A year after breaking new ground, a group of Otago curlers are eyeing an even bigger prize.
Having finished fourth at this year's under-21 curling world junior B championships, the New Zealand's women's team is hoping to return from Finland with the trophy next month.
Four of that fourth-placed team - Jessica Smith, Mhairi-Bronte Duncan, Holly Thompson and Courtney Smith - will return. They are joined by newcomer Lucy Neilsen.
All five are from Otago and have been training together in Naseby to prepare.
Victory was the goal, although Duncan said the team was hoping for a minimum of a top three placing, which would qualify it for the A world championships in Canada.
The team narrowly missed out last year, although its 7-4 quarterfinal win over Italy helped it to New Zealand's best finish at the event.
''I think we're playing a lot better than we were this time last year,'' Duncan said.
''As a team we're a lot more together.
''We've been spending a bit of time with [High Performance Sport NZ] doing mental skills and fitness training.
''So as a team we're a lot stronger.
''Physically we were capable of winning last year, it was just mentally at the last minute we got a bit exhausted.
''Whereas this year we've got it so together.''
The championships follow a standard format, with teams qualifying through their groups into quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.
Germany and Scotland shape as New Zealand's biggest competition.
Both have the advantage of going to bigger events more regularly.
While the New Zealand team did its best to find alternatives, it also gave it the element of being an unknown.
'''We play all the New Zealand teams and we just try to enter every national competition there is,'' Duncan said.
''But we also go into the competitions overseas like we're unpredictable because no-one's seen us play.
''They can't try to work out our tactics and things because they haven't seen us before.
''So it's new for them having to play us.''
The team leaves on December 28, the tournament beginning on January 3.
Meanwhile the New Zealand under-21 men's team - also dominated by Otago players - will look to back up from its fifth-placing last year.
As was the case with the women, that was the team's highest placing at the event and the first time it had made the top eight.
Anton Hood, Ben Smith, Matthew Neilson, Hunter Walker and Jayden Apuwai-Bishop also begin their tournament on January 3 against host Finland.
