They will be cracking open the champagne bottles in the Maniototo when siblings Sean and Bridget Becker return home after winning the silver medal at the world curling championship mixed pairs in Russia yesterday.
The Beckers were beaten by the Russian pair of Yana Nekrasova and Petr Dron 9-7 in the final at Chelyabinsk, Russia, who scored two on the ninth end.
The Russians were the only unbeaten team at the championships.
"We let the Russians run away with it a bit from the start," Bridget Becker said after the game.
"But it's unbelievable to have made it this far, so we're very happy with silver."
Sean (35), a Maniototo farmer and the skip, is the most experienced international in New Zealand curling and has played in 13 Pacific championships, three world championships and an Olympic Games.
He first competed for New Zealand in 1994.
Bridget, who is based in Melbourne, returns home to the Maniototo to hone her skills at the Maniototo International Curling Rink at Naseby before international events.
The Beckers are experienced internationals.
But the podium finish in Russia was special.
It is New Zealand's first medal at a world curling championship.
Russia started better and scored three and one on the first two ends.
The Beckers came back and scored one, three and one on the next three ends to lead 5-4 after five ends.
Russia then took two on the next end, but New Zealand replied with two on the seventh end to lead 7-6.
Russia drew level on the eighth end and then drew two shots on the final end to win the gold medal.
The 23 countries competing at the championships included the world's best curling nations.
The final was watched by their parents, Peter and Wendy Becker, who are representing New Zealand at the world seniors championships that is being held in Russia at the same time.
The Beckers record at the championship was: v Austria, won 11-3; v Sweden, lost 5-11; v Denmark won 8-2; v Czech Republic, won 8-7, v Italy (quarterfinals) won 10-4; v Spain (semifinals) won 10-3; v Russia (final) lost 9-7.
China beat Spain 8-7 to win the bronze medal.
