Stonehenge stay on top

Club League

12 Nov 2023 – Stonehenge claimed the major honours in the Auckland Club league for 2023 with a 7-3 win against Rockers in the A Division final at the end of October. This marks the sixth straight year that Stonehenge have won or shared the title, this year comprising Benjamin Frew, Kieran Grieve, Garion Long, Jack Millar, and Brett Sargon.

A full slate of 20 teams meant that there were 5 divisions in the playoffs. Draw to the Button's consistent season saw them win the B Division, and the C Division title was shared by the YDP Men and Team PSST following a 4-4 draw in their final.

Rockstars won the D Division final and Rock Slide took home the E Division trophy.

In the Club's prizegiving immediately after the final, Club awards were also presented:

Spirit of Curling – Sophie Tran
Coach of the Year – Liz Matthews
Most Improved Team – Oddstones
Most Improved Player – Abraham Chanwong
Rookie of the Year – Joe Zhang
Big End Award – Winging It (6 points)

President Rhys Greensill congratulated the club on a full and positive year.

Auckland Curling's year began with a pre-season weekend in Dunedin, where the home side won the inaugural inter-club Matthews Challenge Shield.

A record 20 teams entered the club league, and the players commended Club Captain Ken Clasper for his efforts in co-ordinating and fitting an excellent competition around the available time and date constraints.

With another 20 teams contesting the Auckland Secondary School competition, this meant that there were nearly 200 active curlers in the city this year.

This was the first year of Auckland's Youth Development programme, and the YDP squad were congratulated for their full participation in club activities and the progress they had made in the game, both individually and collectively. A highlight was Tahlia Petersen's inclusion in the NZ Junior Women's team for the World Junior B Championships.

The success of the Youth and School programmes could not have been reached without generous funding support, and Rhys thanked the Trillian Trust, The Lion Foundation, NZCT, The Trusts Community Foundation, and World Curling's Development and Promotion Fund.

Progress towards a dedicated curling facility hit a snag when budget constraints meant that our application to Auckland Council for detailed planning funding was unsuccessful, but leads for alternative sources were being followed up.