NZ Curling

L to R: Sharon Morrison (coach), Michael Smith, Sam Miller, Lachlan Browne, Mat Weir, Kris Miller

New Zealand's Junior Men's team have won the bronze medal at the 2010 Pacific Junior Curling Championships in Nayoro, Japan. This is only the second podium finish by the NZ Men in this event, mirroring last year's third placing.

NZ and Japan, second equal after the qualifying rounds, met in the semi-final with the Japanese taking the game comfortably 9-3.

Japan went on to play top qualifier China, who won the gold medal in a low-scoring 3-2 final.

The Chinese Men's and Women's teams both qualified for the World Junior Curling Championship in Switzerland in March as Pacific champions.

Earlier Articles

• Sat 16 Jan 2010 – NZ Men meet Japan in Pacific semi
• Fri 15 Jan 2010 – U21 Men guaranteed a Pacific medal
• Thu 14 Jan 2010 – NZ U21 Men well placed in Japan
• Tue 12 Jan 2010 – Good start for NZ Under-21 Men
• Sat 9 Jan 2010 – NZ Junior and Mens teams off to Japan

Photo Gallery	Click on any image to open in a new window
Team NZ, with coaches Peter Becker (L) and Sharon Morrison (R)	NZ Womens team – and snow	Welcome to Nayoro!
The Opening Ceremony		Nayoro Sunpillar Curling Hall
	A perfect start to the tournament for the Men
Great job - thanks coaches!
NZ Men's team in action against Korea in their first round match
The critical end of the Men's match vs Korea – a steal of 2 coming up...	Above and right: NZ Women, also vs Korea
	NZ Women's games against China and Japan
Team NZ at the medal ceremony	Closing Dinner and Farewell Party

Earlier articles

NZ Men meet Japan in Pacific semi

Saturday 16 Jan 2010 – The NZ Men will play Japan in their semi-final at the Pacific Junior Curling Championships in Nayoro, Japan later today. The winner of that game will then play China for the gold medal and the big prize – the Pacific champion's place at the World Junior Curling Championship in Switzerland in March.

NZ will be keen to improve on last year's bronze medal at this tournament. They have met Japan and China twice in round robin play here, resulting in a win and a loss against both.

The NZ Men's last round robin game yesterday was another very close one, something that the team should be getting used to. Down 4-1 after four ends they then kept Korea scoreless. The Kiwis took one on the fifth with hammer, then stole one on the sixth and eighth to make it 4-4 and force an extra deciding end. However they couldn't steal one more, and Korea made no mistake with last stone advantage to score three and win 7-4.

Although the NZ Women will come home without a win they will take heart from a big improvment in play – and scorelines – throughout the week. They led Korea for much of their last game yesterday, and stole the penultimate end to tie it up at 7-7 coming home. Korea took the match 9-7 with their hammer stone.

The Koreans will play Japan in the Women's semi-final. The winner will then play China for the gold medal.

Semi-finals start at 9am local time today (1pm NZT), with the Finals scheduled for 2pm local time (6pm NZT).

U21 Men guaranteed a Pacific medal

Friday 15 Jan 2010 – Two wins from two at the Pacific Junior Curling Championships in Nayoro, Japan yesterday had the NZ Junior Men's certain of a top-three finish in the qualifying rounds of the tournament. The top qualifier will go straight to the gold medal game, while the second and third qualifiers will play a semi-final tomorrow to determine their opponent.

The early game yesterday was yet another tight one, this time against Japan. The scores were level at 3-3 half way through the match before a steal of two in the fifth end turned the game to the Kiwis, who went on to take it out 6-4.

The winless Australians gave NZ a real run for their money in the next, with the Kiwis needing their hammer stone on the final end for a 5-4 victory.

The NZ Men are currently second on the table and play Korea in their last round robin game today. They will qualify in the top three regardless of the result, but a tiebreaker may be needed to determine the final playoff rankings.

The NZ Women are still winless but improving as the week progresses. The team rotation continued yesterday, with Brittany Taylor, Lucy Lane, Katie Bauer and Emily Whelan putting in a good effort against the unbeaten Chinese who won 9-5. In last night's late game the Japanese recorded a couple of 4-point ends on their way to a 12-5 win over the Kiwis.

NZ U21 Men well placed in Japan

Thursday 14 Jan 2010 –The New Zealand Under-21 Men's team had a share of the lead after the first of of a double round robin at the Pacific Junior Curling Championships in Nayoro, Japan. They had a 3 win - 1 loss record at that stage, along with hosts Japan and defending champions China.

After a win and a loss in their first two games, the Kiwi men beat the novice Australian side 11-2 in the late game on Tuesday. In their early game on Wednesday to conclude the first round of games they got out to a strong start, leading Korea 5-2 after five ends and hanging on to win 5-4.

They played China in the first game of the second round in the late draw last night. The Chinese took a big 4-pointer in the third end, and that proved decisive as they reversed the result of the opening game of the tournament, NZ going down 3-6. With three wins and two losses they now sit in third on the table. The top three teams will make the play-off rounds.

The New Zealand women have had a tough time of it, yet to record a win after the first round of games. In Tuesday's late game they went down to Japan 6-11, and were beaten 4-10 by Korea yesterday. Coach Peter Becker has rotated the squad through the first round, with all team members playing in at least two of their three games to date.

Good start for NZ Under-21 Men

Tuesday 12 Jan 2010 – In the opening draw of the 2010 Pacific Junior Curling Championships earlier today the NZ Men showed good form and came out with an excellent result, beating the strong Chinese team 5-4. The Kiwis scored two with hammer on the last regulation end to tie the game at 4-4, and then stole the extra end. This was a nailbiting match all the way, with three blank ends.

Their second match against hosts Japan was another close game. It was 3-3 after four ends and 5-4 to NZ after six. The Japanese got their noses in front with a double on the 7th, and then stole the last to win 7-5.

China got the jump on the NZ Women with a 5 pointer in the first end, leaving the Kiwis trying to play catch-up to stay in the game. China went on to win 13-2.

Prior to the tournament, the teams flew from sunny Tokyo on Sunday evening into the snow at Asahikawa Airport. They then spent two hours in an "oven on wheels" treking through snow piled to the side as high as the bus at times! Nayoro is blanketed in crunchy powder snow which was falling as they arrived, with the trees looking like picture postcards.

Hotel Fujika is comfortable and the food excellent. The travel schedule has included sufficient rest and Monday involved two one hour practices only, so the teams had time to get properly orientated and organised.

NZ Junior and Mens teams off to Japan

Saturday 9 Jan 2010 – Alistair McMurran, Otago Daily Times

Sam Miller, the latest member of his family to represent New Zealand, will make his international debut at the Junior Pacific Curling Championships in Japan next week. Miller (19), a student at the University of Otago, will join his brother Kris in the five-man New Zealand men's team.

They are both former pupils of the Maniototo Area School and learnt their curling skills in the Maniototo.

Read the rest of the Otago Daily Times article here.