(2016 ☆ ARCHIVED) Women’s Canoe Polo Team - New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S CANOE POLO TEAM (New Zealand) - Nominee for the 2016 'Sportswoman of the Year' award.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzcanoepoloassoc/
• Website: http://nzcanoepolo.org.nz

The New Zealand Women’s Canoe Polo team, affectionately known as the ‘Paddle Ferns’, has ended their 10-year medal drought to take out the 2016 World Championship, completing an undefeated campaign.

Until now, the Paddle Ferns had only finished on the podium once before, in 2006, and have placed fourth at the last four biennial World Championships. But at the 2016 World Championships in Sicily, they made history.

After progressing through the rounds unbeaten, they came across Germany in the final, a team that has won five of the previous eight world titles. The match was a powerful display of what the paddle ferns had to offer. Three goals to Jordan Housiaux, Emma Hicks and Jordan Pearse was enough to ensure the win over the German powerhouses, who came home strong late in the second half. The Paddle Ferns won the match 3-2 and secured New Zealand’s first canoe polo world championship gold medal.

In a 15-month build up, the Paddle Ferns had seven training and selection camps, competed as a team in the national league competition, and headed to Europe a month before the championships to acclimatise and compete in local tournaments.

Speaking to Canoe Polo NZ, coach Peter Housiaux said, “the women deserved the medal and have worked their hearts out and the total team work and total trust’ won them the game.”

Their united approach to competition and their historical results makes the team very deserving nominees for the 2016 Sportswomen of the Year award. 

Team Members:

• Erin Bolton
• Kate Bolton
• Emma Hicks
• Jordan Housiaux (c)
• Megan Lyons
• Jordan Pearse
• Paris Pidduck
• Olivia Spencer-Bower
• Coach: Peter Housiaux
• Manager: Jane Bertelsen

This is a 2016 archived nominee. Voting has closed.