New Zealand Curling

New Zealand Curling's 125th Jubilee season got under way in Naseby over the weekend with the MCI Open Doubles championship.

It was Sean and Bridget Becker – with a valuable "assist" from NZ Under-21 rep Thivya Jeyaranjan – who started the year with an impressive win.

No Australian team has won the Ernslaw One Trans-Tasman Trophy in the five years it has been contested – but thay have never come closer than they did last weekend in Naseby.

Peter Becker's Central Otago four triumphed in the final by the narrowest of margins, beating Dave Imlah's Quensland side 7-6.

The 2007 Mixed Doubles champions Sean and Bridget Becker won the opening event of the 2009 season when they won the Open Doubles tournament hosted at Naseby's Maniototo Curling International on Sunday 29 March.

They beat a field that included the 2008 title-holders Scott Becker and Brydie Donald as well as the Australian champions Gerald Chick and Jenn Thomas.

Keith Wendorf, director of competitions for the World Curling Federation, rates Naseby's Maniototo Curling International rink as one of the best facilities in the world. His support reinforces the favourable comments from competitors at the just-completed Pacific Championships.

Maniototo Curling International hosted the Philip Wareing Transport Open Doubles Tournament on the weekend of 12 - 14 September. Eleven teams competed over three days, with two teams from Australia and the rest from Central Otago.

Local teams again proved too strong for the Aussies, with Peter Becker's team winning the final of the Earnslaw One Trans Tasman against the previously unbeaten four skipped by his son Sean.

The Earnslaw One Trans Tasman Tournament is an "unofficial" international curling tournament held annually between teams from New Zealand and Australia.

The Mixed Doubles Tournament scheduled for this coming weekend, 15th & 16th, is now an "Open" doubles tournament!  It will still be played under International Mixed Doubles rules, but now 2 men or 2 women can play together, if they wish to. Entries are accepted up until Friday lunchtime!

Maniototo Curling International are looking for volunteers prepared to help out during some weekends, & also during some week nights. Membership of the Curling Rink is on offer, to those willing to assist!