Jamaican curling makes history with perfect start at Pan Continental tournament

The Jamaican men’s and women’s curling teams have made a powerful statement at the World Curling Pan Continental Championship in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, with both teams remaining undefeated through the tournament’s first two days.

Competing in the B-Division, the men’s team – led by Ian Robertson, Andrew Walker, Don Johnston, and Luke Samuels – currently holds an impressive 4-0 (win-loss) record.

The men’s journey began with a thrilling debut victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday, ending 9-8 after a nail-biting 10th end. In a tough game against Hong Kong, Jamaica managed to pull away with a 9-5 win after a tight match that saw them adding three points in the final end.

Sunday saw a dominant showing as they secured an 11-0 victory over Kenya, with Kenya conceding after just seven ends. The men’s team faced another nail-biter against Brazil, with both teams tied 4-4 after regulation time, but Jamaica took advantage of having the “hammer” in the extra end to clinch a 5-4 victory.

Strong resilience and skill

The women’s team, featuring Madeleine Spurgeon, Stephanie Chen, Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon, and Alexandra Marriott, has also showcased strong resilience and skill with two hard-fought victories.

On Saturday, they rallied from an early deficit to defeat Hong Kong 8-5, scoring four points in the ninth end to turn the game around. On Sunday, Jamaica built an early 5-2 lead over Brazil, but after Brazil tied the game by scoring in the last three ends, Jamaica held their composure and clinched a 6-5 victory in extra time.

Both teams will continue their quest for a Pan Continental Championship title Monday, with the men’s team facing off against India and Saudi Arabia, and the women’s team taking on Australia.