Graham worked his way up the competitive ladder beginning with numerous junior Ontario titles to be followed by 7 Canadian junior Championships, from Under 13 through Under 19. He quickly moved into the senior ranks and added titles in the Canadian Soft Ball Championships in 1997, 1998 and again in 2004.
Graham represented Canada in 1998 at the World University Championships, bringing home a bronze medal. He was a member of Team Canada at the Men’s World Championships in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005. The 1997 team gave Canada’s it’s best ever international team result – a silver medal.
He also represented Canada at the Pan American Games in 1999, winning a gold individual medal and as part of the team bringing home another gold medal and he won individual silver honours at the 2003 Pan Ams as well as a gold team medal.
In his professional squash career, Graham held a #10 PSA ranking and was Canadian # 2 for several years.
Every province, every country, no matter the sport, wants to send the very best athletes into competition but equally important, they want the athletes to be representative of the very best of the nation and of the game. Graham Ryding represented Ontario and Canada with great professionalism both on and off the court; he played the game with skill and with integrity and when he retired in 2007, he left a legacy of which all of the squash community can and should be proud.