‘Unsquashable’ Rory

Binn Group is proud to sponsor local lad Rory Stewart as he continues to make a name for himself as one of Scotland’s most promising young squash players.

Now ranked 55 in the world, 26-year-old Rory from Muthill in Perthshire began playing squash at a young age. He first competed for Scotland aged just 15 and turned pro at 21.

Aged 18 he moved to Edinburgh to be closer to Scotland’s National Sports Performance Centre based at Heriot-Watt University to make use of their world class facilities and have better access to coaching. This allowed Rory to achieve success at a European scale by being accepted onto the Men’s European Championships Team – a big achievement for a junior.

Binn Group’s Commercial Director Jim Brown has enjoyed keeping a close eye on the young player’s career since the company began sponsoring him. Jim said: “It’s been really heartening to watch Rory progress over the years and develop into the professional athlete he is today. I’m proud that Binn Group’s support has enabled him to take advantage of many exciting opportunities, including competing overseas.”

Named Scottish Squash’s Senior Player of the Year 2021/22, Rory’s career continues to go from strength to strength. When he’s not taking part in rigorous twice-daily training sessions, Rory can be found playing for teams in various leagues across the UK and Europe. We caught up with Rory during a break in his busy schedule to find out how he’s getting on and his ambitions for the future...

Tell us about your career highlights

Without a doubt the pinnacle of my career so far was being selected for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where I picked up a bronze medal. Other highlights over the last 12 months have included winning silver at the World Doubles in Glasgow and being nominated for Team of the Year at the Scottish Sports Awards. I also came third in the European Championships and achieved my highest world ranking to date.

Not a bad 12 months! What are your ambitions for 2023?

My number one goal is to win the national championships - last year I came second, so the goal is to win! Unfortunately due to touring commitments I will not be able to take part in the competition this year. I’ve also got my eye on breaking into the top 20 of the Squash World Rankings.

What has Binn Group’s sponsorship meant to you?

Without a doubt Binn Group’s support has propelled me up the rankings. Prior to receiving sponsorship I was only able to compete in UK or European tournaments which meant playing against the same people each week and not being challenged as much as I could have been. Binn Group’s support has allowed me to travel further afield, including to South America where I won my first ever professional tournament.

Finally, do you have any advice for young people who want to pursue professional sports as a career?

Enjoy it! Because when you are having fun it doesn’t feel like work. When COVID struck I couldn’t play for six months; when I was able to start playing again I made sure to enjoy it as much as I could - don’t see it as a competition, see it as a game.