NZ Curling Association News

9 May 2021 – This year's NZ Curling Training Camp will run in the first week of the next school holidays, Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th July, at the MCI rink in Naseby.

This training camp is open to beginning and intermediate Curlers who are wanting to learn more about the game. We have experienced facilitators who have a wealth of knowledge. Over the two days, participants will learn about delivery, sweeping, strategy, nutrition, and a lot more. Experienced curlers are welcome to come along and help out the facilitators; this will help you develop your game and refine your skills.

A travel subsidy is available for those curlers from out of the Maniototo. The camp will run 10:00 am - 4.30 pm Monday and 9.30 am - 4.30pm Tuesday. See the link below to get more information or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

There is no cost to participants. Registrations are due by Friday 2nd July.

Click here for the application form.

If you're in or about Alexandra this Sunday 2nd May, get down to the town's latest new indoor curling rink and give it a go!

Come along any time after 9:00 am, and there's no charge!

See more on the Alexandra Rink's Facebook page.

This is the first weekend that the rink is open to the public, ahead of the official opening at the end of May.

9 January 1935 - 8 January 2021

Today we farewell our NZCA Life Member and curling stalwart, Stewart McKnight.

Stewart sadly passed away suddenly, aged 85 last Friday 8th January.

He was an all-round sports person who gave his best in every endeavour he undertook, including curling. He was part of our Idaburn Council and was a passionate Blackstone Hill curler.

Stewart contributed in many ways to our curling community, both indoor and outdoor.

Photo © WCF / Céline Stucki

25 Aug 2020 – Exciting opportunities for curlers in NZ to take advantage of scholarships have been provided by the World Curling Federation, through their partnership with the World Academy of Sport. Full details are on the WCF site here.

There are two opportunities:

• Postgraduate Certificate – targeted at individuals with professional experience and an interest in learning more about the industry of International Sports Management
• Athlete Certificate – targeted at students who want to gain a broader understanding of what it takes to become a successful athlete

Sam Inder

28 Jul 2020 – Acclamation greeted the New Zealand Curling Association's unanimous decision to award Life Membership to Sam Inder at its recent Annual General Meeting. The meeting was Sam's last as President of an organisation he has been heavily involved with for many years.

His fellow Life Member and former long-time NZCA Secretary Peter Becker spoke at length of Sam's service to curling and to the New Zealand Curling Association.

Although his final role as President was the statutory 2-year maximum, Sam has served either on the Executive Committee or as an officer from 2007, and was its Chairman for the best part of a decade. At different times he has served on the Board of the Maniototo Curling International rink, and also had a spell as its Manager.

Sam also played a leading role in organising many of the superb international events that have come to our shores in recent years, including the 2012 Pacific-Asia Championships, 2015 Pacific Asia Juniors, 2019 World Qualifying Event, and several Winter Games tournaments.

Everyone involved in curling in New Zealand is grateful for Sam's contribution to our sport, whether they play on the natural ice of the Poolburn Dam, or indoors in Naseby, Dunedin or Auckland.
 

Photo © Malcolm McNeil / NZCA

26 Jul 2020 – The Nicolson Trophy, considered the most prestigious "outdoors" trophy a club can win outside of a National Bonspiel, was played at Naseby Ice Rink on Monday 17 July.

Only four clubs compete in this event, and they must qualify by being one of the top two clubs for the season from each of the Idaburn and Naseby Curling Councils. This year's qualifiers were Kiwi and Ranfurly Curling Clubs representing Naseby Council, and the Alpine and Poolburn Curling Clubs from the Idaburn Council.

Each club puts up two rinks each, and each rink is drawn to play against a side from both of the other Council's clubs. They play one 21-end game in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Photo © Malcolm McNeil / NZCA

23 Jul 2020 – The Idaburn Trophy was contested at Alexandra's IceInLine rink last Friday, 17 July. This is a one-day outdoor "North v South" match between teams from the Naseby Curling Council and the Idaburn Curling Council.

The 10 teams competing each played two 21-end games against a rink from the opposing Council. The curlers saw sun in the afternoon but temperatures never got above zero, so conditions were perfect and the slick ice held well all day.

Idaburn came out winners over Naseby on the day by 7 wins and a draw to 2 wins and a draw. The result was closer than it seemed, with three matches won by a single point and a number of others that came down to the last end.

14 Nov 2019 – New Zealand sport is set to get a massive boost thanks to a ground-breaking grassroots sports initiative launched today by Sky and Olympian and former America's Cup sailor Rob Waddell.

More than 50 National Sports Organisations and rights-holders – including New Zealand Curling – have come together to form the New Zealand Sport Collective, led by Rob Waddell. Together, they will be part of Sky Sport Next, a platform designed to be a launching pad for some of New Zealand's most popular grassroots sports and rising young talent.

Through Sky Sport Next, New Zealanders will get free access to watch more than 50 different sports and thousands of events, many of which wouldn't have otherwise been live streamed or made their way to a leading platform.

Presentation after the Idaburn Trophy's 2017 match. Photo © Lottie Hedley / lottiehedleyphotography.com

13 Aug 2017 – With warm weather signalling the imminent end of the outdoor curling season, a call went out to play the “North-South” one-day match for the Idaburn Trophy last Friday, 11 August.

Icemaker Jock Scott felt that while the ice conditions would be somewhat on the trying side, the ice would probably just about hold out long enough for a day’s curling on Naseby’s Outdoor Ice Rink.

Five teams each from the Naseby and Idaburn Curling Councils started the first of two scheduled 21 end games at 9am. Sluggish ice, and later pools of water, meant that the games progressed quickly – although curlers’ arms were already aching when the first game was completed.