Curling: Miller brothers in Pacific champs

Sam Miller, the latest member of his family to represent New Zealand, will make his international debut at the Junior Pacific Curling Championships in Japan next week.

Miller (19), a student at the University of Otago, will join his brother Kris in the five-man New Zealand men's team.

They are both former pupils of the Maniototo Area School and learnt their curling skills in the Maniototo.

It will be the fourth Pacific curling championships for Kris (20), a physical education student in Dunedin.

He made his debut in the New Zealand senior team at last year's Pacific championships in Canada.

Older brother Tim Miller was in the New Zealand junior team last year and younger brother Willie (16), a pupil at the Maniototo Area School, has the talent to follow his brothers into the New Zealand team.

The other Maniototo member of the team is Ranfurly builder Mat Weir.

The two other members of the mens team are Alexandra apprentice mechanic Lachie Browne and Dunstan High School pupil Michael Smith (16).

Coach Peter Becker said yesterday that it is a close-knit team and he expects significant results in Japan.

The New Zealand men's team won the bronze medal in China last year.

"They are capable of getting to the top this year," Becker said. "It is just a matter of believing in themselves."

The team has been training each week at the Maniototo International Curling Rink, at Naseby, since November.

The week-long competition starts at Nayoro, on the island of Hokkaido, on Monday.

The final will be held next Sunday.

The other teams competing are Australia, China, Japan and Korea.

The women's team is dominated by Aucklanders Brittany Taylor (skip), Katie Bauer (16) and Emily Whelan (18).

Dunedin nurse Lucy Harris and Dunstan High School pupil Lucy Lane complete the team.

Lane (18), who was a member of the team that won a bronze medal at the championships when it was held at Naseby in 2007, will be keen to win another international medal.

Canadian Sharon Morrison, who has held several coaching camps at Naseby, will fly direct from Canada to join the coaching staff for the championships.

Sean Becker will return to the international arena when he plays in the Karuizawa International Invitation in Japan from January 27 to 31.

He was not available for the Pacific championships late last year and missed selection in the team for the New Zealand Winter Games.

Philip Dowling, of Naseby, a long-term outdoor curler, will make his international debut at the tournament.

The other members of the team, Scott Becker, Rupert Jones and Warren Kearney, are training in Canada and will have intense competition before the tournament.

---

NZ Teams
Pacific Junior Championships
Women: Brittany Taylor, Lucy Harris, Lucy Lane, Katie Bauer, Emily Whelan.
Men: Kris Miller, Mat Weir, Lachie Browne, Sam Miller, Michael Smith.

---