New Zealand Curling

New Zealand v Sweden in the playoff round of 16. Photo © WCF / Alina Androsova

22 Oct 2016 – New Zealand's reward for earning the last qualifying spot in the playoffs at the World Mixed Curling Championship in Kazan, Russia was a knockout game against top qualifiers Sweden.

Brett Sargon, Thivya Jeyaranjan, Kieran Ford and Emily Whelan took their one with hammer and stole the second before Sweden replied with a double in the third end. The Kiwis then took the initiative, gaining their reward when they forced an error from the Swedes to score three rather than taking a safer option for two. NZ then led 5-2 at the fourth end break.

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.

Girls winners Maniototo Area School - Lucy Neilson, Courtney Smith, Tash Whyte, Anna Clarke. Photo Dianna Whyte / NZCA

27 Sep 2016 – The top Boys and Girls teams from Maniototo Area School showed their class at the recent New Zealand Secondary School Championships, winning both titles on home ice at Maniototo Curling International in Naseby.

The Maniototo Boys #1 team did not have everything their own way. Hamish Walker's strong Otago Boys High School side opened up a five point lead after four ends of their round robin match and continued to win 6-5. Both teams were unbeaten through the rest of the preliminary round, so OBHS went into the final as top seeds.

2016 NZ Senior Mens champions L-R: Dan Mustapic, Hans Frauenlob, Lorne DePape, Iain Craig. Photo © Gillian Craig

18 Sep 2016 – Dan Mustapic, Hans Frauenlob, Lorne DePape and Iain Craig won their third successive NZ Senior Men's Curling Championship this weekend after going through the tournament undefeated.

They were on form from the outset, with their 5 point winning margin in their first game being their closest of the round robin.

Five Men's teams lined up at the start of the event. The Women's championship was uncontested this year.

Click the image to see the ONE News clip. Photo © ONE News / TVNZ

17 Aug 2016 – ONE News called in on the one-day Curling @ Altitude bonspiel at the Southern Hemisphere Vehicle Proving Grounds at the top of the Pisa Range on Sunday.

Click here to see reporter George Berry's take on the event, and comments from Lowburn's Jack Davis and Cardrona's Roger Gardiner.

2016 NZ Mixed Doubles champions Bridget and Scott Becker. Photo © Ian Ford / NZCA

14 Aug 2016 – The final of the New Zealand Mixed Doubles Championship in Naseby this weekend was fought out between two pairs of local siblings, and in the end it was experience that won the day.

Bridget and Scott Becker scored a dramatic last shot 9-8 win over the junior pairing of Jessica and Ben Smith to retain the title they won last year.

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.