CURLING JAMAICA
Feb 25, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2024
CURLING JAMAICA HOSTS SUCCESSFUL THIRD EDITION OF INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Hamilton, ON, Canada – Curling Jamaica hosted six other “new” curling nations at its “International Friendly” on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Curling Jamaica’s national team hopefuls, many of whom competed in Jamaica’s National Championship of Mixed Doubles Curling the day before, were joined by players from the national team programs of Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, Guyana, Hong Kong, and the Philippines in three draws of exhibition games.
The Kenyan team had the distinction of travelling the furthest to attend this event – from Nairobi to Hamilton. Many of the other participating players were based throughout Southern Ontario.
Three disciplines were contested at this International Friendly: Doubles, Triples (a new 3-person team format with unique rules), and traditional 4-person curling.
In the four-on-four draw, the newly assembled Jamaican men’s team of Ian Robertson, Andrew Walker, Don Johnston, and Luke Samuels made their International Friendly debut vs. Guyana, an established program whose men’s team was in the “A” Division of the Pan Continental Regional Qualifying Group last year. Guyana scored a 6-4 victory over Jamaica in a close game. Also in the same draw, the Jamaica women (Madeleine Spurgeon, Stephanie Chen, Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon and Alexandra Marriott) defeated Hong Kong by a score of 8-4.
In mixed doubles, Jamaica’s sibling duo of Stephanie Chen and Justin Chen scored early and often to defeat Portugal 10-3. Mexico defeated Jamaica’s other doubles team, Madeleine Spurgeon and Don Johnston, by a 9-7 score.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY RESULTS – SUN. FEB. 25, 2023 | ||
Draw 1 – Triples Format | Draw 2 – Four-on-Four | Draw 3 – Doubles |
Jamaica (Women) 8 Philippines “A” 0 Portugal 8 Jamaica (Men) 0 Jamaica (Open) 8 Philippines “B” 0 Guyana 7 Hong Kong 1 | Guyana 6 Jamaica (Men) 4 Jamaica (Women) 8 Hong Kong 4 Philippines “A” 10 Jamaica (Open) 1 Philippines “B” 6 Kenya 4 Portugal 10 Mexico 3 | Jamaica (Chen) 10 Portugal “A” 3 Mexico 9 Jamaica (Spurgeon) 7 Guyana 9 Philippines “A” 5 Philippines “B” 6 Portugal “B” 3 |
Curling Jamaica Director and event organizer Ben Kong said that the International Friendly has grown significantly since its humble beginnings, and credits the invited teams and Curling Jamaica members for its success. “We are very pleased overall with this year’s event, and how far it has come,” said Kong. “The first edition was reduced in size and participation due to the pandemic, with only four teams and 12 players taking part. Fast forward to today, we have expanded to 7 teams including ourselves on a five-sheet facility. Thank you to Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club for being such great hosts.”
“Our players and invited guests made the difference,” Kong continued. “Thank you to team Kenya who travelled from Nairobi to Canada for this event, and to our members who travelled from the U.K. and New York City, respectively. It was valuable experience for our members to play against international competition in an exhibition setting.”
About Curling Jamaica: Curling Jamaica is the sole governing body of the winter sport of Curling in Jamaica, and currently operates in Ontario, Canada, with corporate registered head offices in Toronto, Ontario and Kingston, Jamaica. Players are based in Canada, Scotland and the United States. For further information about Curling Jamaica, visit www.curlingjamaica.com
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Ben Kong at ben.jamaicacurling@gmail.com
or Ian Robertson at president@curlingjamaica.com