NZ Women v USA
Enjoyable World Seniors for Kiwi sides
Seniors
6 May 2024 – Neither New Zealand side reached the playoff stages at the 2024 World Senior Championships, but for the Kiwi Men it was tantalising close.
Peter Becker, Richard Morgan, Nelson Ede, Murray Pitts and Dave Greer, with coach John Sanders, were at their first World Seniors in 10 years. They opened their tournament in style with a 5-2 win over a strong Scottish side.
"It's been a long time between drinks for us", said Peter Becker after that first match. "First game up, we met and beat Hammy McMillan – and I never thought I would ever say that! Really enjoyed the after-match with the Scots too!".
A win over Ireland in their final match saw the team finish with a 2 win - 3 loss record in a very tight pool and 20th overall, but they were just one win away from a playoff spot and a top-8 result.
It was not a smooth start for the NZ Senior Women's team of Jo Olszewski, Liz Matthews, Sandra Thomas, Merran Anderson and Pauline Farra, with Dean Fotti as coach.
They arrived in Sweden without luggage or brooms following the massive rainstorms which deluged Dubai as they were in transit. Typical of the Kiwi can-do attitude and the enduring Trans-Tasman friendship, they borrowed brooms from the New Zealand and Australian men’s teams.
With one convincing win, two close matches, and a very good draw shot challenge the side finished 12th of 18 teams.
Skip Jo Olszewski reflected after the tournament, "I'm incredibly proud of the way we maintained our spirits through adversity, stepped up to the challenges of each game, and represented New Zealand in the true spirit of curling – both on and off the ice."
- World Curling full results: Men / Women
- NZ Curling updates: Facebook / Instagram
- NZ record at World Senior Championships: Men / Women
Results – NZ Senior Men | ||||||||||
| Group B | Group B Standings | W | L | Qual | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 5 | - | 3 | Scotland | 1 | Germany | 5 | 0 | Q | |
| NZ | 4 | - | 7 | Nigeria | 2 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | Q | |
| NZ | 5 | - | 7 | Germany | 3 | Poland | 2 | 3 | ||
| NZ | 3 | - | 8 | Poland | 4 | Ireland | 2 | 3 | ||
| NZ | 9 | - | 3 | Ireland | 5 | New Zealand | 2 | 3 | ||
| 6 | Nigeria | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| Q = qualified for playoffs | ||||||||||
Results – NZ Senior Women | ||||||||||
| Group C | Group C Standings | W | L | Qual | ||||||
| NZ | 8 | - | 4 | Australia | 1 | Scotland | 5 | 0 | Q | |
| NZ | 3 | - | 7 | England | 2 | England | 4 | 1 | Q | |
| NZ | 7 | - | 10 | Denmark | 3 | USA | 3 | 2 | ||
| NZ | 3 | - | 13 | USA | 4 | New Zealand | 1 | 4 | ||
| NZ | 1 | - | 9 | Scotland | 5 | Australia | 1 | 4 | ||
| 6 | Denmark | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| Q = qualified for playoffs | ||||||||||
L to R: John Sanders, Dave Greer, Murray Pitts, Nelson Ede, Richard Morgan, Peter Becker
L to R: Pauline Farra, Merran Anderson, Sandra Thomas, Liz Matthews, Jo Olszewski
Richard Morgan, Murray Pitts and Nelson Ede, NZ v Germany
Liz Matthews, NZ v England
Peter Becker, NZ v Germany
Merran Anderson, Jo Olszewski and Pauline Farra, NZ v USA