Push for more women to take up curling

Anyone in the Alexandra area wanting to learn or improve curling skills has the opportunity this school term to learn from one of the country’s best — New Zealand representative Natalie Thurlow.

Thurlow is part of the women’s team that will represent the country at the Pan-Continental Curling Championships 2022 in Calgary, Canada, from October 31.

She said although her coaching classes at the Alexandra Curling Rink each Wednesday morning from 10.30am were for all-comers, there was a definite desire to get more women involved in the sport.

‘‘I think curling is seen as a male sport, traditionally, but it’s a sport where women can compete with men on an even playing field,’’ she said.

‘‘At our national championships, we have more men than women, and a lack of women curlers is the limiting factor for our mixed teams.’’

A group of female friends who attended the coaching session last week had been inspired by Jan Sangster of Bannockburn, whose late husband, Duncan, was a keen curler.

Mr Sangster died two years ago and a memorial is held for him at the Naseby Indoor Curling Rink each year around the time of his birthday, Mrs Sangster said.

‘‘I got a group of friends together about six weeks ago and we all had a go then. Since then, there have been five or six keen ladies.’’

She said when curling competitively, ‘‘you need to use your head a wee bit, and that’s where Nat has been really good’’.

‘‘She spent five minutes explaining things and it all made much more sense.’’

— At fundraiser for the New Zealand women’s curling team will take place at the Maniototo Curling Rink on August 28 from 5pm. Tickets are limited and available through the rink.