New Zealand's curlers, many from Central, have made history at the Pan Continental Championships in Canada, as for the first time both men's and women's teams have qualified for next year’s World Championships.

The Kiwi men have played at five World Championships since their first appearance in 1999, most recently in 2012. 

It will be the first-ever appearance for a New Zealand women's side.

Many members of the kiwi teams have strong ties with Central, and are living here currently or grew up here, including; Ruby Kinney (Hyde), Bridget Becker (Patearoa), Natalie Thurlow (Becks), Holly Thompson (Ranfurly), Jess Smith (Naseby), Hunter Walker (Kyeburn) and Ben Smith, Anton Hood and women’s coach Nelson Ede (Naseby).

Women’s skip Jess Smith returned to international competition following successful cancer treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year. 

Naseby’s Jess Smith on the ice in Calgary, Alberta against Japan. 

Initially, the team was scheduled to be playing in the ‘B’ event in Calgary, having competed at just one international tournament in the past five years. 

China’s late withdrawal resulted in NZ being included in the main event where the top five would qualify for the World Championships.

The determined side came from behind to beat Hong Kong, and they clinched their fifth place and entry into the World Championship with a tense 10-7 win against Australia for a four win - four loss record.

"We just hope that qualifying [for the Worlds] will boost curling in New Zealand and get more people playing the sport that we love so much," women’s team skip Jess Smith said.

The men lost their last round-robin game against Japan 9-5 but finished fifth overall, also qualifying for the World Championships.

New Zealand men’s team is (from left) Peter de Boer, Hunter Walker, Brett Sargon, Ben Smith and Anton Hood

"It's a big deal [qualifying for the World championships], especially as both the men and women have got there," skip Anton Hood said.

"All the boys have been working hard for the start of the four-year [Olympic] cycle, and we're pretty chuffed. I think we've given everyone we've played a decent run."

Brett and Ben playing against Australia in the recent tournament

The women's World Curling Championship 2023 takes place in Sandviken, Sweden in March. The men's World Championship will be hosted in Ottawa, Canada in April.

The Central App will continue to bring you news of the teams’ progress at these tournaments.