Stranraer curler Niall Ryder wins the junior world championships in Sweden
Ryder and his teammates – skipping James Craik, Angus Bryce, Scott Hyslop – dominated the championships in Jönköping, Sweden.
They won all but one of their nine round-robin matches, sawing off Norway 7-5 in the semi-finals and then beating Germany 7-1 in the final to lift the gold.
Ryder is now joining Stranraer Curling’s honor roll 2021-22, having seen the likes of Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan and Vicky Wright all win a selection of Olympic, World and European awards.
“Words cannot describe how happy the boys and I are, especially after Covid,” he said. “Coming back to competitions and finishing the season at a high level feels fantastic.
“The final was a very strange match to play. We expected it to come down to the last stone and go straight to the line, but as soon as we got a steal of two and went up 3-0 we are really good forerunners.
“We just tried to focus and not look too far ahead.
“We set our goal to finish at the top of the inning and could do it, but I think it just comes from following all our processes. We took it one match at a time, one end at a time, one shot at a time.”
But did the trail of glory that other local curlers have created this year serve as an inspiration or created extra pressure?
“I think it’s a combination of both,” he told the Galloway Gazette. “You represent your area, an area that is known for very good curlers, but at the same time you feel a sense of pride that you can do it too.
“It definitely inspires me to play at the level where Hammy and Vicky have won and to strive to be where they are now and you make a living from it.”
Niall works as a waiter at the Portpatrick Hotel, which also acts as his sponsors, and he is quick to acknowledge their support.
He said: “The Portpatrick Hotel gives me all the time I need and I can not thank them enough, they are fantastic employers.
“Gail [Munro] also, head of the curling rink and all the time she puts down the juniors and chats with you as a group or one to one.
“And of course my parents. Without their help, I would not have been able to get to where I am now.”