CURLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21995, 3 July 1933, Page 17

CURLING

BONSPIEL AT OTUREHUA A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING., The bonspiel at Oturehua was again a great success, each of the eight clubs competing. Curling was introduced’' to Central Otago about 65 years ago, the Blackstope Hill Club, near Oturehua, formed in 1873, being the first in New Zealand. Until the splendid ice area at Oturehua was available all the principal bonspiels were held at Naseby or St. Bathans. The sport reminds one of the popular game of bowls, but there is no bias on the curling stones, which are usually of the famous Aberdeen black granite, highly polished to make them very “ keen,” and a pair of good stones may be worth up to £lO. Each stone weighs from 321 b to 401 b. Great judgment is required with regard to the effort in throwing the stone, especially when off the keen run from centre to centre of the tee, which is usually a distance of 38 yards. With eight men playing on each rink, the curlers numbered 64, and all the. players showed great enthusiasm in the sport. The dam is a mile. jn length, and by following the indentations or bays nearly three miles. It is undoubtedly the finest easily accessible skating area in New Zealand, but there were comparatively few visitors at the bonspiel owing to a lack of sufficient accommodation. The one hotel, which was lately renovated, was taxed to its capacity, and many intending visitors who telephoned for rooms were disappointed. i On the second day of the bonspiel an eight a-side mixed -ice hockey match was played. For the major portion of the day coffee, with biscuits and cheese, was provided, and a sledge laden with these comestibles was dragged to the various rinks. The clubs deserve the thanks of the onlookers for their kind hospitality in allowing them to join in their refreshments. On the completion of the first day the usual banquet was held in the supper room of the local hall, when over 70 guests sat down to the well-laden tables. A convivial meeting followed, during which several new candidates were initiated.

The dam is only a mile and a-qnarter from the railway station, so that skaters arriving by the 7.52 train from Dunedin can be ion the ice, by walking, on Monday, and Wednesday, and Friday, by 2 o’clock, and on alternate days at 2.45, The school children have a good skating pond alongside the school, and the pool is used for swimming in summer. There is also-a dam at the back of thejhotel of about an acre in area.

it is interesting to note that the most important bonspiel is held yearly at Banff, Canada, where visitors, are found frofn all parts of the world. The next of importance is held occasionally on Loch Carsebreck, in Scotland, where 4000 curlers take part in the bonspiel, and many thousands of skaters are accommodated on "the five square miles of ice,, Following are the results:-! Provincial Medal.—Mount Ida I beat Upper Manuherikia I, 18 to .17; Bought Ridge I beat Mount Ida 11, 21 to 16; Cambrian I beat Upper Manuherikia 11, 18 to 17; Central I beat Rough Ridge 11, 19 to 15; Alpine I beat Naseby I, 18 to 17; Naseby II beat Central 11, 27 to 18; Blackstone I beat Alpine 11, 22 to 18; Blackstone II beat Cambrian 11, 30 to 12. Winners: Blackstone, with two wins.

District Medals.—Mount Ida I beat Naseby I, 16 to 18; Blackstone I beat Mount Ida 11, 11 to 10; Rough Ridge I beat Upper Manuherikia I, 14 to 7; Upper Manuherikia II beat Naseby 11, 18 to 8; Rough Ridge II beat Cambrian I, 13 to 7; Blackstone II beat Central I, 12 to 11; Alpine I beat Central 11, 11 to 9; Cambrian II beat Alpine 11, 14 to 7. Winners: Rough Ridge and Blackstone, with two wins each. .. > Two Local Medals. —Mount Ida I beat Alpine I, 28 to 15; Mount Ida II beat Central I, 19 to 16; Blackstone I beat Upper Manuherikia I, 24 to 8; Upper Manuherikia II beat Alpine 11, 22 to 18; Naseby I beat Rough Ridge I, 22 to 12; Blackstone II beat Rough Ridge 11, 37 to 9; Cambrian I beat Naseby 11, 40 to 16; Cambrian II beat Central 11, 27 to Jl. Winners: Blackstone 1, Mount Ida

The President’s Medal. —Cambrian I beat Mount Ida I, 21 to 17; Upper Manuherikia I beat Central I, 22 to 14; Alpine I beat Rough Ridge I, 22 to 10: Blackstone I beat Naseoy I, 24 to 12; Cambrian II beat Rough Ridge IT, 26 to 17; Blackstone II beat Mount Ida 11. 34 to 5; Upper Manuherikia II beat Central 11, 17 to 15: Naseby II beat Alpine 11, 20 to 14. Winners; Blackstone. The Championship Snuffbox (highest aggregate score). —Blackstone. Leather Medal (for the club scoring the least number of points.)—Central.