Auckland

23 Jun 2017 – The New Zealand Olympic Committee, Auckland Curling and 80 students from Henderson and Kowhai Intermediate Schools have celebrated 2017's Olympic Day with an introduction to curling.

"The fact is that almost all of them have never tried curling," said Rob Page, NZOC's head of education.

"It's an Olympic sport, and for us it's also a way to promote the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in New Zealand, and create vocations for the future! As these Games will be taking place in the summer for us, there is less interest compared with the Summer Games, where New Zealand is strong. So I’m hoping our schoolchildren will be interested and take up curling seriously: that's our plan!"

19 May 2017 – Auckland Curling's May newsletter provides details of the NZ Mixed Fours Championship to be held at Paradice Avondale during Queen's Birthday Weekend.

This tournament is not just for those striving for medals or a place in the New Zealand Mixed Fours team. It's a great opportunity for an early-season "curling intensive" for curlers of all abilities, with 4 or 5 games over the two days.

It also lists the Sundays through the season when there will be no club curling because of other bookings for NZ Ice Hockey League, different curling events and other bookings.

Finally, there is information about other National Championships, a Junior Camp and self-nominations for aspiring NZ representatives.

Read the full newsletter here.

Photo © Auckland Curling / Liz Matthews

28 Apr 2017 – Auckland Curling ran a successful mini-spiel at Paradice, Avondale on Sunday 23 April as a warm-up for the 2017 season.

Five teams were drawn from the hat, and quick-fire games of three ends were played.

Each team was expected to rotate their skip for at least one end of each game, so everyone gained some experience at skipping.

While there were games on two sheets, the fifth team split and played the pairs format among themselves.

28 Feb 2017 – Auckland Curling's Annual General Meeting will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday 26th March at the Cornwall Park Sports Association clubrooms, Puriri Drive, Cornwall Park.

After the AGM, from around 5:00 pm, will be a barbecue. We extend a warm invitation for family, friends, former curlers and prospective curlers to join us.

There's more information, and details of our opening Have-a-Go a week later on Sunday 2 April, in our latest newsletter.

Eleanor Adviento (L) and Pauline Farra (R) at their Sports Awards

2 Dec 2016 – Auckland curlers Eleanor Advientor and Pauline Farra were recognised for their achievements at different Sports Awards functions last weekend.

At the Massey University Harbour Sport Excellence Awards in Takapuna, Eleanor Adviento won the Zeffer Cider Regional Talented Sportswoman of the year trophy.

The following day at the College Sport Awards at Eden Park, Pauline Farra's work over many years was recognised with an award for service to Secondary Schools Sport.

Key dates for Auckland Curling's 2017 season are

• Sun 26 March – AGM and barbecue
• Sun 2 & 16 April – Have a Go and training for new curlers, refresher for returning players
• Sun 23 April – Social Mini-spiel for new and returning curlers
• Sun 30 April – Club league starts, through until approximately mid-October
• Sun 4 & Mon 5  June – NZ Mixed Fours Championship

We will lose some Sundays through the season to NZ Ice Hockey League. All dates are to be confirmed.

Mixed Doubles winners Peter and Glenys Taylor. Photo Beth Gibbs

11 Oct 2016 – Peter and Glenys Taylor took home the Auckland Mixed Doubles trophy for a record third time after the Championship was contested on the last night of the club's 2016 season.

The tournament was open to both mixed and non-mixed teams, with only the mixed sides eligible to win the title. With the one-night format, each of the twelve teams entered played just three preliminary games.

After these the Taylors had a perfect three-from-three record, as did Garion Long and Ben Frew, and Liz Matthews and Ian Ford.

2016 Auckland Club Champions Cleansweep. Photo Beth Gibbs

5 Oct 2016 – Auckland Curling's 2016 Championship finals went down to the final stone last weekend, when Cleansweep stole the last two ends to beat defending champions Stonehenge 6-5.

Garion Long's Stonehenge led 5-2 after five ends of the "A" Division final before Cleansweep came back into the game. Chelsea Farley, Jonah Tan, Ryan Lewis and spare Matt Hohaia (in the absence of Tessa Farley and Eleanor Adviento) took one in the sixth and then stole another couple to tie the scores coming home.