New Zealand Curling

Team Walker in the opening round. Photo © Liz Matthews / NZCA

22 Jul 2016 – Simon and Matthew Neilson won their third New Zealand Under-21 Championship title in Dunedin last weekend.

They combined with Ben Smith and Josh Whyte for a 2-1 win in the best of three final series against Hamish Walker, Hunter Walker, Bailey Dowling and Luke Holden.

Jessica Smith, Holly Thompson and Eloise Pointon had their second consecutive national title, combining with Courtney Smith to win the Junior Women's gold medal.

Wendy Jane Becker 19 February 1953 - 11 July 2016

14 July 2016 – New Zealand Curling is deeply saddened to advise the passing of Wendy Becker, one of one of the country's most well-loved curlers.

Wendy passed away on Monday 11 July, aged 63.

Born into a well-known curling family, Wendy was a curler for most of her life and competed at the top level for many years. She represented New Zealand at eight World Senior Championships between 2005 and 2015.

As recently as 2014, Wendy and husband Peter won the MCI Doubles and later that year she skipped her team to the New Zealand Women's Championship title.

However it is for her warmth, hospitality and generosity to the local, national and international curling community that Wendy will best be remembered.

We extend our love and deepest sympathies to Peter, Sean, James, Bridget and Scott and their families.

Brett Sargon's stone about to be swept by Kenny Thomson and Phil Dowling. Photo © Rob Potter / NZCA

11 Jul 2016 – Teams Peter de Boer and Chelsea Farley went undefeated through the competition to secure the gold medals at the 2016 NZ Curling Championships last weekend.

In the Women’s final, Chelsea Farley, Thivya Jeyaranjan Tessa Farley and Eleanor Adviento had a 10-2 win over Jessica Smith, Holly Thompson, Waverley Taylor and Bridget Becker.

Peter de Boer, Brett Sargon, Kenny Thomson and Phil Dowling – all current or former NZ representatives – beat the under-21 side of Matthew Neilson, Simon Neilson, Ben Smith and Dylan Boulton-Voice 7-3 in the Men's final.

NZ Mixed winners Thiya Jeyaranjan, Brett Sargon, Eleanor Adviento and Kieran Ford. Photo © NZCA / Chelsea Farley

8 Jun 2016 – The "Maroon Four" team of Brett Sargon (skip), Eleanor Adviento (vice), Kieran Ford (2nd) and Thivya Jeyaranjan (lead) were comprehensive winners of the 2016 New Zealand Mixed Curling Championship.

They finished the Queen's Birthday weekend tournament at Paradice Avondale with a perfect 5-0 record.

The six teams entered played in two crossover pools of three, with all teams in one pool playing the sides in the other.

Sargon's Maroon Four and Liz Matthews' team topped Pool A, with both sides winning all 3 matches against their Pool B opponents. Peter de Boer and Garion Long recorded a win apiece in Pool B to qualify for semi-finals.

New Zealand were beaten by Canada in the Mixed Doubles Round of 16. Photo © WCF / Richard Gray

23 Apr 2016 – The run for New Zealand's Mixed Doubles and Senior Men came to an end early in the playoff rounds of their respective World Championships in Sweden.

Bridget and Scott Becker finished second in their Mixed Doubles pool with a 5-1 win-loss record. They then drew Canada in the Round of 16 (eighth-final) game, and were well beaten 12-2 by the Canadians, who barely missed a shot in the match.

With Olympic Qualifying points allocated down to 12th place they then had a B-side knockout match against Norway, and went down 8-3 to finish the event tied for 13th.

Winners Katja Kiiskinen (centre) and Sean Becker (right) with plate winners Kim Forge (top) and Jay Merchant (left). Photo © Katja Kiiskinen

20 Mar 2016 – It was no surprise to see the experienced internationals of Sean Becker (New Zealand) and Katya Kiiskinen (Finland) win the season-opening MCI Doubles in Naseby.

But their opponents in the final would not have been the bookmaker's favourites at the start of the weekend.

The Junior pairing of Anton Hood and Youth Olympian Courtney Smith finished second in their group behind the eventual winners. They were not fazed lining up against 2015 NZ Champions Bridget Becker and Scott Becker in their semi-final, winning in an extra end

Courtney Smith in NZ's match vs China. Photo © WCF / Richard Gray

28 Feb 2016 – Although New Zealand’s Youth Olympic curlers may not have brought any medals home from Lillehammer with them, they still performed with distinction against teams of a very high standard said coach Peter Becker.

Their 1 win - 6 loss record saw them finish in 13th place overall in the Mixed Fours event. "It was a satisfactory result,” he said. “But with more strategic experience they could have won other games too."

NZ skip Eleanor Adviento in their quarter-final v Estonia. Photo © WCF / Juha Pääjärvi & Janne Ojanperä

11 Jan 2016 – New Zealand Women finished their World Junior B Championship campaign tied for fifth of the 21 teams following their 5-4 loss to Estonia in the quarter-finals.

They completed their tournament in Lohja, Finland with a 4-3 win-loss record.

Their other two losses were also by a single point – to Russia and Japan, the eventual gold and silver medallists.

L-R Scott Becker, Brett Sargon, Peter de Boer and Sean Becker in Almaty. Photo © WCF / Alina Pavlyuchik

15 Nov 2015 – No medals will be coming home with the New Zealand teams from the recent Pacific-Asia Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Kiwi men placed fourth overall in the eight team competition – the largest field in the competition's history – while the NZ women finished at the tail of their five team field.

For the New Zealand men it could not have been any closer though, with a one point loss to Japan in their semi-final and then another one point loss to the Chinese in the bronze medal game.