Regina's Bryden rink brings back gold for Canada at senior curling world championships

Randy Bryden has achieved a goal he's been working toward for more than four decades.

Bryden and his Regina rink of third Troy Robinson, second Russ Bryden, lead Chris Semenchuck and fifth Glen Hill took home gold at the World Men's Senior Curling Championships in Fredericton, N.B., on Saturday. Athletes need to be 50 or older to compete in the event.

Bryden, age 55, and company downed Scotland 10-7 in the gold medal match.

"I wanted to do it a little sooner than this," Bryden said.

"It probably took, I guess 45 years before I was able to achieve my goal. But better late than never."

Waiting this long to wear the Maple Leaf did have its upside as the team was able to celebrate the win with 23 family members and friends who made the trip to Fredericton to cheer them on.

"We just had a great week," Bryden said. 

Bryden and older brother Russ won the Canadian mixed curling title in 1996, but back then there was no world championship.

In the gold medal match, Scotland jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first end. Bryden said being down early changed their mindset.

"Giving up three kind of pushed us to be more aggressive and to go after them," he said. "But you know, the team played really well. They made a lot of nice freezes and come-around draws."

Canada stormed back with three in the second, fourth and seventh ends to clinch the victory.

"We put lots of pressure on them and we're able to to capitalize on a on a few big ends," Bryden said.

The win is Canada's sixth in a row. 

Atina Ford Johnston's team from Okotoks, Calgary and Sherwood Park, Alta., made it to the senior women's gold medal match but had to settle for silver after losing 10-2 to Scotland.