Central Otago players took five of the six medalist places in the first New Zealand Curling Junior Mixed Doubles Championships in Dunedin last weekend (July 21-23), which was apt as the tournament was the brainchild of Maniototo curling stalwart Peter Becker.

Peter, New Zealand’s only inductee into the World Curling Hall of Fame, suggested the championships to NZ Curling to prepare younger players for the mixed doubles played at senior level.

“I thought it would be a good idea to put some tournaments in place for our younger players,” he said. 

Olivia Russell and Jed Nevill, both of whom are only 17, won the championships.

Curlers in New Zealand miss out on the high quality games that are easily available to players in Canada, the United States and Europe, Peter said.

As NZ Curling coaching coordinator, he was also one of three umpires at the championships, which was also attended by selectors for the national teams.

“I went down there and thought it would be some kids just fooling around, but it was very competitive and those who didn’t know much learned a lot on the ice.

“I was really pleased to see the juniors stepping up and playing some great games.”

Darcy Nevill and Lucy Neilson took silver at the weekend.

The gold medals at the championships went to Olivia Russell (of Patearoa) and Jed Nevill (Poolburn); silver to Lucy Neilson (Ranfurly) and Darcy Nevill (Poolburn); and bronze to Tahlia Petersen (Auckland) and William Becker (Patearoa).

Peter said that Olivia and Jed, both 17, were competing against a lot of older players.

“They really deserved the win,” he said. 

William Becker and Tahlia Peterson won the bronze.

NZ Curling secretary Lauren Becker said doubles was quite a different game to the fours, with fewer stones being played.

“World Curling is going to, at some stage, introduce juniors’ mixed doubles, so our juniors will be ahead,” she said.

It was chosen to hold the first championships in Dunedin to make it more attractive for curlers from the North Island to attend, Lauren said.

“Of the 10 teams entered, six competitors came down from Auckland. It was good to have that Auckland contingent.”

“NZ Curling is very conscious of including everyone,” she said.

In terms of what the curlers do, Lauren said half were secondary school students and the other half tradies or university students.