Ten Wairarapa juniors join elite squad

Wairarapa netball is on a roll with 10 of the province's top juniors selected as part of Netball Wellington Region's level one high performance squad and four others listed as reserves.

Katie Smith, Keiha Isaiah, Taylah Carson-Butler, Ashley-Robin Howard, Sinead Namana, Charlotte Pope, Aleisha Ingham, Georgia Faraimo, Sandra Makohi and Maeaea Dudson were invited to attend three training camps, the most recent of which was held earlier this month.

Placed on the reserve list were Stevie Paine, Emma Stiven, Shyanne Aporo and Kahu Brown and three more players were listed as being "on the radar" of the selectors, Maddie Davis, Te Arahi Huirama and and Victria Davidson.

Netball Wairarapa regional development officer Tanya Dednam-Mcleigh says having so many youngsters on what could be labelled the first step towards national honours was exciting.

"It's a huge opportunity for our best youngsters to be exposed to a programme which will demonstrate first hand just what they need to do to make it all the way to the top."

Aiding that process at the last camp were some members of the Haier Pulse transtasman competition squad. Katie Smith, for one, was thrilled to benefit from tips given her by shooters Amber Bellringer and Caitlin Thwaites who emphasised the need to stay alert at all times.

Those attending the camps are also set fitness targets and are given expert advice of other matters such as nutrition.