Fraser wins silver at Junior World Championships

Inverness’s Ally Fraser won the silver medal in today’s final of the World Junior Curling Championships in Flims, Switzerland, missing out by the closest of margin to the host nation.

The team - comprising Fraser (pictured far left), Scott Andrews (Ayr), Kerr Drummond (Forfar) and Steven Mitchell (Perth) - lost out on gold in a final that went all the way to the last stone, a weighted attempt by Fraser to remove two frozen Swiss stones sitting on the button which jammed, giving Switzerland the one shot steal needed for their 7-6 win and the world title.

“We left home wanting a medal and got silver so we are delighted with that,” said 19 year old Fraser. “We had a great week, played really well right from the start. It was a great team and an excellent competition.”

Team Fraser had enjoyed an outstanding week with nine wins in a row, including defeats of Switzerland and Canada in the round robin stages.

“We lost our first game, won the next nine in a row then lost the final. But that’s just the way it goes; we beat Switzerland earlier in the week so it was bit of a shame to lose.

“It was hard to get so near but so far but brilliant to know we have beaten everyone in the world. We shouldn’t fear anyone now that we’ve beaten them all.”

Fraser, a member of Team Black which finished eighth in last year’s World Championships, is supported by the National Academy, which has been created to identify and build a wider base of potential curlers capable of challenging for a place in the Elite Squad.

The Highland Institute of Sport, part of the sportscotland institute of sport’s network, provides integrated support in the form of high performance expertise. Its expert teams work together to support Scottish governing body-identified athletes, delivering essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.

“Last year’s World Championships were a learning curve and I didn’t know what to expect,” said Fraser. “This year three of us had been to a Worlds before and Blair (Fraser, 5th) and Kerr had bean to the Youth Olympics, so it was an experienced team. We were well prepared both on and off the ice.

“We have all been going to institute Strength & Conditioning training three times a week through the season. We’ve been really serious about it, it has made a huge difference and has paid off and helped won us win a medal.”

The World Championships marks the end of the 2009-2010 season. Next year’s event will be staged in Scotland and, naturally, Fraser hopes to be in the home team.

“I have one more year as a junior and with the World Championships being in Scotland next year it would be great if we could get to the finals again in front of our home crowd.”

Story from Rob Eyton-Jones