Surf lifesaving: Selectors decide on experience

International experience dominates the selection of the first nine members of the New Zealand surf lifesaving team to compete at the World Lifesaving Championships at Melbourne in February.

Most of the leading swimming contenders were on display at the New Zealand surf lifesaving swim championships in Wellington over the weekend.

Japan-based three-times world beach flags champion Morgan Foster retains his New Zealand captaincy and will have the backing of experience with the selection of Midway's Glenn Anderson and Whangamata's Olympian Steven Ferguson.

Anderson, who was a stand out performer at the swim championships, and Ferguson bring all-round board, ski and swimming skills, while Australian-based Nathan Henderson is a specialist board paddler.

Mairangi Bay's Michael Buck, who also performed well this weekend at Wellington, is one of the specialist swimmers, with a second swimmer to be added in December.

Leading the women's selection is Mt Maunganui's Johanna O'Connor, who is the most experience female at just 22 years of age. O'Connor is joined by her club mate, Holly Moczydlowski, Muriwai's Lucy Pengelly and Westshore's Nikki Cox.

New Zealand selector/coach John Bryant said: "This is a well balanced team of experience and youth.

"I was particularly impressed with the hunger shown by the young women.

"These athletes have gone up another step after they competed in the International Challenge in Australia at the beginning of 2005."

One male and two female competitors would be added to the team after December's Commonwealth Games trials.

NZ line-up

Glenn Anderson (Midway), Steven Ferguson (Whangamata), Morgan Foster (Captain, South Brighton), Nathan Henderson (Currembin, Australia), Michael Buck (Mairangi Bay), Nikki Cox (Westshore) Lucy Pengelly (Muriwai), Holly Moczydlowski and Johanna O'Connor (Mt Maunganui).