Hockey, canoeing big movers in Sparc funding

Women's hockey and canoeing are the big movers as sports funding agency Sparc today announced a record $6.3 million would be injected into 19 national sport organisations next year.

This is the largest amount Sparc has invested since the contestable investment system was launched four years ago.

The previous high was $5.63 million over 17 sports in 2007.

The contestable funding is in addition to the $15 million already earmarked for the nine targeted sports - athletics, biking, rowing, swimming, triathlon, yachting, rugby, cricket and netball.

The women's Black Sticks, who received $195,000 from Sparc this year, have engineered a huge turnaround in fortunes since finishing 12th and last at the Beijing Olympics last year.

Under the guidance of new coach Mark Hager, who took over at the beginning of the year, they beat Australia to retain the Oceania Cup and qualify for next year's World Cup.

They also won the Champions Challenge in South Africa to book a place at next year's elite six-nation Champions Trophy tournament.

They will also play at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year.

Such results, along with a restructured high performance programme, convinced Sparc to pump $650,000 into the women's hockey programme next year.

The men will receive $700,000 next year.

The code also received another $212,000 in credits for sports science services via the Academy of Sport.

Canoe Racing New Zealand also received an increase in investment in its high performance programme which now totals $800,000.

Sparc high performance general manager Martin Toomey said Hockey New Zealand had done the hard work to justify the faith Sparc is putting in the Black Sticks women.

The increase for canoeing reflected the growing depth in the sport at the elite level.

"Canoe is developing a wider range of world class athletes and crews and has good potential looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics and beyond."

In addition to the contestable high performance programme investment, $816,500 is being provided to national sport organisations for 2010 in service credits.

Service credits cover the cost of sports medicine, sports science and athlete development services provided through the Academy of Sport.

New Zealand Football did not request funding for the All Whites' high performance programme for 2010 after receiving $250,000 for this year's World Cup qualifying campaign.

The $265,000 funding for the Football Ferns women for 2010 is part of a $920,000 four-year investment through to 2012.

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) did not submit a high performance proposal.

It is still in the process of finalising a new strategic plan and Sparc was in ongoing discussions about future potential investment.

Sparc sports funding for 2010 under the contestable investment process:

Archery $100,000, basketball (men) $ 350,000, (women) $25,000, beach volleyball $110,000, bowls $350,000, canoe (flat water) $ 800,000, canoe (slalom) $25,000, equestrian $605,000, soccer (women) $265,000, hockey (men) $700,000, (women) $650,000, karate $25,000, Paralympics $650,000, roller sports $50,000, shooting $ 45,000, snow sports $75,000, softball (men) $200,000, (women) $30,000, squash $300,000, surf lifesaving $150,000, tennis $50,000, winter sport $700,000, wrestling $20,000.

- NZPA