Jamaica’s curling teams put on an impressive show at the Pan Continental Championships’ B-Division play-offs in Alberta, Canada, with the Jamaican women’s team clinching the silver medal for the second consecutive year.
The women’s team—comprised of Madeleine Spurgeon, Stephanie Chen, Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon, and Alexandra Marriott—triumphed over Kazakhstan 9-8 in Friday’s semi-final before falling to Australia 11-4 in Saturday’s championship match.
The Jamaican men’s team, making its international debut, showcased significant potential with a strong round-robin record of 8-2 (win-loss). The squad—featuring Ian Robertson, Andrew Walker, Don Johnston, and Luke Samuels—advanced to the semi-finals, where they faced Kazakhstan and were defeated 10-3. In the bronze medal match against Hong Kong, the Jamaican men were narrowly edged out, ending with an 8-7 score after a hard-fought battle.
The Jamaican curling program, still relatively new to world-level competition, has consistently demonstrated remarkable progress. This year’s Pan Continental performance was especially notable given Jamaica’s recent entry into competitive curling, showing that Jamaica can challenge and defeat established curling nations, a rare feat for newer teams. As the team continues to aim for an Olympic appearance, their success serves as a promising indicator.
Passion and commitment
Christopher Samuda, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, praised the team’s achievements and dedication, highlighting their passion and commitment to reaching new heights in winter sports. “Curling Jamaica exemplifies not only talent but a drive for excellence and ground-breaking accomplishments,” he stated, also acknowledging the team’s founder, Ben Kong, and President Ian Robertson.
Next up for Jamaica’s curling program is the “World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event” in Dumfries, Scotland, from December 2-7, where Andrew Walker and Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon will represent the country.
In the women’s semi-final on November 1, Jamaica clinched a 9-8 win against Kazakhstan. After trailing, Jamaica rallied with a commanding six-point lead, holding Kazakhstan to a single final point to secure their place in the championship. Facing Australia in the final, Jamaica battled hard but ultimately lost 11-4 to a team with prior A-Division experience. As B-Division champions, Australia will rejoin the top A-Division tier, competing against powerhouse teams such as Canada and the USA.
In the men’s semi-final, Jamaica briefly led Kazakhstan but couldn’t maintain momentum, ending 10-3. The bronze medal game with Hong Kong saw Jamaica rally from behind to tie at 7-7 before Hong Kong clinched the win with a last-point shot, taking the bronze. The championship final saw the Philippines best Kazakhstan 9-3.
