Good sportsmanship and camaraderie were on display as 60 Central school children took part in their annual curling tournament at Ice Inline on Friday, July 5.

Helper Bruce Kissel said the conditions were different this year with the roof over the ice rink.

“The ice is harder and faster now, and there is conversation bouncing around . . . later on we might get some drips from above too.”

The temperature was -4 degrees Celsius when the first games began around 10am.

Parents, teachers and curling experts were on hand to assist those new to the sport, as a couple of schools had not had their curling lessons yet this season. 

Roxburgh Area School curlers (from left) Kaspian Knudeson (12), Kyah Patrick (13) and Aalia Mason (13).

The Year 7 and 8 students played in four person teams and each team played 15 games on eight rinks on the outdoor ice.

Two rinks were set up for hack curling, where feet are placed on a foothold, and six for crampet curling, where a metal platform is used to stand on. 

Alexandra Primary School student Poppy Smith (12) prepares to send a stone down the ice.

The tournament has been played on the final day of term two for the past 16 years and uses smaller stones suited for younger players. 

Bruce said it took him Nick and Bill about two hours to mark out the ice and get everything prepared before play began.

“It’s quite the tradition now, the kids look forward to it, and it’s all thanks to Nick’s dedication to the tournament.”

Watch a short highlights clip (40 secs) from the morning session here.

Alexandra Primary School, Clyde School, Cromwell College, Omakau School, Poolburn School, Roxburgh Area School, St Gerard’s School, and The Terrace School took part. 

The 2022 competition was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The trophy was first awarded to St Gerards in 2008 and was won by Poolburn School in 2021 and St Gerard’s School in 2023. 

The trophy for Central Otago Primary Schools Curling.

Read more: From Naseby to the worlds for Australia’s curling elite

Read more: Australian curlers training in Alexandra

Don’t know your stones from your bricks? Brush up on the rules and terminology of curling on this World Curling Federation video.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: The Central App