding from HPSNZ today as an appropriate decision considering the recent refinement of the Tri NZ HPP, the need for results accountability and the pressure on HPSNZ to distribute investment across the Olympic sports system.

Tri NZ CEO Craig Waugh said the sport actually budgeted on a decrease as it continues to take a focused and refined world class approach.

“Our 2014 Sport NZ investment was $1.4 million across the entire High Performance Programme and we had budgeted on a slight decrease for 2015. We did hit 7 of the 8 KPI’s in 2014 with highlights being the performance of Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels in picking up medals at the season ending ITU World Tri Series Grand Final and finishing third and fifth overall on world rankings. We also made great progress with our development athletes with a string of podium performances, including two medals at the Youth Olympic Games.

“The disappointment obviously was missing a medal in Glasgow – the only KPI that we didn’t hit during the year, but we were able to make adjustments in the time between Glasgow and the WTS Grand Final in Edmonton, with the earlier mentioned results for Andrea and Nicky a great outcome on the back of that hard work.”

The Tri NZ HPP will continue to target both Rio and the Tokyo Olympic Games, while also investing significant resources into the development of younger athletes in the National Talent Pathway.

HPSNZ Chief Executive Alex Baumann says his organisation has recognised that Tri NZ is two years into an eight year programme, and has confidence that Tri NZ has a quality plan, people and structure in place to take the sport forward.

“Tri NZ partially achieved their performance goals and had some good results including at the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final. We do see potential for the sport going forward and have provided a reasonable level of investment so that Tri NZ can deliver on their targets for Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. We recognise the work being carried out by the Tri NZ High Performance Programme. They have made a number of changes since London. Their centralised programme has made gains in a short space of time and we know that Tri NZ is targeting and focusing their efforts towards being truly world class with an eye on Rio and also Tokyo while also investing in their world-class talent pathway, coaching and support.”

Waugh is appreciative of those words of support from HPSNZ and the future of the Tri NZ HP Programme.

“Triathlon has undertaken a dramatic but absolutely necessary overhaul of our High Performance Programme. Results over a number of year’s pre London Olympics indicated the need for that change, the sport was not producing the results nor the quality of young athletes required to compete on the world stage.

“Our plan is a long term one and yet one that also faces short term performance targets and goals. We are not doing this in isolation though and have the support of HPSNZ in what we are looking to achieve and how we are going about it. This is year two of an eight year plan, we will not be distracted by destructive critics, we will stay the course, and we have faith that we have great people in key roles. With constructive support from key influencers and the raw talent emerging to work with over the next few years, these are challenging but exciting times for the sport.”

Waugh went on to say that amongst the most exciting areas of work being carried out is the two years so far of investment in talented youth (14-17yrs), something that was clearly missing over the past decade.

Preceding the funding round, Triathlon New Zealand recently announced their HP Squads and coaching structure for 2015, with the number of fulltime athletes further reduced to 9 as the sport continues to implement higher performance standards and KPI’s.

Tri NZ 2015 High Performance Squads
• Podium Squad:
o Andrea Hewitt, Christchurch
o Nicky Samuels, Wanaka
o Tony Dodds, Wanaka
o Ryan Sissons, Auckland

• Development Squad:
o Simone Ackermann, Whangarei
o Sophie Corbidge, Auckland
o Elise Salt, Auckland
o Nicole van der Kaay, Taupo
o Sam Ward, Auckland

The coaching team will be headed by Jon Brown (Rio 2016 Campaign) with Tim Brazier focused on Tokyo 2020 Campaign, and working with other key coaches such as Laurent Vidal (coach of Andrea Hewitt), Cameron Durno (temporary contract) and Nathan Richmond.

Growing constructive coaching links is seen as critical to athletes’ transitions, illustrated by recent development opportunities and continued evolution of the National Talent Programme. With HPSNZ support, coaches who demonstrate constructive and aligned world standards and behaviours will be embraced to achieve our 2020 HP Strategy goals. This is about working closely with coaches and their young athletes in the NTP.

• National Talent Squad:
o Dan Hoy, Auckland – coach Nathan Richmond
o Tayler Reid, Gisborne – coach Stephen Sheldrake
o Kyle Smith, Taupo – coach Cameron Durno
o Fynn Thompson, Queenstown – coach Val Burke
o Trent Thorpe, Auckland – coach Bruce Hunter
o Liam Ward, Auckland – coach Brett Reid
o Ari Graham, Christchurch – coach Maria Hassan
o Jaimee Leader, Palmerston North – coach Sam Warriner
o Lizzie Stannard, Palmerston North – coach Will O’Connor
o Ainsley Thorpe, Auckland – coach Bruce Hunter

ends

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