SBS Bank Academy Southland athletes Tia Fowle and Riley Ballantyne will trial next month for places in the first Trans-Tasman Touch Series to be held for two years.

Both were originally selected for a Touch New Zealand Talent Identification camp last year which was cancelled due to Covid-19 alert levels.

“It was very gutting. I was looking so forward to it because it would have been my first time at that level,” Riley, a Year 13 student at Central Southland College, said.

The trial will require a switch in focus for both athletes, who are heavily involved in other sports at this time of the year.

Tia plays hockey for Southland Girls’, the Southern club in the premier women’s grade and the Southland under 18 team.

“I’m down at the turf every day of the week, either playing, coaching, training or umpiring. It’s pretty busy but it’s good for the fitness.”

Coaching the school’s lower grade team was something Tia enjoyed.

“It’s pretty cool seeing the improvement from when they start, having never picked up a hockey stick before, to the end of the season. It’s crazy the improvement people can make over the course of the season,” she said.

“Umpiring is a bit of a chore sometimes, but I know from playing so much hockey that they need umpires so I’m willing to put my hand up and help.”

Riley is a member of the Central Southland College Senior A team and plays for the Invercargill Netball Centre under 18 side, which sees her travelling from Winton to Invercargill most days for training or games.

The midcourter is enjoying her first year in the SBS Bank Academy.

“I love it, it’s been so interesting. I’ve learnt so many things and I can’t wait for the rest of the year. So many people have helped throughout the year,” she said.

“I really liked the camp we had with the Otago Academy, mixing with people who are like-minded. I’ve been enjoying the nutrition with Aimee (Hall) and knowing what to prep and eat before and after games and trainings.”

Working with Academy strength and conditioning coach Tyson Huia had helped Tia develop across all her sports, which now also includes basketball and cycling.

“From before I started at the gym to now there has been a massive improvement with my strength and that just helps with every sport.”

New Zealand and Australia haven’t contested a touch series since the Youth Trans-Tasman event in Newcastle, Australia in January 2020.

SBS Bank Academy Southland Leadership Year (year two) athletes Madison Grieve and Jacob Mika have been selected for the under 20 trials and Southland’s Dennis Thompson, a graduate of the Academy’s Performance Coach programme, has been named head coach of the New Zealand under 18 mixed team for the Trans-Tasman series.

Article added: Wednesday 09 June 2021