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At just 24 years of age, Steel midcourter Wendy Telfer is already a veteran of Southland netball.
Telfer was just a schoolgirl when she was plucked from obscurity to join Robyn Broughton's powerful Southern Sting franchise in 2002.
She has since gone on to become an integral member of the franchise, which was last year re-named the Steel for the new ANZ Championship era.
Telfer's standing within the region was further reinforced this week when she was named vice-captain for this year's transtasman competition.
It follows a brilliant 2008 in which Telfer (no relation to the broadcaster) earned her first test cap - a run in the final test against Australia - and captained Southland to their first national provincial title in 49 years.
What are your goals for 2009?
Definitely to have a strong ANZ season. I hope to get a lot of court time and work on my game and try to improve as the season goes on.
What inspired you to embark on a career in sport?
I think I was born into a sporting family; my parents and older brothers are all really sporty and it's something I've been brought into. I really enjoy competing and obviously enjoy winning as well as the training and the hard work it takes to succeed.
When you were 13 were there any other sports you fancied yourself as a future star in?
I played a bit of touch and softball when I was younger but as I got older, netball became the focus as I started making rep teams and it became more competitive. I was definitely keen on those sports but they've been put on the backburner because of the opportunities I've been given with netball.
I played for New Zealand Under-19s and the White Sox which was an awesome experience for me and something that I really enjoyed. Hopefully in the future I'll be able to give softball another crack.
Describe your job.
I work part time, which I'm really lucky to be able to do. I work for Netball Southland organising coaching in schools and running development programmes and stuff like that. We run elite academies for girls. I've also just started a part-time paper, which is going to be interesting after a couple of years off. So I do a bit of part-time work, a bit of study and lots of trainings and travel with netball.
What's the best thing about being a netballer?
I think the travel and being able to meet some really top mates. It's always cool when you go to different countries or regions, to be able to catch up with friends again. Also the opportunities for netballers are huge in this day and age.
And the worst?
I don't think there's any really big drawback to it. Maybe that it takes up so much time in your life and you often miss out on family occasions, weddings and stuff like that, which is often hard. But I guess when you're an elite netballer there are sacrifices you have to make and missing out on things like that is just one of them.
How much control do you have over whether your team wins or loses?
I think the Steel set-up is a major team effort but we all know individually that we have to perform for the team to go well. So we're always going out there to play our best and do everything we can to win on court but I think it is hugely a team game, so all seven on the court and the five on the bench are responsible for the outcome.
Do you feel your sport gets the amount of public attention it deserves?
I think down in Invercargill we're really lucky that there are so many supportive fans; we get a lot of media coverage in the local paper and on the radio and Southland TV so I think we're really spoilt down here. Maybe nationally it could get a bit more attention but down in Southland we definitely get a lot of exposure and that's great.
What's the proudest achievement of your sporting life?
Putting on the black dress and getting a run against the Aussies in the test match last year. It's every netballer's dream to play for your country so that was pretty special for me.
And the worst?
Losing the National Bank Cup final to the Magic [in 2005] after we'd won it six years in a row was pretty devastating. And not just losing by three or four goals, losing by more than 20, so that was pretty disappointing for us.
What's the one career ambition you want to realise before you retire?
I'd be really keen to go to a Commonwealth Games and a World Champs with the Silver Ferns and also win an ANZ title.
If you weren't a sportsperson what would you be doing?
I would probably be a PE teacher or a policewoman. That's always something I wanted to do when I was little and something I'd still be keen to do if I had the chance.
Who in the world do you most admire and why?
I would probably have to say Lance Armstrong. He's been through so much throughout the years with his illness and he's showed huge mental and physical ability to come back the way he has and to win all those Tour de France titles.
We probably don't need to ask, but for the record, which is your favourite venue to play at?
Without a doubt, good old Stadium Southland.
Who was your childhood hero?
When I first started playing netball I always looked up to Bernice Mene and Lesley Rumball - or Lesley Nicol as she was back then. I remember just starting playing and really admiring their skill and talent.
So for me it was pretty special when I was selected for the Southern Sting team in form seven and got to play alongside both of them. After having them as your heroes growing up, getting to actually play with them was really amazing.
WENDY TELFER
CV
2002 First selected for the Southern Sting as a seventh former at Invercargill's Verdon College. Goes on to win four National Bank Cup titles with the Sting
2005 A member of the New Zealand Under-21 team that wins the World Youth Championships
2008 Captains Southland to their first provincial title in 49 years
2008 Selected in the Silver Ferns squad for the first time and is called up to the test side as injury cover. Makes her international debut in the Ferns' final test against Australia
2009 Named vice-captain of the Southern Steel
