Curious about Kurling?

On Friday, two teams of Year 3 and 4 children played in a kurling competition at Alec Reed Academy. It was a long journey, involving a number of modes of transport which prompted lots of excitement and conversation!

The children had a chance to warm up,try out the stones and learn about the game before the competitions began. New Age Kurling is a tactical sport adapted from traditional ice curling and bowls and designed to be played on any flat, smooth surface like a sports hall rather than ice. The game uses 8 weighted stones (4 red and 4 blue) which are like discs with handles. The stones are made with three ball bearings underneath, allowing them to glide smoothly towards the vinyl target with concentric scoring rings placed on the floor. Players take turns sliding their stones toward the target center (bullseye). You can score points by knocking opponent stones out of the way or positioning your own closer to the centre. At the end of each round (end), the team with the stone closest to the centre scores 1 point, plus an extra point for every subsequent stone closer to the center than the opponent’s best stone.

Team A were in a large group playing in a ’round robin’ format. After two initial draws, the team’s confidence grew. They developed their understanding of how the stones moved, how the scoring worked and even started to strategise, thinking about the best place to aim for with their shot. Victories against Perivale, St Vincents and Holy Family led to well-deserved silver medals.

The B team tournament had fewer teams and so teams played each other twice. After another first game draw, the team played consistently well. Ms Jolliffe and Ms Gardher particularly loved the way the team cheered and supported each other. A resounding 4-0 win against Gifford resulted in a third place finish and bronze medals at the final ceremony.
Well done to everyone who played!