Beach volleyball: A teutonic lift for the NZ Open

Julius Brink gets in some practice in Mt Maunganui before competition starts. Photo / Alan Gibson

After a slow start, the beleaguered New Zealand beach volleyball tour has received a boost, with world champions Jonas Reckermann and Julius Brink of Germany headlining this weekend's NZ Open at Mt Maunganui.

It will be the first time the tournament has been held at the Mount, after 16 years at the Auckland Tennis Centre.

And organisers are hoping the addition of Reckermann and Brink will help get the new era off with a bang.

The pair, who have been world champs since 2009, will provide some much-needed star power.

The national pro tour has been significantly scaled down this year after Volleyball New Zealand cancelled a contract with promoters over a financial dispute.

To keep the tour alive, event organisation was handed back to local associations, which banded together to create a makeshift schedule.

The earlier tournaments in Mairangi Bay, Hamilton and Karapiro have been relatively quiet affairs and have not attracted the high-calibre fields of seasons past.

But the NZ Open has always been the jewel in the crown, and a competitive field should guarantee more interest in this weekend's event.

The inclusion of Reckermann and Brink is more a result of good timing than good management. The Germans happened to be Downunder to train with Kiwi world tour exponents Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead.

Their month-long training block - two weeks at Mt Maunganui followed by two weeks in Sydney - coincided with the NZ Open, giving the pair an ideal kick-start into the 2011 world tour, which begins in Brazil in April.

Open director Richard Casutt said it was fortunate to have the world-class pair playing.

Adding to the strong international flavour at the tournament will be French brothers Kevin and Andy Ces, and the Dutch No 2 pairing of Emiel Boersma and Dan Spijkers.

But all eyes are most likely to be on local hopes Pitman and Lochhead.

The Kiwi duo have missed the past two NZ Opens because of injuries and scheduling conflicts, but are fit again after a prolonged break.

Olympic qualifying would be a priority for the pair, Lochhead said.

They are currently 26 in the world and need to break in to the top 16 to qualify for London, but they recognise that could be tough - particularly without a sponsor.

Tauranga brothers Sam and Ben O'Dea, who won the first two national tour events in Mairangi Bay and Hamilton, will also enjoy strong local support.

In the women's draw, Sarah Goller and Laura Ludwig, winners of the 2010 NZ Open, and currently ranked fourth in the world are the hot favourites to retain their title. Their most likely opposition will come from Britain's Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin.

WHERE AND WHEN
New Zealand Open

* Today - Sunday

* Main beach, Mt Maunganui

WATCH OUT FOR:

MEN

Jonas Reckermann, Julius Brink (GER)
The 2009 world champions headline the international entries and will be the team to beat in a competitive men's field.

Kevin Ces, Andy Ces (FRA)
The French number ones, who won the NZ Open in 2009, add further international flavour to the event.

Kirk Pitman, Tony Lochhead (NZ)
After a two-year absence from the NZ Open, the top Kiwi men's pairing of Pitman and Lochhead, ranked 26 in the world, return to their home tournament eager to put in a strong showing.

Sam O'Dea and Ben O'Dea (NZ)
Tauranga brothers Sam and Ben O'Dea will face a big test this weekend as they look to prove their international credentials. They won the first two national tour events in Mairangi Bay and Hamilton and will be looking to maintain their early success.

WOMEN

Sara Goller, Laura Ludwig (GER)
The world No 4 pairing, coached by Kiwi legend Craig Seuseu, are back to defend their 2010 crown.

Shauna Mullin, Zara Dampney (GBR)
This fast-improving British pair, who are preparing for the London Olympics, were finalists in the Hamilton Open.

Hannah Croad, Micah Lindsay-Brown (NZ)
With Anna Scarlett returning to the netball court and Susan Blundell taking time away from the sport, there is a significant difference in the standard between the international and local competitors. But New Zealand number one Hannah Croad has had a strong season and will be looking to finish on a high this weekend, when she teams up with Micah Lindsay-Brown.