Curling in Russia - 2008 Continental Cup of Curling - Team World vs Team North America

The Continental Cup of Curling will hold its sixth edition, December 18-21 in Camrose, Alberta, Canada and will feature six World teams (three male and three female) combined in a unique challenge event against six North American teams.

The roster for Team World has been confirmed for the 2008 Continental Cup of Curling.

Previously known as Team Europe, Team World will feature two squads from China for the first time. Bingyu Wang led her women's team to a silver medal at the 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Vernon, Canada last March while Fengchun Wang's foursome finished fourth in their international debut at the recent 2008 World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, USA.

Joining the Chinese will be men's teams skipped by David Murdoch of Scotland and Thomas Ulsrud of Norway, and women's teams led by Anette Norberg of Sweden and Mirjam Ott of Switzerland.

Murdoch and Ulsrud finished first and second at the 2007 Le Gruyere European Championships and also finished second and third at the 2008 Worlds, behind champion Kevin Martin of Canada.

Norberg captured the 2007 European women's crown while Ott claimed bronze at the 2008 Ford Worlds.

"The WCF is extremely proud to include two teams from the Pacific Curling Federation in the Team World roster for the 2008 Continental Cup," said WCF president Les Harrison. "The men's and women's teams from China are the first from their region to ever qualify to play in the Cup. The teams will now make Team World truly representative of the rest of the world outside North America as both are eager to demonstrate that the Pacific Zone has improved their skills to compete at the highest levels of world play."

Two curling legends will guide Team World in Camrose: Paal Trulsen of Norway, the 2002 Olympic Champion skip, is the Team Captain while Sweden's Peja Lindholm, a three-time world champion skip, will serve as coach.

"I am honoured and excited by this challenge," said Lindholm, who retired from competition in January. "As a former player, three times, in the Continental Cup, I know how special it is and I look forward to coming back again.

"I know Paal really well and he knows me. We are good friends and we respect each other. We also shares the same values so I am sure our teamwork will be excellent."

The Continental Cup of Curling is a four-day competition involving:
- Team games - 72 points
- Mixed Doubles - 36 points
- Singles - 32 points
- Skins games - 260 points

The first side to score 201 points is declared the winner.

- Team World / Team North America / Continental Cup of Curling History-

Final Standings of Continental Cup of Curling 2008

Day by Day:

21.12.2007 (Sunday)
Forth day:
After last day Team World victorious in Continental Cup 208-192

Round 10 10:30am Skins Competition - C
B - Women's: Team World - Team North America* 41-14
Team World: Anette Norberg (skip, 78%), Kajsa Bergstom 81%, Cathrine Lindahl 73%, Anna Svard 89%
Team Total: 80%
Team North America: Jennifer Jones (skip, 65%), Cathy Overton-Clapham 86%, Jill Officer 73%, Dawn Askin 80%
Team Total: 76%

Round 11 04:00pm Skins Competition - C
C - Men's: Team World* - Team North America 15-40
Team World: Thomas Ulsrud (skip, 57%), Torger Nergard (80%), Christoffer Svae (71%), Havard Vad Petersson (84%)
Team Total: 72%
Team North America: Kevin Martin (skip, 78%), John Morris (73%), Marc Kennedy (80%), Ben Hebert (89%)
Team Total: 81%
Round Total: 56-54

The end came early in the 55-point men’s Skins game between Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud and Canada’s Kevin Martin, the acknowledged master of Skins Games and reigning world champion.

Team World entered the final game needing only eight points to claim the Cup, leading North America, 193-152, after Sweden’s Anette Norberg had defeated Canada’s Jennifer Jones, 41-14 in the morning’s 55-point women’s Skins game. So Martin’s unenviable task was to either take skins or force carryovers.

After the teams traded four-point skins in the first two ends, it meant that Martin had to sweep the rest of the game. After a third-end carryover, when Martin couldn’t count a deuce on a hit, it was left to Ulsrud for the fourth-end heroics.

With hammer, he made an incredible triple-raise takeout with his last stone, removing a Martin rock biting the button, and sticking around for a deuce and the 11-point skin. That elevated the World total to 208, seven more than necessary to claim the Cup.

Pal Trulsen and Russ Howard

20.12.2007 (Saturday)
Third day:
After third day of 2008 Continental Cup of Curling Team World lead 147-143

Round 7 12:00 Skins Competition - A
A - Men's Teams: Team World - Team North America* 10-10
Team World: Fengchung Wang, Rui Liu, Xiaoming Xu, Jialiang Zang
Team North America: Craig Brown, Rich Ruohonen, John Dunlop, Peter Annis
B - Mixed Teams: Team World* - Team North America 5-15
Team World: David Murdoch, Carmen Schafer, Christoffer Svae, Anna Svard
Team North America: John Morris, Marliese Kasner, Blake MacDonald, Lana Vey
С - Women's Teams: Team World - Team North America* 10-10
Team World: Bingyu Wang, Yin Liu, Qingshuang Yue, Yan Zhou
Team North America: Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Tracy Sachtjen
Round Total: 25-35

Round 8 06:00pm Singles Competition
A - Men's Team World (Team Fengchun Wang) - Team North America (Team Kevin Koe) 20-15
(4 points - Team World)
B - Men's Team World (Team David Murdoch) - Team North America (Team Kevin Martin) 16-19
(4 points - Team North America)
C - Men's Team World (Team Thomas Ulsrud) - Team North America (Team Craig Brown) 18-17
(4 points - Team World)

A - Women's Team World (Team Mirjam Ott) - Team North America (Team Debbie McCormick) 11-11
(2 points - Team World, 2 points - Team North America)
B - Women's Team World (Team Bingyu Wang) - Team North America (Team Jennifer Jones) 18-16
(4 points - Team World)
C - Women's Team World (Team Anette Norberg) - Team North America (Team Stefanie Lawton) 12-15
(4 points - Team North America)
Round Total: 14-10

Round 9 09:30pm Skins Competition - B
A - Men's: Team World* - Team North America 2-28
Team World: David Murdoch (skip), Ewan MacDonald, Niklas Edin, Evan Byers
Team North America: Blake MacDonald, Kevin Koe (skip), Carter Rycroft, Nolan Theissen
B - Mixed Teams: Team World* - Team North America 16-14
Team World: Thomas Ulsrud, Anette Norberg, Fengchun Wang, Bingyu Wang
Team North America: Kevin Martin, Jennifer Jones, Marc Kennedy, Dawn Askin
С - Women's: Team World* - Team North America 11-19
Team World: Mirjam Ott, Kaisa Bergstrom, Cathrine Lindahl, Janine Greiner
Team North America: Stefanie Lawton, Marliese Kasner, Teejay Surik, Lana Vey
Round Total: 29-61

19.12.2007 (Friday)
Second Day:
After second day of 2008 Continental Cup of Curling Team World lead 72-36

Round 4 10:30 Women's Teams
A Team World - Team North America* 5-4 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Bingyu Wang (skip, 70%), Yin Liu 69%, Oingshuang Yue 69%, Yan Zhou 83%.
Team Total: 73%
Team North America: Jennifer Jones (skip, 55%), Cathy Overton-Clapham 84%, Jill Officer 89%, Dawn Askin 89%.
Team Total: 79%
B Team World* - Team North America 5-3 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Anette Norberg (skip, 80%), Kajsa Bergstom 56%, Cathrine Lindahl 80%, Anna Svard 70
Team Total: 71%
Team North America: Debbie McCormick (skip, 65%), Allison Pottiger 53%, Nicole Joraanstad 77%, Tracy Sachtjen 94%
Team Total: 72%
С Team World - Team North America* 8-5 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Mirjam Ott (skip, 93%), Carmer Shafer 95%, Valeria Spalty 69%, Janine Greiner 71%
Team Total: 82%
Team North America: Stefanie Lawton (skip, 71%), Marliese Kasner 84%, Sherri Singler 77%, Lana Vey 95%
Team Total: 82%
Round Total: 18-0

Round 5 03:00pm Mixed Teams
A Team World - Team North America 13-2 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Carmer Schaefer (70%), David Murdoch (76%)
Team North America: Debbie McCormick (57%), Rich Ruohonen (75%)
B Team World - Team North America 1-10 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: Yin Liu (78%), Fengchung Wang (66%)
Team North America: Stefanie Lawton (50%), Carter Rycroft (72%)
С Team World - Team North America 5-9 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: Bingyu Wang (73%), Rui Liu (51%)
Team North America: Marliese Kasner (83%), John Morris (92%)
Round Total: 6-12

Round 6 10:00pm Men's Teams
A Team World* - Team North America 9-4 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: David Murdoch (skip, 98%), Ewan MacDonald (88%), Peter Smith (94%), Euan Byers (83%)
Team Total: 91%
Team North America: Blake MacDonald (54%), Kevin Koe (skip, 60%), Carter Rycroft (73%), Nolan Theissen (94%)
Team Total: 70%
B Team World* - Team North America 3-7 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: Thomas Ulsrud (skip, 63%), Torger Nergard (77%), Christoffer Svae (80%), Havard Vad Petersson (91%)
Team Total: 78%
Team North America: Kevin Martin (skip, 92%), John Morris (92%), Marc Kennedy (95%), Ben Hebert (96%)
Team Total: 94%
С Team World - Team North America* 3-6 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: Fengchung Wang (skip, 73%), Rui Liu (59%), Xiaoming Xu (75%), Jialiang Zang (75%)
Team Total: 71%
Team North America: Craig Brown (skip, 86%), Rich Ruohonen (83%), John Dunlop (83%), Peter Annis (88%)
Team Total: 85%
Round Total: 6-12

18.12.2007 (Thursday)
First Day:
After first day of 2008 Continental Cup of Curling Team World lead 36-18

Round 1 10:30 Women's Teams
A Team World* - Team North America 8-3 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Bingyu Wang (skip, 91%), Yin Liu 71%, Oingshuang Yue 83%, Yan Zhou 83%.
Team Total: 79%
Team North America: Stefanie Lawton (skip, 70%), Marliese Kasner 69%, Sherri Singler 70%, Lana Vey 77%.
Team Total: 71%
B Team World* - Team North America 4-4 (3 points - Team World, 3 points - Team North America)
Team World: Anette Norberg (skip, 73%), Kajsa Bergstom 72%, Cathrine Lindahl 77%, Anna Svard 79%
Team Total: 75%
Team North America: Jennifer Jones (skip, 75%), Cathy Overton-Clapham 77%, Jill Officer 86%, Dawn Askin 88%
Team Total: 81%
С Team World - Team North America* 10-3 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Mirjam Ott (skip, 80%), Carmer Shafer 91%, Valeria Spalty 94%, Janine Greiner 70%
Team Total: 84%
Team North America: Debbie McCormick (skip, 66%), Allison Pottiger 55%, Nicole Joraanstad 70%, Tracy Sachtjen 86%
Team Total: 70%
Round Total: 15-3

Round 2 03:00pm Mixed Doubles
A Team World - Team North America 7-5 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Torger Nergard (82%), Anette Norberg (77%)
Team North America: Craig Brown (72%), Allison Pottinger (59%)

B Team World - Team North America 7-7 (3 points - Team World, 3 points - Team North America)
Team World: Cathrine Lindahl (65%), Thomas Ulsrud (80%)
Team North America: Jennifer Jones (72%), Mike Kennedy (79%)
С Team World - Team North America* 12-6 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Ewan McDonald 64%, Mirjam Ott (69%)
Team North America: Kevin Koe (70%), Cathy Overton-Clapham (63%)
Round Total: 15-3

Round 3 09:00pm Men's Teams
A Team World* - Team North America 6-4 (6 points - Team World)
Team World: Thomas Ulsrud (skip), Torger Nergard, Christoffer Svae, Havard Vad Petersson
Team North America: Kevin Koe (skip), Blake MacDonald, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Theissen
B Team World* - Team North America 1-10 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: Fengchung Wang (skip, 43%), Rui Liu (70%), Xiaoming Xu (70%), Jialiang Zang (91%)
Team Total: 68%
Team North America: Kevin Martin (skip, 95%), John Morris (82%), Marc Kennedy (95%), Ben Hebert (86%)
Team Total: 89%
С Team World - Team North America* 4-6 (6 points - Team North America)
Team World: David Murdoch (skip, 75%), Ewan MacDonald (66%), Peter Smith (73%), Euan Byers (88%)
Team Total: 75%
Team North America: Craig Brown (skip, 83%), Rich Ruohonen (80%), John Dunlop (91%), Peter Annis (79%)
Team Total: 83%
Round Total: 6-12

Team World:
1. David Murdoch (Scotland). 2006 World Men's Championship, 2007 and 2008 European Men's Championship, Silver medalist of 2008 World Men's Championship, a three-time Cup participant.
2. Thomas Ulsrud (Norway). Bronze medalist of 2006 and 2008 World Men's Championships, silver medalist of 2007 and 2008 European Men's Championship.
3. Fengchun Wang (China), 4 place at 2008 World Men's Championship
4. Bingyu Wang (China), silver medalist of 2008 World Women's Championship
5. Anette Norberg (Sweden), 2007 European Women's Champion, 2006 Olympic Champion
6. Mirjam Ott (Switzerland), bronze medalist of 2008 World Women's Championship, and European Gold Medalist of 2008 European Curling Championship

Team Captain: Pal Trulsen (2002 Olympic Champion)
Team Coach: Peja Lindholm

Team North America:
1. Kevin Martin (Canada). World Curling Champion 2008, three-time Canadian champion and 2002 Olympic silver medallist, competed in the inaugural Continental Cup in Regina in 2002, when North America scored a dramatic, last rock victory over the World in the final men's skins game between Martin and Sweden's Peja Lindholm.
2. Jennifer Jones (Canada). 2008 World Champion, two-time Canadian champion, was a member of the winning North America side at the 2007 Cup
3. Craig Brown (USA). USA Curling Champion
4. Debbie McCormick (USA). 2003 world champion, will be making her fourth Cup appearance for North America, after competing in 2003, 2006 and 2007
5. Kevin Koe (Canada). One of the famous curler in Canada
6. Stefanie Lawton (Canada). Canada Curling Cup 2008 owner, 2000 World Junior Championship Silver medalist

Team Captain: Russ Howard (2006 Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion)
Team coach: Jim Waite

Continental Cup of Curling History:

North America holds a 3-2 lead in championships since competition began in 2002. The Continental Cup of Curling is a joint venture of the World Curling Federation, Canadian Curling Association, and United States Curling Association.

In 2002, Team North America edged Team World at the inaugural 'Cup' in Regina, 207-193, decided by a thrilling men's final Skins game between Kevin Martin and Peja Lindholm, which went down to last rock.

In 2003, Team Europe turned the tables, winning 208-179 in Thunder Bay I
In 2004, Team North America recaptured the title by a 228-172 score in Medicine Hat, before a record four-day crowd of 42,317.

In November 2005, in Chilliwack, it was Europe's turn to even the score, winning 229-171, when all of the curling medallists from the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy participated.

In 2007, Team North America destroy the European team 110-278!

Some of the world's best-known teams have competed in past Continental Cups. In addition to this year's line-up, others include teams skipped by Canada's Kevin Martin, Brad Gushue, Kelley Law, Jennifer Jones and Colleen Jones, Norway's Pal Trulsen and Dordi Nordby, Sweden's Elisabet Gustafson, Anette Norberg and Peja Lindholm, Scotland's Rhona Martin, Jackie Lockhart and Hammy McMillan, Germany's Andrea Schopp, Andy Kapp and Finland's Markku Uusipaavalniemi.

The Continental Cup is a joint venture of the Canadian Curling Association, the United States Curling Association and the World Curling Federation.

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