top left - Nicole Odermatt, followed by Jess Barwick during warmup
top right - Claire Hammond and Jamie-Lee Taylor set a block for Iva Sajdl
bottom left - Iva Sajdl in attack between Jojo Tehuia and Jamie-Lee Taylor
bottom right - Holly Taylor leaps high above Michelle Roberts and Sally Grant

The selection of the NZHF 2009 National Women’s team is due to be announced any day now. Currently the squad stands at 17 players, having been narrowed down from 22. At the conclusion of the 3 day training camp over Easter weekend coach Lars Bock, was truly impressed, and thanked the girls for” making it a really hard job for him to make a final selection of 14”. All the players are showing amazing potential, and whilst not all of them will make the National team, the quality and dedication from all players, ensure that Women’s Handball in New Zealand will have a very good future.

The players who are from all over the country are eagerly awaiting the announcement that Lars has been working on over the weekend, which is obviously a very hard decision, but in the meantime they have travelled back to their respective clubs to prepare for the Wellington Open Handball Championships on April 25^th.

The NZHF 2009 National Women’s team is due in Brisbane during the last week of May where the Australian and New Caledonian National team will be waiting for them. But the kiwi team’s final preparation will include another 2 arduous training camps before they fly out.

Currently the team is looking for a sponsor, to offset some travel and accommodation expenses, and invites all offers or ideas to be directed to the NZHF, via

The development squad members are:
Sandra Gmuer
Sally Grant
Holly Taylor
Jamie-Lee Taylor
Jojo Tehuia
Bev Tehuia
Michelle Roberts
Claire Hammond
Nicole Odermatt
Iva Sajdl
Jess Barwick
Melissa Huggins
Rebecca Fenwick Grangård
Tania Nedelcheva
Dijana Pietsch
Frances Tilly
Jaclyn Parker