Continental Cup (curling)

The Continental Cup is a curling tournament held annually between teams from North America (sometimes just Canada) against teams from the rest of the World (sometimes just Europe). Each side is represented by six teams (three women's teams and three men's teams), which compete using a unique points system. The tournament is modeled after golf's Ryder Cup.,[1] but unlike the Ryder Cup, the Continental Cup has never been held outside of North America nor has it been a regular, biennial event. The inaugural Continental Cup was held in 2002 but was held only three times between 2005 and 2010. Since 2011, however, the Continental Cup has been an annual competition.

Continental Cup
Established2001
2020 host cityLondon, Ontario
2020 arenaWestern Fair Sports Centre
2020 championTeam Europe
Current edition

As of 2020, Team North America/Team Canada has won the Continental Cup ten times. Team World/Europe has won the Cup six times.

Competition Overview

The Continental Cup pits curling teams from North America in a competition against teams from Europe and Asia, with each side of the competition represented by six curling teams. For the majority of the Continental Cup competitions, Team North America has competed against a varied combination of teams designated as Team World. Team Canada has exclusively represented North America twice (2015 & 2020). During those same years, a formally designated Team Europe has been the opponent, though in many years the team formally named as Team World has only been represented by teams from European nations (2002-2007, 2013 and 2019). In all other years where Team World was formed, teams from China or Japan competed in the Continental Cup.

Curling Canada determines Team Canada's participants, based on previous Canada Cup, national championship, and CTRS standings. Team World's and Team Europe's representatives are generally determined by the World Curling Federation. For Team World/Europe, Sweden is the only country to have been formally been represented in each of the Continental Cup competitions, but only because Niklas Edin joined team Scotland in 2007, which was skipped by David Murdoch. Murdoch's team also welcomed Edin to form a Scotland-Sweden team in 2008, though Anette Norberg returned to the competition that year as well to represent Sweden. In 2011, Murdoch also skipped a Scottish-Swiss-German team composed of Ralph Stöckli, Andreas Lang, and Simon Strübin.

A list of the championships illustrates the variations in the competition's participants over the last two decades. It also illustrates that the majority of events have taken place in Canada, though four have taken place in the United States (in Las Vegas, Nevada).

YearVenueNorth AmericaScoreWorld / Europe
2002Regina, 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 Maskel

207–193
[1][2]

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

2003Thunder 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
[1][2]

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

2004Medicine 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
[1][2]

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 Herberg, Stephan Knoll, Patrick Hoffman

2006Chilliwack, 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
[1][2]

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

2007Medicine 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
[1][2]

Angelina Jensen, Madeleine Dupont, Denise Dupont, Camilla Jensen
Andy Kapp, Andreas Lang, Holger Höhne, Andreas Kempf
David Murdoch, Niklas Edin, Peter Smith, Euan Byers
Liudmila Privivkova, Olga Zharkova, Nkeiruka Ezekh, Ekaterina Galkina
Andreas Schwaller, Ralph Stöckli, Thomas Lips, Damian Grichting
Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers, Lindsay Wood

2008Camrose, 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
[1]

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

2011St. 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
[3]

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

2012Langley, British Columbia

Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, Ryan Brunt
Amber Holland, Kim Schneider, Tammy Schneider, Heather Kalenchuk
Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing, Craig Savill
Patti Lank, Nina Spatola, Caitlin Maroldo, Mackenzie Lank
Stefanie Lawton, Sherry Anderson, Sherri Singler, Marliese Kasner
Jeff Stoughton, Jon Mead, Reid Carruthers, Ben Hebert

165–235
[4]

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow
Niklas Edin, Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Viktor Kjäll
Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton
Anette Norberg, Cecilia Östlund, Sara Carlsson, Liselotta Lennartsson
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson
Wang Bingyu, Sun Yue, Yue Qingshuang, Zhou Yan

2013Penticton, British Columbia

Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing, Craig Savill
Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin
Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert
Heath McCormick, Bill Stopera, Martin Sather, Dean Gemmell
Heather Nedohin, Beth Iskiw, Jessica Mair, Laine Peters
Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson, Tabitha Peterson

37–23
[5]

Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow
Niklas Edin, Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Viktor Kjäll
Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton
Mirjam Ott, Carmen Schäfer, Carmen Küng, Janine Greiner
Margaretha Sigfridsson, Maria Prytz, Christina Bertrup, Maria Wennerström
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson

2014Las Vegas, Nevada

Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick, Jessica Schultz, Ann Swisshelm
Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk, Lisa Weagle
Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E. J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden
Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen
John Shuster, Jeff Isaacson, Jared Zezel, John Landsteiner
Jeff Stoughton, Jon Mead, Reid Carruthers, Mark Nichols

36–24
[6]

Niklas Edin, Sebastian Kraupp, Fredrik Lindberg, Viktor Kjäll
Satsuki Fujisawa, Miyo Ichikawa, Emi Shimizu, Chiaki Matsumura
Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton
David Murdoch, Tom Brewster, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews
Margaretha Sigfridsson, Maria Prytz, Christina Bertrup, Maria Wennerström
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson

YearVenueCanadaScoreEurope
2015Calgary, Alberta

Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle
Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E. J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden
Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen
Mike McEwen, B. J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak, Denni Neufeld
John Morris, Pat Simmons, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen
Valerie Sweeting, Lori Olson-Johns, Dana Ferguson, Rachelle Brown

42–18

Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Kristian Lindström, Christoffer Sundgren
Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Sarah Reid
David Murdoch, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow
Anna Sidorova, Margarita Fomina, Alexandra Saitova, Ekaterina Galkina
Margaretha Sigfridsson, Maria Prytz, Christina Bertrup, Maria Wennerström
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson

YearVenueNorth AmericaScoreWorld
2016Las Vegas, Nevada

Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen
Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle
Erika Brown, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson
Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert
Pat Simmons, John Morris, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen
John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner

30½–29½

Alina Pätz, Nadine Lehmann, Marisa Winkelhausen, Nicole Schwägli
Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Sarah Reid
Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Kristian Lindström, Christoffer Sundgren
Ayumi Ogasawara, Sayaka Yoshimura, Kaho Onodera, Anna Ohmiya
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson
Zang Jialiang, Xu Xiaoming, Ba Dexin, Wang Jinbo

2017Las Vegas, Nevada Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert
Heath McCormick, Chris Plys, Korey Dropkin, Tom Howell
Reid Carruthers, Braeden Moskowy, Derek Samagalski, Colin Hodgson
Chelsea Carey, Amy Nixon, Jocelyn Peterman, Laine Peters
Jamie Sinclair, Alex Carlson, Vicky Persinger, Monica Walker
Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen
37–23 Rasmus Stjerne, Johnny Frederiksen, Oliver Dupont, Troels Harry
Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson
Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs
Satsuki Fujisawa, Mari Motohashi, Chinami Yoshida, Yurika Yoshida
Binia Feltscher, Irene Schori, Franziska Kaufmann, Christine Urech
2018London, Ontario Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert
John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner
Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker
Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle
Nina Roth, Tabitha Peterson, Aileen Geving, Becca Hamilton
Michelle Englot, Kate Cameron, Leslie Wilson-Westcott, Raunora Westcott
30½–30[1] Peter de Cruz, Benoît Schwarz, Claudio Pätz, Valentin Tanner
Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren
Thomas Ulsrud, Torger Nergård, Christoffer Svae, Håvard Vad Petersson
Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs
Satsuki Fujisawa, Mari Motohashi, Chinami Yoshida, Yurika Yoshida
Silvana Tirinzoni, Manuela Siegrist, Esther Neuenschwander, Marlene Albrecht
2019Las Vegas, Nevada Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker
Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle
Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jocelyn Peterman, Dawn McEwen
Kevin Koe, B.J. Neufeld, Colton Flasch, Ben Hebert
John Shuster, Christopher Plys, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner
Jamie Sinclair, Sarah Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Monica Walker
26–34 Peter de Cruz, Benoît Schwarz, Sven Michel, Valentin Tanner
Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren
Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs
Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan Jr.
Eve Muirhead, Jennifer Dodds, Vicki Chalmers, Lauren Gray
Silvana Tirinzoni, Alina Pätz, Esther Neuenschwander, Melanie Barbezat
YearVenueCanadaScoreEurope
2020London, Ontario

Brendan Bottcher, Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin
Chelsea Carey, Sarah Wilkes, Dana Ferguson, Rachel Brown
John Epping, Ryan Fry, Matt Camm, Brent Laing
Tracy Fleury, Selena Njegovan, Liz Fyfe, Kristin MacCuish
Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Joanne Courtney, Lisa Weagle
Kevin Koe, B. J. Neufeld, Colton Flasch, Ben Hebert

22.5–37.5

Peter de Cruz, Benoît Schwarz, Sven Michel, Valentin Tanner
Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren
Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs
Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan Jr.
Eve Muirhead, Lauren Gray, Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright
Silvana Tirinzoni, Alina Pätz, Esther Neuenschwander, Melanie Barbezat

1 The event was tied 30–30 after completion of the skins events, so to break the tie, each team selected one thrower to draw to the button, with North America's Brad Gushue coming closer to Team World's Thomas Ulsrud.

Competition format and scoring

Currently, the Continental Cup competition consists of five event categories in eleven draws taking place over four days. The events include (1) two draws of traditional team play (one men's and one women's), (2) two draws of team scrambles (one men's and one women's), (3) three draws of mixed doubles, (4) two mixed team scrambles, and (5) two skins games.[7] Each draw of each event contributes to a single overall score for the competing teams. For either team to claim the Continental Cup, therefore, a minimum majority of the points must be cumulatively attained from the results in the combined events over eleven draws.

The current points system was implemented in 2013. The minimum majority of the points is 30½ points.[8] Currently, for the first nine draws, all match-ups earn only one point for the winner, and a half-point for a tie.[7] In 2019, the Competition had an extra mixed doubles draw and one draw of mixed scrambles, fifteen points were allocated to each skins draw.[9] The 2020 reorganization establishing the current format also allowed the scoring to allocate 18 points for the final skins draw.[7] As a result, only 27 points are now available over the first three days and nine draws, with 33 points available on the final day in the skins games.

The current competition evolved through different formats. Historically, the Cup consisted of four events – teams, mixed doubles, team scrambles, and "singles", the last of these being contests in which the teams competed in a series of skills. The two major changes were the elimination of the singles events, and the reduction of traditional team play, with increased mixed doubles and introduction of mixed scrambles. Prior to 2013, the minimum majority of the points was also 201 points.[10] The format and scoring were revamped to heighten the stakes of each day of play, with the highest stakes on the final day of competition.

Teams

The traditional team component of the Continental Cup currently consists of six eight-end games, with each team playing a single traditional game. One point is awarded to the winner, with a half point if the game is tied after eight ends.[9]

Prior to 2013, there were only twelve team curling games,[10] with six points awarded to the winner of each game. From 2013 to 2018 there were eighteen team games split into six draws.[8] In 2019, twelve of these games were replaced by two rounds of team scrambles, one round of mixed scrambles (3 games) and an extra round of mixed doubles. Thus, as of 2019, each of the teams in their normal tour constellations only competed as such once. Currently, the remainder of the four person teams are allocated to team scrambles (two draws, one men's and one women's) and two mixed scrambles (currently two draws).[7]

Results

YearTeam winnerPoints
2002North America48–24
2003Europe42–30
2004North America45–27
2006Tie36–36
2007Tie36–36
2008World45–27
2011North America60–12
2012Tie36–36
2013North America11–7
2014North America12½–5½
2015Canada14–4
2016North America10–8
2017North America11–7
2018North America9½–8½
2019World5½–½
2020Europe5–1

Mixed doubles

Until 2020, the mixed doubles component consists of twelve games, with each player competing in one mixed doubles game. One point is awarded to the winner, with a half point if the game is tied after eight ends.[9] In 2020, the number of games was reduced to 9, such that each player must play in one mixed doubles game and or one of the mixed scrambles.

Prior to 2007, each team consisted of two sweepers and two throwers, where one man and one woman was to play each position. By tradition, each men's rink was 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. All 24 players on each side were required to play in either a sweeping or throwing role in this format. Starting in 2007, however, sweepers were eliminated to create a true "doubles" game, and any sweeping is to be done by either the thrower or the skip. In the past, six points would have been given for a win, and three points would have been given for a tie.

The rules from this event (with the 2007 revision) were later adopted as a separate curling discipline with the inauguration of the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in 2008, and became an Olympic discipline ten years later.

Results

YearMixed doubles winnerPoints
2002World24–12
2003North America24–12
2004North America21–15
2006North America24–12
2007North America27–9
2008World27–9
2011North America30–6
2012World30–6
2013North America4½–1½
2014North America4–2
2015Canada4½–1½
2016World7½–4½
2017North America8–4
2018Tie6–6
2019World8–4
2020Europe6½–2½

Team scramble

The team scramble competition was added to the Cup in 2019. The men's and women's teams are mixed up into same-gender lineups. No team may consist of a front-end or back-end from the same team. As of 2019, there are six games, each worth one point, with a half point if the game is tied after eight ends.[9]

Results

YearTeam scramble winnerPoints
2019World4–2
2020Europe4–2

Mixed team scramble

The mixed team scramble competition was also added to the 2019 event. In 2020, this consisted of two draws (of three games each) but scrambled with four players so that they none can play with their normal mixed teams. In one round, one team from each side is be skipped by a female player, and for the other round, the teams are skipped by a male player. One point is awarded to the winner, with a half-point if the game is tied after eight ends.[7]

Results

YearMixed team scramble winnerPoints
2019North America6–0
2020Europe5–1

Skins

The final event, and the event worth the most points,[10] is the skins portion. As of the most recent cup, 33 points can be claimed in the combined skins draws, meaning that neither team can clinch the Continental Cup until the skins games are played. As of 2013, there were a total of five points, with half-point skins in the first six ends of the game and one-point skins in the final two ends.[8] In 2020, this was modified so each skins game was worth six points, with a total of eighteen points available for the final draw. Prior to 2013, teams could claim 260 points in the skins games, and the points were distributed in an uneven manner through each of the eight ends, resulting in a different total point value for each skins game, but in 2019 this was changed to the current scoring system so that at least half of the points were up for grabs on the final day of play.[9]

In order for a team to claim a skin, the team must either score at least two points with the hammer or force a steal without the hammer. In the skins competitions, blank ends will turn the hammer over to the opposing team. If after eight ends there remain points to be claimed, a draw to the button determines which team will get the points.[10]

The points for the skins games were distributed as follows:

Points per gameEnd
12345678
6 points (2020–present*)½½½½1111
5 points (2013–present*)½½½½½½11
20 points (2007–2012)11222246
30 points (2002–2006)22333467
30 points (2007–2012)11333469
40 points (2002–2006)224456710
55 points (2007–2012)4456681012
60 points (2002–2006)4466791113

From 2002 to 2007, there were six skins games, three men's and three women's, with the games worth 30, 40, and 60 points. The games were typically referred to as the "A", "B", and "C" games. From 2007 to 2012, eight skins games were played. Three were worth 20 points, three were worth 30 points and the remaining two were worth 55 points. Three men's skins games and three women's skins games were played, with the remaining "A" and "B" game featuring mixed teams. The teams playing in the featured games, also known as the "C" games, were required to 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. The featured skins game was played on the last day of competition, while the others were played on the same day as the singles events. With the exception of the men's feature game in the 2003 cup, which 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).

Results

YearSkins winnerPointsMen's feature gameWomen's feature game
2002North America139–121 Kevin Martin 43–17 Peja Lindholm Colleen Jones 41–19 Elisabet Gustafson
2003Europe134–113 Randy Ferbey 30–17 Peja Lindholm Anette Norberg 60–0 Sherry Middaugh
2004North America134–126 Randy Ferbey 47–13 Peja Lindholm Anette Norberg 41–19 Colleen Jones
2006Europe163–97 Brad Gushue 43–17 David Murdoch Anette Norberg 32–28 Shannon Kleibrink
2007North America199–61 Glenn Howard 47–8 David Murdoch Kelly Scott 33–22 Kelly Wood
2008North America150–110 Kevin Martin 40–15 Thomas Ulsrud Anette Norberg 41–14 Jennifer Jones
2011North America186–64 Kevin Martin 39–16 Thomas Ulsrud Cheryl Bernard 42–13 Wang Bingyu
2012World145–115 Thomas Ulsrud 35–20 Jeff Stoughton Wang Bingyu 30–25 Stefanie Lawton
2013North America17½–12½ Glenn Howard 3–2 Thomas Ulsrud Jennifer Jones 4–1 Mirjam Ott
2014North America18½–11½ Brad Jacobs 4–1 Thomas Ulsrud Erika Brown 3–2 Eve Muirhead
2015Canada20–10 Brad Jacobs 4–1 David Murdoch Jennifer Jones 2½–2½ Eve Muirhead
2016North America16–14 Niklas Edin 4–1 Kevin Koe Jennifer Jones 4–1 Eve Muirhead
2017North America18–12 Reid Carruthers 3½–1½ Niklas Edin Anna Hasselborg 3–2 Jennifer Jones
2018World15½–14½ Thomas Ulsrud 3–2 Brad Gushue Silvana Tirinzoni 3–2 Rachel Homan
2019World16½–13½ Kevin Koe 3½–1½ Bruce Mouat Rachel Homan 2½–2½ Eve Muirhead
2020Europe17–16 Peter de Cruz 4–2 Brendan Bottcher Rachel Homan 4–2 Eve Muirhead

Singles

The singles competition is akin to a skills competition. There are six singles matches (three women's and three men's), with one point given to the winner of each match. In the past, four points would be given to the winner of each match, and eight bonus points would be awarded to the team with the higher 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. Beginning in 2007, however, each member of the team must make at least one shot, and no member may make more than two shots. The singles event was discontinued in 2016.

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), and the team with the higher score wins the game. Three of the shots must be in-turns, while the other three must be out-turns, with the shots 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 rock.
  • the raise - the shooter must hit their own centre guard so that the guard is raised into the house. The position of the raised guard determines the point value of the shot.
  • the hit-and-roll - the shooter must hit an opposing stone on a corner guard outside the house and then roll towards the center of the house. The hit stone must be completely 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 completely removed from play in order to score points. The position of the shooter determines the point value of the shot.

To determine the singles matchups, one team captain must choose one rink while the other captain chooses 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.

Results

YearTeam winnerPointsTop men's team (points)Top women's team (points)
2002Europe24–8 Kevin Martin (27) Katarina Nyberg (24)
2003Europe20–12 Magnus Swartling (22) Marianne Haslum (15)
2004North America28–4 Randy Ferbey (21) Patti Lank (20)
2006Europe18–14 Flemming Davanger (22)
Markku Uusipaavalniemi (22)
Kelly Scott (22)
2007North America28–4 Team Glenn Howard (26) Team Jennifer Jones (26)
2008World22–10 Team Wang Fengchun (20) Team Wang Bingyu (18)
2011North America22–10 Team Kevin Martin (27) Team Jennifer Jones (16)
Team Mirjam Ott (16)
2012World24–8 Team Jeff Stoughton (25) Team Wang Bingyu (21)
2013North America4-2 Team Glenn Howard (22) Team Allison Pottinger (18)
Team Mirjam Ott (18)
2014World5–1 Team Thomas Ulsrud (18) Team Margaretha Sigfridsson (24)
2015Canada3½–2½ Team Thomas Ulsrud (23) Team Rachel Homan (20)
Team Jennifer Jones (20)

Similar events in other sports

References

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