Northland Black Stick Anna Thorpe ready for London Olympic campaign

Northland Black Stick Anna Thorpe says she is the fittest she has ever been and is on track for a busy build-up to next year's London Olympics.
Thorpe was named in the squad of 18 to contest next month's Champions Trophy in Amsterdam - along with fellow Northlanders Ella Gunson, Charlotte and Samantha Harrison, Stacey Michelson and Alana Millington.
The 27-year-old midfielder and defender Gunson were also both named in the Development Team, which will travel to Japan to play four games against their national side in Gifu from May 24-29.
"We are both the fittest we have ever been at the moment but because we were both injured last year - I didn't play at Champions Trophy and then we only played about 50 per cent of the games at the World Cup - Mark [Hager, Black Sticks coach] thought we needed more game time," Thorpe said.
Although the pair played in the 13 internationals in New Zealand against Korea, Japan and Argentina, the extra confidence boost of competing in Japan and Europe before the Champions Trophy would be beneficial, she said.
Last year, Thorpe battled an ankle injury before straining her quadricep at Champions Trophy. Gunson, 21, was brought into the team to replace her, after recovering from a broken ankle.
However, now the pair are injury-free and raring to go - partly thanks to specific and intense hockey training with FitnessPlus trainer Jon Renes, who puts the Northland-based Black Sticks through their paces.
After their five-match series in Japan, the 18-strong Champions Trophy team - along with Petrea Webster and Northland's Laura Douglas - head to Germany to play two practice games against the hosts and three matches against China.
"We played Germany last year at the World Cup - they are ranked fourth above us. They are in our pool at the Champions Trophy, so we will really be targeting the games against Germany for a win," Thorpe said.
Douglas was not included in the 18 to play at the Champions Trophy, and will leave, along with Webster, after the games in Germany.
"I feel sad for Laura, she is such a dedicated player and a hard worker, and she brings a lot to the team on and off the field ... But you never know, she may still get the call up if there are injuries," Thorpe said.
The Black Sticks will then have a short time before the week-long Champions Trophy starts on June 25, in Amsterdam where they will play Netherlands, Australia - and Germany in Pool B. Pool A includes Argentina, China, England and Korea.
It is the pinnacle event of the international hockey calendar, where the Black Sticks will be doing their best to break into the top six teams in the world, and move up from their seventh place.
After the tournament and the National Hockey League in August, Hager will name a squad of up to 25 to train for the Olympics, which is always in the back of player's minds, Thorpe said. "The Olympics have come around so quick, and the Champions Trophy will be a chance for Mark to see how everyone is going - the Olympics are definitely a focus for us."