New Zealand Curling

The curlers of Manorburn and Poolburn Curling Clubs have swept all before them in the Idaburn Council's competitions this season.

So it was fitting – and perhaps not too much of a surprise – when they met again in the final of the Macrae Trophy at Alexandra on Monday 20 July.

There was praise for the weather and the ice conditions yesterday when the one-day Wilson Cup bonspiel was held near Oturehua. Defending champions Alexandra joined the other 15 clubs of the Idaburn Curling Council in a memorable day on the frozen Idaburn Dam.

Even a bad day's curling is better than a good day at work.

So say the lads from the Poolburn Curling Club, and they received no argument yesterday as 50 curlers took part in a mini-bonspiel on the lower Manorburn dam, near Alexandra.

Twelve teams from six clubs – Poolburn, Arrow, Chatto Creek, Manorburn, Alexandra and Lowburn – vied for the Wilson Rosebowl.

The Manorburn rink of Bruce Kissel (skip), Paul Harrex, Gavin Spence and Bert Kemp have won the final of the Jerry Sanders Trophy for 2009, the Idaburn Curling Council's knockout competition.

Manorburn won the 2009 Nicolson Trophy for the Idaburn Council at Alexandra last Thursday 2 July. Their win was by the narrowest of margins though when the four competing clubs all won two games each.