World top 50 aim for Brydone

Estonia win launches season

Robin Brydone holds a strong determination to reach the top after starting the new curling season in emphatic style.

The Perth-based ice star has plenty to be positive about following a trophy triumph at the Tallinn Challenger in Estonia with Team Bryce.

That win, which finished with victory against Latvia’s Team Gulbis, has laid the foundations for a busy schedule ahead.

“We were probably one of the favourites at the event in Estonia,” said former Perth High School pupil Brydone. “It was our first men’s competition worthy of earning points on the tour.

“We were the highest ranked team there so it was a case of going out and getting the job done.

“The first competition and a first win so you can’t really argue with that. We have a couple of things to work on.

“We’ll head back to the new National Curling Academy in Stirling for practice ahead of the Braehead Open. That will help us build going forward.

“We have another Champions Curling Tour event at the end October in Latvia which will be similar to Estonia, but the field might be slightly stronger. Hopefully we can get another win out there.

“We are a group of good friends. We never realised how good friends we were until we put the team together. We have a laugh on and off the ice. That makes a difference because, even when you are losing, it makes it easier to get behind each other.”

This could prove to be a defining season for Team Bryce, who have hopes of one day competing at a Winter Olympics.

Brydone (20) is taking inspiration from 2018 Team GB representatives Team Smith, whose squad is made up of three Perthshire curlers.

“This season we set the goal of cracking into the top 50 in the world,” Brydone said.

“That better ranking would help us get into bigger competitions. We made a small line-up change this year and will be pushing forward for the next five years before the next Olympics.

“Seeing Team Smith going away so young gives me a bit of hope for the next cycle. I’ve played against them a few times and have given them a couple of decent games.

“Our main goal is to curl at an Olympics - that is where you want to be. We all know it will be a long road but we are all willing to put the work in.”

A lot of that work to date has taken place at Perth’s Dewars Centre. It’s a venue which has provided the platform to succeed on the global stage.

Curling’s case in Scotland has been boosted further by the recent opening of the new National Curling Academy in Stirling.

Brydone said: “The club I play with in Perth have a few guys who have been to Olympics and World Championships. Playing alongside them when being so young has inspired me to keep going. In the Super League there are numerous World champions playing beside you.

“The fact I can get ice time in Perth pretty much whenever I need is great. You can’t fault the staff - the ice is incredible.

“And I can’t fault the new facility in Stirling. It’s purpose built for your practice and you know you are going there to do a job.

“The ice is fantastic and, in general, it is just a great facility.”

The sport has always been part of Brydone’s life, ever since he used to sit ice side as a youngster itching to get involved.

Now his new job is making sure the next generation will benefit from experiences he has picked up along the way.

“I’ve started my new job now too as the curling development officer in Kinross,” Brydone said.

“If I wasn’t going to play, I always wanted to get into coaching. And this is a stepping stone towards that.

“Even though I’m still a junior, there are still younger ones coming through.

“There is a bright future for curling. If you look at the under-14 and under-17s, there are a lot of players coming through who just need a bit of encouragement.”