2011 Winter Games NZ News

Korean Men in the final. Photo © Rob Jefferies / Getty Images

Naseby, 28 August 2011 – It was Korea’s day today as they won Gold Medals in both the Men’s and Women’s Fours at the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games curling events. In both matches the Koreans beat the round-robin topping Chinese teams.

Hungary took Gold in the Mixed Doubles. The Hungarian husband and wife team of Gyorgy Nagy and Ildiko Szekeres, World silver medalists in 2009, beat Japan in the final of one of the strongest fields ever assembled outside the World Championships.

Naseby, 27 August 2011 – The pressure was on for the players at Naseby's Maniototo International Curling Rink during today's semi-final action at the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games.

Twelve teams were vying for places in tomorrow's Gold Medal matches in the Women's Fours, Men's Fours and Mixed Doubles competitions.

Naseby, 26 August 2011 – There was plenty of tension at the Maniototo Curling International ice rink today as the sides fought for a place in the semi-finals of the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games.

The Mixed Doubles round robin ended with a real log jam at the top of the leaderboard. Five teams finished with a 5 win - 3 loss record, forcing a tiebreaker to find who would be the four to go through to the semi-finals and who would miss out.

Naseby, 25 August 2011 – Switzerland have had strong wins in their last two games of the Mixed Doubles curling event at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

They now sit at the top of the leaderboard with New Zealand after 5 wins from their eight round robin matches. NZ have a game in hand.

Lake Wanaka, 25 August 2011 – This week’s 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games is playing a major role in the development of New Zealand’s Winter Olympic athletes in preparation for both January’s Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

New Zealand Olympic Committee President, Mike Stanley, said the Games provided an opportunity for the New Zealand athletes to compete against the best in the world on their home turf and raised the competitive bar in winter snow sports.

25 August 2011 – Hungarian curlers Gyorgy Nagy and Ildiko Szekeres have combined the Winter Games with a family holiday to New Zealand.

Their three daughters - Bianka (13), Laura (9) and Lola (5) - were the support party when their parents played in the mixed doubles at the Maniototo International Curling Rink this week.

Read the full Otago Daily Times article...

Sean Becker in action at Naseby this week. Photo © Rob Jefferies / Getty Images

Naseby, 24 August 2011 – It was an exciting fifth day at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games in Naseby with some close finishes and plenty of action.

Two games went to an extra end, including a Mixed Doubles thriller between the highly-favoured Swiss and the hometown New Zealand pair.

The Kiwis eventually prevailed with a 7-5 victory.

24 August 2011 – This YouTube clip from Michael Hill Winter Games TV introduces Naseby and has has interviews from the rink, from Chief Umpire Pat Edington and from the curlers.

24 August 2011 – It was a surprise when the Chinese mixed doubles combination of Liu Sijia and Han Yujun beat Switzerland at the Winter Games yesterday.

China beat the Swiss team of Irene Schori and Reto Seiler 6-5 at the Maniototo International Curling Rink in Naseby.

Read the full Otago Daily Times article...