Continental Cup of Curling

Continental Cup of Curling
Established	2002
Current holder(s)	North America

The Continental Cup of Curling is a curling tournament held annually between teams from North America against teams from the rest of the world. Each side is represented by six teams (three women's teams and three men's teams), and compete using a unique points system. The tournament is modeled after golf's Ryder Cup. The event is held near the beginning of the curling season and is not held in the same season as the Olympics.

Playing Format

Each side is represented by six teams - for the North Americans, four (two of each gender) are determined by the Canadian Curling Association based on recent participation at either the Canada Cup of Curling, the World Curling Championship, or the Olympic Winter Games. The other two North American teams are determined by the United States Curling Association. The World Curling Federation determines the six rinks representing Team World for the event.

There are four main competitions for the event, and for either side to claim the Continental Cup, 201 points must be attained from these competitions.

Mixed Doubles

The first event is the mixed doubles event, a eight-end game with two rocks in play at the start of each end (one for each team). Each team consists of two sweepers and two throwers, of which one man and one woman is to play each position. There are six mixed doubles matches, with six points given for a win in each match (or three points for both teams in the event of a tie after six ends). By tradition, each men's rink is paired with a women's rink to make two teams for this event, with each mixed team being given as the names of the two throwers. Prior to 2007, all 24 players on each side must play in either a sweeping or throwing role — starting in 2007, sweepers were eliminated to create a true "doubles" game, and any sweeping is to be done by either the thrower or the skip.

At the start of each end, two rocks, one for each team, starts in play - one inside the house and the other guarding. Five rocks are played per team, with scoring performed as normal. One thrower must throw the first and last stones of each end, while the other thrower must throw the three in between. The assignment of which stones to throw by which player may be freely changed between ends, and is simply determined by who throws the first stone. Each team is given 48 minutes on the game clock, and (as an extension of the free-guard zone rule) stones may not be removed from play until the third stone in each end is thrown (effectively creating a "five-rock rule").

There is an additional concept, known as the option, given to one of the teams. The option is given to the team which did not score in the previous end (a draw to the button determine which team will have the option in the first end), and switches teams in the event of a blank end. The team with the option has the option to select which of the two rocks in play is theirs, with the hammer going to the team with the rock in the house.

In the Continental Cup, mixed doubles games are played during the same days of competition as the team games, making up the afternoon draw. To determine the mixed doubles matchups, one captain will name a team while the other captain responds with the team that will oppose them. The right to name second alternates between the two captains through the six matchups.

The rules from this event (with the 2007 revision) was later adopted as a separate curling discipline, with the inauguration of the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in 2008.

Year	Mixed doubles winner	Points
2002	Europe	24-12
2003	North America	24-12
2004	North America	21-15
2006	North America	24-12
2007	North America	27-9
2008	World	27-9
2011	North America	30-6

Singles

The singles competition is akin to the skills competitions found in ice hockey. There are six singles matches (three women's and three men's), with four points given to the winner of each match. Eight bonus points are also awarded to the team with the better aggregate score for the singles events. By convention, each of the matches pit teams against each other: prior to 2007, one team member was to throw all six shots, while the non-throwers must sweep or skip for the thrower. Starting in 2007, each member of the team must make at least one shot, and no member may make more than two, to involve all 24 players in throwing stones.

Each singles match is determined based on a points system (with 0 for missing the shot entirely, 1 if the shot remains in play but outside the house, and higher points based on where the shooter eventually lands, up to a maximum of 5 points if the shooter reaches the button), with the thrower with the higher score winning the event. Three of the shots must be in-turns, while the other three must be out-turns, with the shots are set up according to their chosen type of turn. The six shots are as follows:

• the runthrough — the shooter must hit their own center guard, which then must hit an opposing rock at the back of the button. The position of the hit guard determines the point value of the shot.
• the draw to the button - a simple draw to the button.
• the draw through a port - the shooter must draw their rock between two opposing rocks (a corner guard and a center guard on the opposite side of the center line). Points are only awarded if the thrown rock passes through the two opposing rocks without hitting either.
• the raise - the shooter must hit their own centre guard, so that the guard goes into the house. The position of the guard determines the point value of the shot.
• the hit-and-roll - the shooter must hit an opposing stone on the corner outside the house, which would then roll towards the center of the house. The hit stone must be removed from play in order to score points.
• the double takeout - the shooter must remove two opposing stones: one at the top of the four-foot and one at the back of the button. Both stones must be removed from play in order to score points.

The singles event takes place on one day in the competition, during the afternoon draw between skins games.

To determine the singles matchups, one team captain must choose one rink while the other captain choose the rink opposing them. One captain will choose first for the first women's matchup and the second men's matchup, while the other captain chooses first for the first men's matchup and the second women's matchup. All women's games are completed before the men's games, and all shots of one type must be completed before the next shot is done. The team throwing first in one shot (which will be the same team in all three matches) will throw second in the next shot (the right to make the first shot in the runthrough alternates between the two teams every year).

Year	Team winner	Points	Top male	Top female
2002	Europe	24-8	Kevin Martin (27pts)	Katarina Nyberg (24pts)
2003	Europe	20-12	Magnus Swartling (22pts)	Marianne Haslum (15pts)
2004	North America	28-4	Randy Ferbey (21pts)	Patti Lank (20pts)
2006	Europe	18-14	Flemming Davanger (22pts) Markku Uusipaavalniemi (tie)	Kelly Scott (22pts)
2007	North America	28-4	Team Glenn Howard (26pts)	Team Jennifer Jones (26pts)
2008	World	22-10	Team Wang Fengchun (20pts)	Team Wang Bingyu (18pts)
2011	North America	22-10	Team Kevin Martin (27pts)	Team Jennifer Jones (16pts) Team Mirjam Ott (tie)

Teams

The team portion of the Continental Cup is highlighted by 12 eight-end curling games (each team plays twice), with six points awarded to the winner of each game (three for each team if the game remains tied through eight ends). In the team portion, each team captain will name a rink to play on each of the three sheets of ice, with the other captain being able to choose which of their rinks will play against them. The team games are played over two days of competition (with the women's team matches making up the morning draw and the men's matches making up the evening draw) — the team that did not select first on the first day will select first on the second day.

Year	Team winner	Points
2002	North America	48-24
2003	Europe	42-30
2004	North America	45-27
2006	Tie	36-36
2007	Tie	36-36
2008	World	45-27
2011	North America	60-12

Skins

The final event, and the event worth the most amount of points, is the skins portion. Up to 260 points can be claimed in this event, meaning that neither team can clinch the Continental Cup until the skins games are played. The points are distributed in an uneven manner through each of the eight ends. In order for a team to claim a skin (and the accumulated points), the team must either score at least two points with the hammer or force a steal without (note that in the skins competitions, blank ends will turn the hammer over to the opposing team). If after eight ends there remains points to be claimed, a draw to the button determines which team will get the accumulated points. If either team runs out of time on the game clock (each side will be given 64 minutes), the other team will win the remainder of points in the match.

The points for the event are distributed as follows:

Game	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
20 points (2007-present)	1	1	2	2	2	2	4	6
30 points (2002-2006)	2	2	3	3	3	4	6	7
30 points (2007-present)	1	1	3	3	3	4	6	9
40 points (2002-2006)	2	2	4	4	5	6	7	10
55 points (2007-present)	4	4	5	6	6	8	10	12
60 points (2002-2006)	4	4	6	6	7	9	11	13

Until 2007, there were six skins games, three men's and three women's, with the games worth 30, 40, and 60 points — typically referred to as the "A", "B", and "C" games. Starting in 2007, eight skins games would be played. Three are worth 20 points, three are worth 30 points and the remaining two are worth 55 points. As with before, there are three men's skins games and three women's skins games, with the remaining "A" and "B" game featuring mixed teams. The teams playing in the featured game must contribute two players (one male and one female) to both mixed skins games, while the teams playing in the "A" skins game must contribute two players (one male and one female) to the "B" mixed skins game and vice-versa. As with the team portion of the event, one captain will name a rink for each game, with the opposing captain naming the rink that will oppose them. By tradition, one captain must choose first for the women's and mixed "A" games, the men's "B" game, and the women's feature game, while the other captain must choose first for the remainder of the games. A draw to the button determines which team will have the hammer in the first end. The matchups are not determined until the second day of competition.

The featured skins game is played on the last day of competition, while the others are played on the same day as the singles events. With the exception of 2003 (when the men's feature game was only played to seven ends with 13 points on the line in the eighth), all skins games are played to their conclusion, even if the Continental Cup has been clinched by one side partway through, or before all matches have been played (as was the case in 2007, when North America had clinched the Continental Cup before either of the feature skins game were played).

Year	Skins winner	Points	Men's feature game	Women's feature point game
2002	North America	139-121	Kevin Martin 43-17 Peja Lindholm	Colleen Jones 41-19 Elisabet Gustafson
2003	Europe	134-113	Randy Ferbey 30-17 Peja Lindholm	Anette Norberg 60-0 Sherry Middaugh
2004	North America	134-126	Randy Ferbey 47-13 Peja Lindholm	Anette Norberg 41-19 Colleen Jones
2006	Europe	163-97	Brad Gushue 43-17 David Murdoch	Anette Norberg 32-28 Shannon Kleibrink
2007	North America	199-61	Glenn Howard 47-8 David Murdoch	Kelly Scott 33-22 Kelly Wood
2008	North America	150-110	Kevin Martin 40-15 Thomas Ulsrud	Anette Norberg 41-14 Jennifer Jones
2011	North America	186-64	Kevin Martin 39-16 Thomas Ulsrud	Cheryl Bernard 42-13 Wang Bingyu

List of Continental Cups

Year	Venue	North America	Score	World / Europe
2002	Regina, Saskatchewan	David Nedohin, Randy Ferbey, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Colleen Jones, Kim Kelly, Mary-Anne Waye, Nancy Delahunt Patti Lank, Erika Brown, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson Kelley Law, Julie Skinner, Georgina Wheatcroft, Diane Dezura Kevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Carter Rycroft, Don Bartlett Paul Pustovar, Mike Fraboni, Geoff Goodland, Richard Makel	207–193	Luzia Ebnöther, Carmen Küng, Tanya Frei, Nadia Röthlisberger Elisabet Gustafson, Katarina Nyberg, Louise Marmont, Elisabeth Persson Peja Lindholm, Tomas Nordin, Magnus Swartling, Peter Narup Hammy McMillan, Norman Brown, Hugh Aitken, Roger McIntyre Rhona Martin, Debbie Knox, Fiona MacDonald, Janice Rankin Pål Trulsen, Lars Vågberg, Flemming Davanger, Bent Ånund Ramsfjell
2003	Thunder Bay, Ontario	Mark Dacey, Bruce Lohnes, Rob Harris, Andrew Gibson David Nedohin, Randy Ferbey, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Pete Fenson, Eric Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, John Shuster Colleen Jones, Kim Kelly, Mary-Anne Waye, Nancy Delahunt Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Ann Swisshelm Silver, Tracy Sachtjen Sherry Middaugh, Kirsten Wall, Andrea Lawes, Sheri Cordina	179–208	Peja Lindholm, Tomas Nordin, Magnus Swartling, Peter Narup Jackie Lockhart, Shelia Swan, Katriona Fairweather, Anne Laird Hammy McMillan, Norman Brown, Hugh Aitken, Roger McIntyre Dordi Nordby, Hanne Woods, Marianne Haslum, Camilla Holth Anette Norberg, Eva Lund, Cathrine Norberg, Helena Lingham Pål Trulsen, Lars Vågberg, Flemming Davanger, Bent Ånund Ramsfjell
2004	Medicine Hat, Alberta	Mark Dacey, Bruce Lohnes, Rob Harris, Andrew Gibson David Nedohin, Randy Ferbey, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Colleen Jones, Kim Kelly, Mary-Anne Waye, Nancy Delahunt Patti Lank, Erika Brown, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson Marie-France Larouche, Karo Gagnon, Annie Lemay, Véronique Grégoire Jason Larway, Doug Pottinger, Joel Larway, Bill Todhunter	228–172	Luzia Ebnöther, Carmen Küng, Yvonne Schlunegger, Laurence Bidaud Peja Lindholm, Tomas Nordin, Magnus Swartling, Peter Narup David Murdoch, Craig Wilson, Neil Murdoch, Euan Byers Dordi Nordby, Linn Githmark, Marianne Haslum, Camilla Holth Anette Norberg, Eva Lund, Cathrine Lindahl, Anna Bergström Sebastian Stock, Daniel Herbeg, Stephan Knoll, Patrick Hoffman
2006	Chilliwack, British Columbia	Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, Doug Pottinger Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Russ Howard, Jamie Korab Shannon Kleibrink, Amy Nixon, Bronwen Saunders, Christine Keshen Debbie McCormick, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson, Tracy Sachtjen Jean-Michel Ménard, François Roberge, Éric Sylvain, Maxime Elmaleh Kelly Scott, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, Renee Simons	171–229	David Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Peter Smith, Euan Byers Anette Norberg, Eva Lund, Cathrine Lindahl, Anna Svärd Mirjam Ott, Binia Feltscher-Beeli, Valeria Spälty, Janine Greiner Andrea Schöpp, Monika Wagner, Anna Hartelt, Tina Tichatschke Pål Trulsen, Lars Vågberg, Flemming Davanger, Bent Ånund Ramsfjell Markku Uusipaavalniemi, Kalle Kiiskinen, Jani Sullanmaa, Teemu Salo
2007	Medicine Hat, Alberta	Todd Birr, Bill Todhunter, Greg Johnson, Kevin Birr Randy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Glenn Howard, Richard Hart, Brent Laing, Craig Savill Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson Kelly Scott, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, Renee Simons	290–110	Angelina Jensen, Madeleine Dupont, Denise Dupont, Camilla Jensen Andy Kapp, Andreas Lang, Holger Höhne, Andreas Kempf David Murdoch, Niklas Edin, Peter Smith, Euan Byers Ludmila Privivkova, Olga Jarkova, Nkeiruka Ezekh, Ekaterina Galkina Andreas Schwaller, Ralph Stöckli, Thomas Lips, Damian Grichting Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers, Lindsay Wood
2008	Camrose, Alberta	Craig Brown, Rich Ruohonen, John Dunlop, Peter Annis Stefanie Lawton, Marliese Kasner, Teejay Surik, Lana Vey Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Tracy Sachtjen Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin Kevin Koe, Blake MacDonald, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert	192–208	David Murdoch, Ewan MacDonald, Niklas Edin, Euan Byers Anette Norberg, Kajsa Bergström, Cathrine Lindahl, Anna Svard Mirjam Ott, Carmen Schäfer, Valeria Spalty, Janine Greiner Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Havard Vad Petersson Wang Bingyu, Liu Yin, Yue Qingshuang, Zhou Yan Wang Fengchun, Liu Rui, Xu Xiaoming, Zang Jialiang
2011	St. Albert, Alberta	Cheryl Bernard, Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire, Cori Morris Erika Brown, Nina Spatola, Ann Swisshelm, Laura Hallisey Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, Ryan Brunt Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin Kevin Koe, Blake MacDonald, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert	298–102	Niklas Edin, Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Viktor Kjäll David Murdoch, Ralph Stöckli, Andreas Lang, Simon Strübin Mirjam Ott, Carmen Schäfer, Carmen Küng, Janine Greiner Andrea Schöpp, Monika Wagner, Corinna Scholz, Stella Heiss Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson Wang Bingyu, Liu Yin, Yue Qingshuang, Zhou Yan
2012	Langley, British Columbia		–
2013	Penticton, British Columbia		–

Similar events in other sports

• Ryder Cup — Men's golf
• Solheim Cup — Women's golf
• Mosconi Cup — Nine-ball pool
• Weber Cup — Ten-pin bowling
• IAAF World Cup — Athletics
• NFL Global Junior Championship — American Football, includes a Team Europe

External links & References

• Official website
• World Team Confirmed for 2008 Continental Cup