NZ Teams & Events News

New Zealand played China in the bronze medal game. Photo © WCF / Richard Gray

10 Nov 2019 – The home side China beat New Zealand 9-4 in the Men's playoff for third at the Pacific-Asia Curling Championship 2019 in Shenzhen yesterday. This earned Team China the bronze medal, and with it an entry to the Qualifying Event for next year's World Men's Championship.

The Kiwis found themselves chasing the game early, after a missed runback gave Chinese skip Qiang Zou the chance to draw for a big 4-point lead in the first end.

"Unfortunately we didn't play like we should have in this game," said NZ skip Scott Becker. "We showed some of what we could do, but against professional teams you cannot afford so many misses."

Team NZ vs Czech Republic. Photo © WCF / Richard Gray

21 Oct 2019 – The New Zealand team were disappointed but not disheartened following their 2 win - 5 loss record at the World Mixed Championship 2019 in Scotland.

"We didn't quite get the results we wanted," said Benjamin Frew. "But we had an amazing time nonetheless. I don't have enough words to describe how amazing competing here was."

"I think we all learned a lot," added Kieran Ford. "It was a great event to be part of, and a great atmosphere."

These two joined Mhairi-Bronte Duncan and skip Thivya Jeyaranjan in their first tournament together at the Curl Aberbeen-hosted event.

NZCOE participant Mhairi-Bronté Duncan in Stockholm. Photo: Mhairi-Bronté Duncan

9 Oct 2019 – The NZCOE (New Zealand Curling Overseas Experience) is a new initiative from NZ Curling.

It is designed to provide our aspiring athletes with the opportunity to spend an extended period overseas, developing their skills and understanding of the game.

"We anticipate that by being fully immersed in a curling community in Canada or Europe, our athletes will both improve their ability, and importantly, return to New Zealand as strong advocates and teachers of our wonderful sport," explained Peter de Boer, NZ Curling's National Coach.

L-R Iain Craig, Dave Watt, Dan Mustapic and Hans Frauenlob

8 Sep 2019 – Hans Frauenlob, Dan Mustapic, Dave Watt and Iain Craig went undefeated to win the NZ Senior Men's Curling Championship in Dunedin over the weekend, but they had to work for their win.

In a tournament of two halves they were untroubled to win their first two games in the three-team competition. But both opponents picked up their game to push Team Frauenlob all the way in the second half of the double round robin.

Kenny Thomson, Phil Dowling, Dean Fotti and Ian Ford put 3 on the board in the second end to take an early lead, and Team Frauenlob didn't get their noses in front until they scored 3 with a measure in the seventh.

Peter Becker presents the Wendy Becker Trophy to Warren Dobson and Jennifer Stewart. Photo: Janyne Fletcher

22 Jul 2019 – The new Wendy Becker Trophy for Sportsmanship was awarded for the first time at the conclusion of the New Zealand Men's and Women's Championships earlier this month, to Warren Dobson and Jennifer Stewart.

Peter Becker presented the half-curling stone trophy in memory of his late wife, who passed away three years ago. Wendy is fondly remembered by all who knew her both for her sportsmanship on the ice, and for her warmth, hospitality and generosity to the local, national and international curling community when off the ice.

The inaugural winners were selected by their fellow curlers at the NZ Championships.

The Australian Curling Federation also honours Wendy's memory with their annual Wendy Becker Memorial Sportsmanship Award.

Courtney Smith encourages her sweepers. Photo: Janyne Fletcher

15 Jul 2019 – After six rounds of games over three days, Teams Courtney Smith and Matt Neilson claimed the 2019 Women's and Men's titles at the New Zealand Junior Curling Championships in Naseby over the weekend.

A feature of the competition was the tightness of many of the matches – particularly the Men's. Although there were only three Men's teams entered, the six curlers with international experience were spread across the three teams so played with younger emerging talent.

Team Matt Neilson dropped their first game 5-4 after trailing throughout, and after the first full round robin, the three sides had recorded a win and a loss each.

15 Jul 2019 – New Zealand Curling sends athletes overseas to the majority of the WCF sanctioned events each year. However, due to funding constraints, we are often unable to also send dedicated coaches to support our athletes.

We are therefore seeking expressions of interest from internationally based Team Coaches and Managers to work with and support our athletes during these events.

We would like to create a pool of willing and able people, and call on them once teams and venues are confirmed.

Sweepers Jamie Chisholm and Phil Dowling are urged on by skip Peter de Boer

8 Jul 2019 – Experience triumphed over youth (just) at the 2019 New Zealand Curling Championships when Team Bridget Becker won the Women's title and Team Peter de Boer the Men's.

The only time de Boer led the Men's final was after the last stone of the game had been thrown, when they recorded a 4-2 win over Matt Neilson's Junior Men's side.

Neither side dominated the game, thanks to some terrific shot-making by both teams – starting with a cross-house double take-out in the second end from Neilson's fourth-stone player Anton Hood, which prompted a blank end from de Boer.

It took a well-crafted steal in the final end for de Boer, Kenny Thomson, Jamie Chisholm and Phil Dowling to claim the victory.

L-R: Runners-up Holly Thompson and Anton Hood, champions Jess Smith and Ben Smith

17 Jun 2019 – Jess and Ben Smith backed up their 2018 success when they beat Holly Thompson and Anton Hood 6-3 in an entertaining and high quality final of the 2019 NZ Mixed Doubles Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The Smith siblings held a narrow 3-2 lead at the fourth end break, but successive steals immediately afterward set the path for their win, reversing the pool result between the teams and handing Thompson and Hood their only loss of the weekend.

Courtney Smith and Hamish Walker made perfect use of their powerplay in the last end of the bronze medal game, scoring three points to head off Bridget and Sean Becker 8-6.