Australia takes sixth place at World Curling Championships.

Australia has finished in sixth place at the World Curling Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the best result in this country’s history of curling competition. The team of New South Wales curlers Hugh Millikin, Ian Palangio, Sean Hall and Steve Johns and Victorian Steve Hewitt dropped six of the 11 matches they contested in the round robin phase of the championships, but posted victories over Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and the United States.

Australia has finished in sixth place at the World Curling Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the best result in this country’s history of curling competition.

The team of New South Wales curlers Hugh Millikin, Ian Palangio, Sean Hall and Steve Johns and Victorian Steve Hewitt dropped six of the 11 matches they contested in the round robin phase of the championships, but posted victories over Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and the United States.

The Australians nearly pulled off a major upset in their final match, going down narrowly to Norway 7-9 after leading 7-5 heading into the tenth end.

Canada was the leading team after the round robin matches, winning all but one of their encounters. Scotland was in second place with eight wins and three losses, while China and Norway filled the other two finals spots, both teams on a seven-four scoreline.

Canada went on to take the title, defeating Scotland 6-3 in the gold medal play-off, while Norway proved too strong for championship debutant China, winning 8-3 to claim bronze.

The championships were a key qualifying tournament for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, along with the 2007 titles and next year’s event.

With ten national team spots available at the Games, the Australians are now in a strong position to make their first foray into Olympic competition.

They gained seven points from the championships to add to the 3.5 earned in the 2007 championships, and now stand alone in ninth place in the race for Olympic selection.

“We played a great last game against a world class team,” said Australian Men’s team Coach Earle Morris.

“We were scrappy all the way through and should have won the game. Ian (vice skip Ian Palangio) threw the last rock perfectly but we got fooled a little bit on the speed of the ice and it just sailed to the back of the house two inches too heavy.”

“All in all (it was) a gritty performance (at the Championships) that the team can build on for next year.”

“All of Australia should be very proud of how hard this team worked and what they were able to achieve.”

“With more hard work next year and an increased training schedule in the Olympic year, they will be serious medal contenders.”

Olympic points standing as of 14/04/08

Team  (Points)
Canada  (28)
Germany  (17)
USA  (16)
Scotland (15.5)
France  (14.5)
Norway  (13.5)
Sweden  (11)
Switzerland (11)
Australia (10.5)
China  (9)
Denmark  (7.5)
Czech Republic (2)