Great start to season for Perth curling duo
Perth curlers Robin Brydone and Duncan McFadzean can reflect on a productive early-season trip to Canada.
And the three-week stint included a victory with forever-improving Team Whyte at the KW Fall Classic in Ontario.
The overseas adventure also conjured up a quarter-final show at the prestigious Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and a final run at the ATB Okotoks Classic.
“It was a great trip and a great start to the season,” said Brydone.
“We were away for three weeks and had the week before that at the Euro Super Series in Stirling, where we also made the final.
“To make three finals in four competitions was great and we showed form that we hope to carry on for the rest of the season.
“We picked up a win in the middle week. It wasn’t as strong a field but we played Team Paterson in an all Scottish final.
“You always need to go out and perform because you can slip up against any team. We went out and did the job.
“It’s given us another confidence boost and we know that all the training and work in the last 18 months has put ourselves into a spot where we are competing with these kind of teams on a level playing field.
“We are probably still viewed as the underdog in some respects but we are always there to challenge, compete and won’t make it easy.
“We were speaking with Team Kevin Koe after the final game in Canada. They said they knew they couldn’t take us lightly and that is huge respect to give. They didn’t need to say that.
“It just shows that all the hard work we’re doing is paying off in terms of results. We’re still getting better and better.
“We need to keep doing what we’re doing and keep pushing.
“There may come a point when we have a little slump but it will be about how we tackle that.”
Team Whyte has already earned an invitation to this season’s first Grand Slam event in Canada, The Masters, which takes place back in Oakville.
Brydone continued: “We knew we were first reserve for the first slam. We were waiting on confirmation of a team pulling out - and fortunately they did.
“The reason for our three-week stint in Canada was to pick up enough points to qualify for the second slam. So we’re now lining-up another three-week trip in Canada.
“When you start to compete in the slams, it is a high level event all of the time. You try to slot in your usual tour events around them.
“Hopefully we can keep going with our performances and put ourselves in contention for the selection process for the World Championships.”
Before returning to Canada, Brydone and McFadzean will travel to Switzerland to compete in the Swiss Cup Basel with Team Whyte.
Mark Watt, of Auchterarder, is also on the entry list and set to skip his team into action.