19 Aug 2025 – Curling fans in Naseby were treated to a thrilling showdown last weekend, as two world-class local teams battled it out in the finals series of the New Zealand Mixed Doubles Championship.

Courtney Smith and Anton Hood reclaimed the title they lost a year earlier, clinching victory with a single point in an extra end of the deciding match in a best-of-three final series. They edged out 2024 champions Jess Smith and Ben Smith, winning the series 2-1.

These two teams have now met in the last four finals of this event, and once again, spectators were not disappointed by the intensity and skill on display.

Five teams qualified for the Championship, which began with a round robin to determine the top three for the playoffs. Courtney and Anton went undefeated, earning a direct spot in the final. Jess and Ben’s only loss came against the eventual champions.

The remaining three teams—Bridget and Sean Becker, Holly Thompson and Hunter Burke, and Ruby Kinney and Hunter Walker—each finished with a 1-3 record. With identical results, pre-game draw shot challenges were used to rank them. Ruby and Hunter advanced to the semi-final against Jess and Ben, narrowly ahead of the other two pairs.

Jess and Ben entered the best-of-three semi-final series with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of their round robin win over Ruby and Hunter. They built an early lead in the second game and sealed the series with a commanding 9–3 victory.

Momentum continued into Sunday morning’s second game of the final, where Jess and Ben neutralised their earlier defeat with a 7–4 win, setting up a winner-takes-all decider in the afternoon.

Courtney and Anton came out firing in the final match, scoring five points in the opening end. Jess and Ben mounted a strong comeback, including two steals, to level the scores at 7-7 after the regulation eight ends. But in the extra end, Courtney and Anton held their nerve and scored a single with hammer to secure the gold.

"This season hasn't been the easiest, with a shorter build-up due to injury recovery," said the champions after the match. "It's made this result even more special. A huge thank you to our team behind the scenes who've helped us get back on track."

"Jess and Ben, thank you for an unforgettable final and for pushing us all the way. You've had a great season and are a true credit to New Zealand curling."

This Championship also served to select the NZ representative team for the coming season. The winners will play in December's Olympic Qualification Event in Canada, which will determine the final two teams for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February. The World Championship will follow in April.
 

• Full Results

2025 champions Courtney Smith and Anton Hood

Silver medallists Jess Smith and Ben Smith