30 Oct 2025 – The New Zealand Men's and Women's teams finished their tournament with a flourish at the recent Pan Continental Curling Championships in Virginia, Minnesota, USA.

They both recorded their sole win of the week in their final games to end with identical 1-6 win-loss records, and seventh place overall in the event's A-Division.

The Men's side controlled their final game against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia from the outset, and the Aussies shook hands after the eighth end.

"That was really pleasing," said skip Sean Becker after the game. "We've been there or thereabouts most of the week, so it's a good feeling to put it all together in one game."

The Women faced off against Mexico in their battle to avoid the wooden spoon. The Kiwis led a tight game by one point going into the final end, but without last-stone advantage.

Skip Bridget Becker brought it home with her final stone, a millimetre-perfect angled runback to secure a well-protected shot rock, which the Mexican skip was unable to dislodge.

Canada beat USA in the Men's gold medal match, with Japan taking bronze. China headed the Women's podium, ahead of Canada and Korea.

This was the final Pan Continental Championships. From the 2026-27 international season, the pathway to expanded Men's and Women's World Championships will be via a new World-B qualifying tournament in November of each year.
 

• World Curling tournament page – news and live scoring
• The Curling Channel – live streaming (payments apply)
• World Curling – A Becker family affair
• World Curling – Rachael Pitts, switching TikToks for rocks
• Otago Daily Times – Four Becker siblings take to the ice for NZ
• NZ results at Pan Continental Championships – Men | Women
• NZ Women's Team – Facebook | Instagram