It was a chilly winter's day in Alexandra yesterday but the cold couldn't wipe the grins off the faces of more than 70 children and their supporters who spent the day on ice.
The children were taking part in the sixth annual primary schools curling tournament and for many of the year 7 and 8 pupils, it was their first such tournament.
''I think it's kinda fun ... I'll do it next year,'' 11-year old Minnie Duncan, of Poolburn School, said.
Organiser Nick Loughnan said since the one-day competition started in 2008 it had become more and more popular and now there was a struggle to find space for all the young curlers entered.
Alexandra's IceInline rink was transformed into eight half-sized curling rinks for yesterday's round-robin tournament, which involved 16 teams from seven schools.
Mr Loughnan said he wanted to be able to extend an invitation to schools in the wider Central Otago area, such as Upper Clutha and Maniototo but there was not the space, though organisers were looking to expand in coming years.
St Gerard's School (Alexandra) took top honours yesterday - its teams finished first and second with 54 and 45 points respectively.
In third equal place were Omakau and Alexandra Primary 2, each with 40 points.
