History
| Tweet | Print this Page |
The format for the Ford World Women’s is a round robin amongst the 12 competing nations, with the top four teams qualifying for the Page Playoff system where the first and second teams meet in the 1 vs 2 game. The winner advances to the final while the loser drops to the semi-final to meet the winner of the 3 vs 4 game in order to determine the other finalist. The bronze medal game, reintroduced in 2011, pairs the semi-final loser against the loser of the 3 vs 4 game.
Television coverage is extensive, both nationally and internationally, with TSN in Canada and WCTV – the television arm of the World Curling Federation – offering game feeds and daily highlight packages.
The 2012 edition in Lethbridge marks the 12th time that Canada has hosted the World Women’s since the championship began. The last time it was held in Alberta was 2006 in Grande Prairie.
The world women’s championship began in 1979 in Perth, Scotland and was contested separately from the men’s championship through 1988. During that time, the women’s event was held twice in Canada – in 1983 in Moose Jaw and 1986 in Kelowna.
In 1989, both championships were combined for the first time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and remained so through 2004. Canada first hosted the joint championships in 1991 in Winnipeg, followed by five Ford World Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships (Brandon, 1995; Hamilton, 1996; Kamloops, 1998; Saint John, 1999 and Winnipeg, 2003).
Beginning in 2005, when the men’s and women’s world championships were again separated, the Canadian Curling Association agreed to alternately stage a men’s and women’s event in Canada each year.
Since then, the Ford World Men’s has been held in Canada in Victoria (2005), Edmonton (2007), Moncton (2009), and most recently in Regina (2011). The Ford World Women’s enjoyed tremendous success in Grande Prairie (2006), Vernon (2008), and Swift Current (2010). In the 2010 championship, Team Canada skipped by Jennifer Jones earned a bronze medal as Germany’s Andrea Schöpp won her second world title, beating Scotland’s Eve Muirhead in the final.
Canada has won a leading 15 women’s world titles since 1979, the most recent by Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones in 2008. Among other notable records, four-time winning skips include Elisabet Gustafson and Anette Norberg, both representing Sweden. Gustafson won in 1992, 1995, 1998 and 1999 while Norberg earned gold in 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2012. Dordi Nordby of Norway is the all-time leader in appearances at the world championships with 18 in total (16 as skip), winning the title in 1990 and 1991.
The Ford Motor Company of Canada began its involvement as title sponsor of the world curling championships in 1995 in Brandon, Manitoba.
Historical results for World events can be viewed online at the World Curling Federation website.
