NZ Curling

Ten teams contested the New Zealand Secondary School Curling Champs in Auckland on 3rd and 4th October 2009.  The level of playing skills and strategies seen throughout the competition was very high which is a direct reflection on the Auckland Curling Club's coaching program and on their very successful schools competition.

At last weekend's 2009 NZ Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Naseby Sean and Bridget Becker, winners of the inaugural event in 2007, reclaimed the title they lost in last year's final. They did so the hard way, facing a sudden death elimination in the latter part of the tournament.

The NZ Secondary School Curling Championships concluded with Finals night at Paradice Avondale Ice Rink, Auckland last evening. The event commenced at 6:00am on Saturday morning with a 6 hour session and continued Sunday at the same time.

It was run in two pools of five teams, with the first two in each pool entering crossover semifinals and the next two playing off for minor placings and overall standings.

The 2009 Auckland Secondary Schools curling competition wound up at Paradice Avondale on Thursday night with some music, social points games, a draw to the button competition and the presentation of trophies to the winning teams.

A Dunedin home victory was assured in the final of this weekend's Wendorf Bonspiel as the teams took to the ice for the decider.

The local teams of Charlie McLeod and NZ skip Dan Mustapic qualified for the 1 vs 2 game at the top of the table, separated only by an extra-end 5-4 win to Mustapic in their fifth round pool match earlier in the day.

Excellent curling, outstanding sportsmanship and unbelievable tension were all present during the conclusion of the 2009 North Island Secondary Schools Curling Championships at Paradice Avondale today.

Remarkably, all three finals – Mixed, Girls and Boys – were decided by a double draw to the button after each was tied when the clock ran out.

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.

The world class quality of curling at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games made for enthralling final games. The Australia men’s team took gold in a high pressure game against China, winning 9-6, and Japan beat the Chinese women’s world champions to take gold with a decisive 8-5 victory.

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.