NZ Curling

Brydie Donald, who has represented New Zealand in curling and ice hockey, is the latest of a long line of internationals who have come from the Maniototo.

Donald (24) grew up in Ranfurly and continued the family tradition when she first represented New Zealand at the junior world curling championships in 2003.

Read the full Otago Daily Times article here.

When Warren Kearney was growing up in Ranfurly he wanted to be an All Black like his great uncle. He is now an international curler.

Read the full Otago Daily Times article here.

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.

New Zealand Curling Association president Darren Carson, who made the presentation last month, paid tribute to the length and quality of service Mr Becker had given to the sport.

The full Southland Times article is on-line here. 

Dunedin Curling's Edwin Harley has called time on his 17 successful years on the board of Dunedin Ice Sports. "It's time to give way to new blood on the committee," he told the Otago Daily Times last week.

Edwin also chaired the Organising Committee of the recently completed Dunedin 2009 World Senior Curling Championships, the first world curling event held in the southern hemisphere. Both the venue and the tournament were praised by curlers from around the world.