Sweeping, skips and smiles were on show as 60 Central school children took part in the annual curling tournament at IceInline on Friday (June 30).

Helper Bruce Kissel said the conditions were a bit tricky for the youngsters as it was a cold start and the outside ice was vastly different to indoor curling.

The temperature was below zero when the first games began around 9.30am, but by 11am the sun was breaking through the fog, warming frozen fingers and toes. 

The year seven and eight students played in teams of four throughout the day.

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 (using a metal platform to stand on). 

Unbeaten when the Central App spoke to them were the St Gerard's School team of Alysha O’Connor, Charlie Tait, Archie Reihana, and Johnny O’Neill

The tournament has been played on the final day of term two for approximately the past 15 years.

The Terrace School’s Sylvie (11) tried our hack curling with instruction from Bruce

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

Watch a clip of some of the sweeping and curling action here.

Last year's competition was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The trophy was first awarded to St Gerards in 2008 and was most recently won by Poolburn School in 2021. 

The trophy for Central Otago Primary Schools Curling

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