Golden chance on the world stage
Perth curlers go for the top prize in Canada
Gold is the target for Perth’s Robin Brydone as he prepares to jet off to the World Mixed Curling Championships.
The Fair City ice star will skip a Scottish team including Leeanne McKenzie - also from Perth - Ross Whyte and Rebecca Morrison.
Kelowna, Canada welcomes the determined quartet from October 13-20 as teams from all corners of the globe descend on British Columbia.
Scottish flags were flying high at last year’s tournament when Grant Hardie, Rhiann Macleod, Billy Morton and Barbara McFarlane won gold.
Now Robin is planning to follow suit and said: “We’re feeling pretty good and had two practice games through in Braehead last Sunday which went well.
“We got all our kit sorted and it’s now all becoming real. We’ve had to wait a few months since playing in the Scottish Mixed Championships.
“Myself and Ross have been to a couple of World Championships now and the girls were at the World Juniors.
“We’re all quite experienced and are hoping to medal, ideally getting the gold. That is the ultimate aim at the end of the day.
“I was in Canada last season for two World Curling Tour events but never for a World Championships.
“To play a World Championships in Canada will be a great experience and I’m sure that the atmosphere will be amazing.
“Looking at ticket sales, there is going to be a big crowd there.
“There will be a couple of curlers that we’ve seen around on tour but, being mixed, you’ve never played against the four together.”
It will be an honour for Robin (21) to skip the Scottish team and he added: “It’ll be a new experience.
“I’ve never skipped at a World Championships - I’ve always been third or fifth. To go out there and skip with Scotland on the back will be really good.
“I skipped for quite a few years at juniors but I changed position to play third for Cameron Bryce and Ross Whyte.
“That was a good move for myself to build a strong team and experience a World Championships.”
Robin was again selected for the British Curling programme this year and has been busy preparing for his upcoming schedule.
His men’s team will this season include Craig Waddell, Gregor Cannon, Derrick Sloan and Fraser Davidson.
“In the men’s side of things, I’m the only one funded as an individual,” Robin explained. “The other four in the team are Robin (left) and Leeanne McKenzie (right) are getting set for the World Mixed Curling Championships not funded.
“It’s a good year for me to develop and hone in on technical ability, and physical things as well, to step on in years to come.
“Being funded as an individual, it’s full on with practicing and I’ve also got work on the side.
“I’ve got two weeks in Canada, back for a couple of days and then off to Latvia. I’m then back for another couple of days then off to Switzerland.
“It’s quite a full on October so I’m trying to make sure I have everything organised at work.”