NZ Teams & Events News

Dan Mustapic, Hans Frauenlob, Dave Watt and Iain Craig

12 Sep 2017 – They looked a little rusty without recent game time at the start of last weekend's New Zealand Seniors Curling Championship in Naseby. But by the end of the tournament Dan Mustapic's side were looking pretty sharp.

Mustapic, Hans Frauenlob, Dave Watt and Iain Craig needed to score two in the last end of their opening game to secure a single point win over Team Peter Becker.

After that they looked much more assured, and shook hands early in their remaining games to go through the tournament unbeaten.

Switzerland's Palladium de Champéry, venue for the 2017 World Mixed Championship

20 Aug 2017 – New Zealand's representative teams for our first three WCF international championships of the 2017-2018 season have been confirmed.

The following teams will compete in the World Mixed Championship (Switzerland), Pacific-Asia Championships (Australia) and the World Junior B Championships (Finland):

Bridget Becker. Photo © NZCA

15 Aug 2017 – It may have been 5 years since Bridget Becker and brother Sean last competed together, but you wouldn’t have thought so after they comfortably won the NZ Mixed Doubles Curling Championship last weekend.

Their teamwork may have been understandably a little rusty early on, with a second round loss to the eventual bronze medallists Eleanor Adviento and Brett Sargon. But they found their form quickly and improved throughout the tournament to finish the round robin with a 5-1 win-loss record.

Courtney Smith and Anton Hood played consistently well through the round robin, dropping just their opening round match to the Beckers to also finish on 5-1.

Scott Arnold (R) with NZ Junior Women's team and coaches. Photo © NZCA / Jo Dowling

10 Aug 2017 – Australasia’s top curlers have just completed the World Curling Federation’s Stepping Stones programme at the MCI rink in Naseby.

The current Men’s, Women’s, Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s teams from both Australia and New Zealand were invited to the camp, as were a number of the leading Mixed Doubles athletes from both countries. Each group had a one to two day session.

Expertly led by facilitators Scott Arnold, Julie McMullin and Ken Bagnell, the programme combined on-ice and off-ice training to help national teams prepare for a season of elite curling. It introduced techniques for performance and mental analysis, and helped the athletes develop season plans for them to peak at the right times.

Peter de Boer. Photo © WCF

19 Jul 2017 – The New Zealand Curling Association (NZCA) today named Peter de Boer of Wellington as National Coach.

John Campbell, chairman of the NZCA’s High Performance Committee said, “The appointment of Peter de Boer as our first ever National Coach follows a detailed review of New Zealand’s international curling performance. Our review found that the greatest factor in high international performance was high-quality coaching, combined with committed and dedicated athletes.”

“We are very pleased to appoint Peter to this important role for the future of our sport, and we will support him as he establishes his programs for the next Olympic cycle”.

de Boer, 45, has represented New Zealand as an athlete on 7 occasions. He skipped New Zealand to a 5th place finish at the 2012 World Men’s Curling Championship, and competed in the 2013 Olympic Qualification Event.

Bailey Dowling delivers with Hunter Walker on the broom. Photo © NZ Curling / Jo Dowling

18 Jul 2017 – Although conflicting events meant there were just two teams competing for the NZ Junior Men's Curling Championship this year, there was still a tense competition. Defending titleholders Simon Neilson, Matthew Neilson and Ben Smith, with Anton Hood, were level with their challengers after the regulation eight ends in the first of a best-of-three decider.

They held hammer in the extra end and used that last stone advantage to good effect, scoring the single point they needed to secure a 5-4 win.

Their opponents Hamish Walker, Hunter Walker, Bailey Dowling and Jayden Bishop pushed them all the way in the second match too, but again fell agonisingly short.

2017 NZ Men's champions, L-R Hamish Walker, Warren Dobson, Scott Becker and Sean Becker. Photo © NZ Curling / Robert Giles

11 Jul 2017 – Both the Men's and Women's finals came down to the wire at the weekend's 2017 New Zealand Curling Championships, both games being decided with the final stone.

Although Team Sean Becker went undefeated through the round robin to be top qualifier, they found themselves trailing early in the gold medal match after Peter de Boer stole the first two ends.

Becker got back into the match with a 3 in the third, but de Boer led 4-3 at the fourth end break.

Coming into the final end trailing by 2 points, Becker held last stone advantage. With just his hammer stone left to play Becker had 5 stones in the house. de Boer held the crucial second shot, reasonably well guarded but with just an edge visible.

2017 champions Kieran Ford, Eleanor Adviento, Brett Sargon and Thivya Jeyaranjan. Photo © NZ Curling / Liz Matthews

5 Jun 2017 – Brett Sargon, Eleanor Adviento, Kieran Ford and Thivya Jeyaranjan backed up their 2016 NZ Mixed Fours title by winning this year's championship in Auckland during Queen's Birthday Weekend.

They headed off five challengers at Auckland's Paradice Avondale rink, but didn't have it all their own way.

The limited ice time available to Auckland Curling meant that the tournament format did not allow extra ends to break a tie, and Team Sargon drew their first game with Garion Long's four.

Another of the opening round games between Iain Craig and Liz Matthews was also drawn, while the remaining Glenys Taylor v Rachel Pirie clash resulted in a one point win to the latter.

31 May 2017 – The positions of National Coach and Team coaches for New Zealand Curling are open now. Applications will close on Friday 16 June.

National Coach

The High Performance committee has formulated a job description for this position. The goals include building the international competitiveness of NZ curlers and teams, and building the pathways to assist talented athletes to progress to elite levels.

Responsibilities include coaching and camps, remote coaching support, full event preparation, and supporting local clubs to provide an environment where high performing athletes can improve.