Three teenagers had to be rescued after getting stuck up a tree on The Haining in Selkirk last night.
The 14-year-old boy, and two 13-year-old girls were unable to get off the Witches Tree on the estate, and a fire crew from Selkirk was called out at 7.04pm.
The three youths were unhurt.
Fiona Waldron has been appointed as the new head of the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels.
Mrs Waldron undertook her studies in clothing production engineering and started her career in the clothing industry as a product developer, engineering products for commercial manufacture.
She has been lecturing at the School since 1986 and is currently both the Director of Resources at the School, and a Dean of the university.
Mrs Waldron said: “I am delighted to take up the post of Head of School and I look forward to working with colleagues to develop our potential over the coming years.”
Professor Steve Chapman, principal of Heriot-Watt, said: “Now is an exciting time for our school, a time for continued growth in our international reach, academic staff base, student numbers, industry collaborations, and strategic alliances.
“Fiona knows the school well, and is well positioned to build that sustainable future along with our staff, students and other partners.”
Jobstoday’s new and improved National Virtual Careers Fair has now opened, connecting talented job seekers to local and National employers for the next 12 days until the 5 July.
The Virtual Careers Fair is an online platform where job seekers can browse top companies from across the UK, connect in a real time environment and apply for advertised vacancies; all for FREE and from the comfort of their computers.
With more than 40 top employers showcasing job offers, this latest tool is a natural progression in finding the best talent; great businesses attending include Nationwide, Virgin Media, Centrica, B&Q and LV.
Proven a popular platform with both employers and job seekers alike, response to the fair has been encouraging. Joanne Harwood, Group Category Manager at Johnston Press, said “This is the first time Jobstoday has made a fair that can be navigated as if you were there in person; enabling employers and job seekers to connect more efficiently and successfully through innovative technology solutions. This latest trend offers job seekers a huge advantage as they can find jobs that best suit their skills set and desired working environment”.
Job seekers can join the fair over the next 12 days; simply register for free today at www.jobstodaycareerfair.com.
With such positive responses from job seekers and businesses, Jobstoday will also run a Virtual Careers Fair in September. Businesses can find out how to get involved by contacting 0114 299 6173 or emailing info@jobstoday.co.uk.
Borders Sport and Leisure will run an extensive summer holiday sports programme for children in the central Borders.
The programme will feature fun activities for pre-school children including mini-kickers football, hip hoppin’ tots and parents, mini tots tennis and beginners swimming and an action packed schedule for primary school aged children that includes football, gymnastics, street dance, kick boxing, basketball, cricket, archery, hockey, judo and even snorkeling, roller skating and rookie lifeguarding.
The sessions will take place at range of facilities including Earlston High School, Jedburgh Grammar School, Queens Leisure Centre, 3G Arena Netherdale and the Borders Tennis Centre.
Ewan Jackson, Chief Executive of Borders Sport & Leisure said: “ We have put together a mixed sports line-up with, we hope, something that will encourage all children to get active this summer.”
A reward scheme for children taking part in the summer holiday sessions will also be in operation. All children who participate in at least one hour of activity will receive a certificate. Those who undertake three to five hours of sports have the chance of winning a Silver goodie bag, six to eight hours earns the chance to win a Gold goodie bag and more than nine hours the opportunity to win a Platinum goodie bag.
The programme spans from July 1 through to August 16 and full details can be found at www.bslt.org.uk and there is also the opportunity to book activities online.”
BEST known in Scotland for his prowess as a judo player, Borders-based Rick Kenney has been honoured for his contribution to a lesser-known sport.
The executive president of the Commonwealth Judo Association, vice-president of JudoScotland and 7th Dan Judoka travelled to Kensington Palace to receive an award for Sambo wrestling from HRH Prince Michael of Kent at a star-studded reception.
Sambo is a Russian martial art, the word being an acronym for SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as “self defence without weapons”. It has roots in Japanese judo, international styles of wrestling, plus some traditional styles of wrestling.
Rick’s involvement in the sport began in the 1970s when the British Wrestling Association recognised Sambo as a third style of wrestling alongside the Olympic disciplines of freestyle and Greco-Roman. There was a possibility that Sambo might be added to the Moscow Olympics programme in 1980 and Rick, who at that time was a GB judo international, won the British Sambo title as a lightweight in 1973 and 1974 and competed in a number of international tournaments in the then USSR and in Azerbaijan. Due to the boycott of the 1980 Olympics, however, and political pressures of the time, Sambo did not feature in the Moscow Games and the sport lessened in popularity in the UK as a result. However, it began to grow again in the mid 80s and is now a Commonwealth and World recognised sport in its own right.
The reception was to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Sambo wrestling having been founded in the USSR in 1938.
Hosted by the International and Commonwealth Sambo Federations, the event was attended by many Russian sportspersons, business leaders and also Tessa Sanderson, former Olympic javelin gold medallist.
Rick was presented with the award for helping to popularise the sport in the 1970s.
Rick told The Southern: “It was a real honour to receive this award and a great opportunity to renew friendships from those early days in the sport.”
Rick concentrated in his judo career from 1978 onwards and became a successful coach and team manager.
Earlston High School played host to this year’s Borders Schools Athletics Championships on a dazzling June day.
The firm grass track allowed for some fast times and there were 11 new track and field records broken.
Freddie Rooke ( Berwickshire High School) proved to be a real talent, smashing the S2 boys’ 100m record in 11.81 seconds and also clocked a time of 24.42 secs in the 200m to take that record too.
He claimed his third record with a leap of 5.39m to take the S2 long jump title.
Philipa Robertson of Hawick High School took the S1 300m record in 44.94 secs, while Galashiels Academy athlete Matt Dougall set a new record in the S1 800m in 2 minutes, 21.15 seconds.
Peebles High School S1 girls set the final track record with a time of 55.5 seconds in the sprint relay.
In the field, Gary Robertson of Galashiels Academy threw 13.4m in the senior shot, Kelso High School’s Leona Porteous threw 21.08m in the S2 discus and Gala’s Isaac Bacon cleared 1.50m in the S1 high jump, all new records.
Another pupil to set more than one record was Peebles’ Jordan Charters. He jumped 6.21m in the senior long jump and cleared 1.86m in the high jump.
Peebles claimed the Relay Quaich, in a competition that went down to the last event, and indeed the last changeover in the senior boys’ race, and also picked up the overall Championship Shield.
Athletes from all schools competed in a very sporting manner and pushed themselves to their physical limits on a very hot day.
Team results: 1, Peebles HS (546 points); 2, Galashiels Academy (497); 3, Berwickshire HS (476); 4, Hawick HS (441); 5, Kelso HS (438); 6, Earlston HS (413); 7, Jedburgh GS (320); 8, Selkirk HS (304).
William Dalrymple, James Naughtie, Rory Stewart MP and Peter Sacks are among the names appearing at the fourth Books, Borders and Bikes literature festival at Traquair House.
The two-day event at the Tweeddale home is heading up by Mark Muller QC, who lives at Traquair with wife Catherine Maxwell Stuart.
Visitors this year’s event will be able to see General Sir Mike Jackson, former UK Chief of General Staff, US Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jorie Graham, Colombian writer and philosopher Oscar Guardiola Rivera, and a host of other leading cultural figures from around the globe, debate a series of topical issues.
Harvard literary professor Peter Sacks will discuss Sir Walter Scott’s credentials as a literary nationalist, international lawyer Ben Emmerson QC will speak about his latest report on drone strikes and former soldier and war photographer Paul Conroy will talk about his time under fire in Syria with journalist Marie Colvin.
Other participants include environmental campaigner and champion of ethical investment, Tessa Tennant, explorer, soldier, diplomat and politician, Iqbal Wahhab, director of counter-extremism think-tank the Quillam Foundation, UK diplomat Sir Kieran Prendergast, politicians from across the divide as well as leading Scottish interviewers Allan Little and Magnus Linklater.
There will also be music, comedy and outdoor activities such as family story-telling bike rides.
For further information, visit www.beyondbordersscotland.com
Female footballers from Galashiels Academy were in sparkling form in the finals of the SFA-run Midnight League at Tynecastle.
Up against established club sides from the south-east region, the team, playing under the banner of Borders Girls, won all four group games, conceding just one goal, and triumphed 3-1 in the semi-final.
In the final they came up against Dundee City, fielding two Scottish internationals in their line-up, and gave everything they had before narrowly going down 4-2.
Coach Fred Blackie said: “The girls only train once a week for an hour so to get to the final against established club sides was a magnificent achievement and shows what talent there could be if a club side could be formed in the Borders.”
The Borders Girls squad who played at Tynecastle are pictured above: Back row from left, Ellie Fairgrieve, Amy Gilroy, Rhona Gowans, Kasey Easson and Kirstin Young. Front, Hannah Maben and Morgan Turner.
SPORTING DIGEST
Bowling
Abbotsford
The A team played twice last week, scraping through 68-64 against Ancrum on Monday, before losing 80-90 against Melrose on Wednesday.
The B team continued their winning streak, beating Kelso 54–49, while the seniors lost to Buccleuch.
On Saturday, Taylor Johnson and Kenny Johnstone beat George Kerr and Alan Howieson 14–2 in the final of the Vice-president tournament.
BBA
With heavy downpours and a gusty breeze, the Borders Bowling Association Hamilton Trophy team travelled to Abbeyview BC in Dunfermline to play West Fife.
Although the weather was very changeable and the Borderers were without some of their main players they started of fairly well with three rinks up and three rinks down at five ends.
Nothing changed at 10 ends, although Neil McNally and Graeme Forsyth had stretched significant shot leads with Kenny Johnstone sitting on 10 shots each.
At 15 ends, the Borders had started to flex their muscles with four rinks up, Johnstone winning by nine shots and Forsyth sitting on an 18-shot lead.
Despite the heavy showers the Borderers continued to hold their own and finished with a comfortable 130-115 victory.
While this does not enable the team to qualify in the next stage, it does give them hope for improvement next season.
Earlston
Intermittent rain showers did nothing to dampen the spirits of Earlston bowlers and their guests at the club’s highly popular Open Pairs competition on Saturday.
After fighting their way through a closely-fought heat, Brian Turner and Stephen McNally beat Lee Wilson and Steven Greer in the final – apparently the score card was lost.
Semi-finalists were Andrew Black and Anne Black and Clark Skeldon and Colin Skeldon (Ancrum BC).
Thanks to Michael Scott, Joinery Services, who sponsored the competition.
Galashiels
Having lost their last two matches, the seniors were hoping to return to winning ways, but Peebles had other ideas and found the Gala green very much to their liking.
Defeat for the Gala team means they are now four points adrift of Selkirk/Ettrick Forest who remain undefeated, as do Wilton, who have played one game less.
The A team had a home fixture against St Ronans. This match was closely contested and although Gala did build up a lead, this was eroded away in the latter part of the match.
Fortunately for the hosts, one rink was enjoying an exceptional night, finishing with a comfortable win which enabled Gala to take the match by the narrowest of margins at two shots. This win keeps Gala in second place on the same points as Hawick, but adrift of them on shot difference.
Hawick
Only the Hawick A team had a game last week and they entertained Stow.
It ended up being a bit of a one-sided affair with the home side winning by 108-48.
Top rink for Hawick was again Martin Christy’s rink.
Selkirk
Saturday saw Selkirk hold their Open Triples tournament (knockout) in mixed weather conditions and after a close final the eventual winners were Colin McKinnon, Ian Borthwick and Neil Clapperton, beating Ettrick Forest’s Colin Sandilands, Alec Elder and Gordon Allan.
Beaten semi-finalists were Graham Smith, Shane Smith and Stevie Smith and Ewan McGregor, Jamie Purves and Rob Pringle. Selkirk Bowling Club would like to thank First Class Marquees for their continued sponsorship.
Clays
Braidwood
A total of 66 entries battled it out for the McDonald Cup on Sunday, despite poor weather.
Members Jim Brodie and Donald Livingston fought keenly for first place with an exciting shoot-off – the winner being Brodie (Denholm) on 35 ex-40.
The second round saw another tie for first place with Stu Dawson and Bruce Todd both on 35 ex-40. Next, on 34, were John Craig, Gordon Boertien and Kyle Smith.
Donald Livingston’s overall score of 68 was enough to win aggregate.
The next event, including the Junior Competition Shield, is on Sunday, July 14, all welcome, shooting from noon.
Golf
Galashiels
John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Seniors Championship Qualifier: A League winner, R. W. Scott nett 34; B League winner, J. Lumsden 34.
Championship Qualifier (3): 1, F. Bryson 79 (16) 63; 2=, A. Fulton 87 (21) 66, N. Moffat 73 (7) 66; K. Turnbull 72 (6) 66; I. Casson 79 (13) 66; S. Milburn 81 (15) 66; S. Ormiston 83 (17) 66; G. Forsyth 72 (6) 66.
Kelso
Sunday Stableford: 1, J. Braithwaite 41 points; 2, S. Pettigrew 38; 3, S. Turnbull 37.
Championship finals: Gents’ winner, M. Nicholson; runner-up, B. Hastie. Ladies’ winner, S. Paterson; runner-up, L. Wilson. Junior winner, J. Logan; runner-up, K. Wilson. Bert Donaldson Trophy (B Class) winner, A. Malone; runner-up, D. Jack. Margaret Millar Trophy (C Class) winner, J. Maxwell; runner-up, R. Ainslie.
Lauder
Mike Todd Greensomes: 1, H. Moffat & T. Hogarth; 2, I. Scott & S. Thompson; 3, A. Anderson & D. Bain.
Ladies’ SLGA Brooch: 1, L. Gray 97 (21) 76; 2, W. Paterson 108 (23) 85; 3, H. Lumsden 115 (27) 88.
Melrose
June Clubhouse competition: 1, I. Ramsey 69 (3) 66; 2, B. Rout 91 (22) 69; 3, A. Brown 83 (14) 69. Scratch: G. Hannah.
Minto
Kenneth Oliver Matchplay Trophy (juniors): 1, F. Lothian 70+56=126; 2, R. Latta 63+67=130; 3, A. Brown 69+62=131.
Gents’ Tuesday Stableford: 1, J. Graham 42 points (after countback); 2, C. Black 42.
Senior gents’ match against Tantallon Golf Club: After a very close match, Minto emerged the winners by three matches to two.
Junior June Medal: 1, R. Latta 72 (7) 65 Lowest gross; 2, R. Nichol 100 (34) 66; 3, A. Brown 81 (14) 67.
Macmillan Cancer Support Mixed Greensome: 1, J. Sharp & B. Sharp (Braehead) nett 65.4; 2, G. Cartwright & R. S. Elliot (Minto) 65.8; 3, J. Mottram & L. Mottram (Carnwath) 68.8.
Thanks to all 20 teams who participated and raised £401, including raffle proceeds, for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Gents’ Past Captains’ competition: 1, R. Pringle 34 points (after countback); 2, I. Learmonth 34.
Juniors’ past captains’ competition: 1, Z. Fox 34 points; 2, R. Latta 32.
Forthcoming events – the Club Championships take place this week with the finals on Saturday. The club looks forward to some splendid golf and good crowds to support the finalists.
The Billy Hughes Memorial Trophy Texas Scramble was postponed on Saturday and will be held on a date to be announced.
Selkirk
After a few years’ absence, the ladies hosted their popular invitation greensomes in pleasant conditions. The victorious couple were lady captain Carol Purves & Grace Black from Torwoodlee.
Last week, the ladies played for the President’s Prize, where Carol Purves continued her good start to the season winning the silver division with 81 (11) 70 bih. in the bronze division, Anne Allan triumphed, returning a 92 (21) nett 71 and the scratch prize was claimed by Diane Cassidy with a 77.
St Boswells
Ladies President’s Cup: 1, R. Macdonald 93 (28) 65; 2, L. Runciman 89 (23) 66 Lowest gross score; 3, J. Heard 97 (28) 69.
Senior June Medal: 1, H. Oliver 86 (22) 64; 2, W. Barthram 85 (18) 67; 3, F. Bain 89 (20) 69.
Captain’s Prize Day (Captain 2013 – George Hogg): 1, I. Barr nett 122; 2, G. Donald 126; 3, S. Frizzel 127. Scratch: 1, C. Ovens 134; 2, R. Ovens 144.
Torwoodlee
Tuesday Stroke: 1, I. Thomson 71 (9) 62; 2, J. Penny 67 (2) 65 bih; 3, A. Chadha 75 (10) 65. Scratch: D. Gillie 66.
Centenary Cup and Championship Qualifier (3): 1, J. Kirk 76 (14) 62; 2, T. Gilhooley 72 (9) 63; 3, E. Gunter 71 (6) 65 bih.
Order of Merit (round 13): 1, S. Nightingale 74 (6) 68; 2, C. Tait 83 (14) 69.
The Woll
Saturday was Championship Finals day.
All four games were close and very enjoyable to watch despite the weather.
In the Ladies’ Club Championship, M.Innes lost to J.Cambridge on the 19th.
The Gents Club Championship saw first-time winner S.Watson beat J.Nelsonover a nail-biting 36 holes.
B. Caswell won the Salver for the second year running, beating A. Brunton, while B. Pettie won the Salver for the first time beating D. Turnbull.
Rugby
Border League
Berwick RFC’s Chris Budzynski was elected president of the Border League for next season at the AGM.
Vice-president will be Scott Dalgleish from Gala.
Kelso beat Kirk Brae on Saturday to leapfrog them into third position in East of Scotland Division Three.
Batting first, Kelso had Thomas Grindell to thank as he scored a superb 111 not out with good support from Stephen Patterson and Jason Gibson to take them to a fine total of 189.
A number of Kirk Brae batsmen got good starts, but none of them could transfer their early form into a match-winning innings with some fine bowling from all the Kelso bowlers keeping them at bay.
Special mention goes to Stewart Cessford, who returned superb figures of 7 overs, 5 maidens and 2 wickets for just 4 runs.
Gala continued their winning run with a thumping 10-wicket Border 20/20 win over St Boswells at The Green.
Electing to bat first, Bossie got off to a good start, scoring a run a ball for the first six overs, however, by then, Kris Mein (3 for 13) had made inroads by bowling both openers. Neil Crooks then ripped the heart out of the top order, picking up four wickets for 12 in his four-over spell.
The young Gala bowlers then joined in with Tharanga, Pringle and Moir all keeping the St Boswells batting in check, with Moir and Pringle picking up a wicket each. A suicidal run out and the return of Mein to oust Young saw the home side dismissed for 74.
In reply, Duncan Millar and David Boland went after the home bowling with a flurry of shots and despite repeatedly changing their attack, St Boswells had no answer. Millar (35 not out) found the boundary on five occasions, while Boland (30 not out) hit a four and a six as the pair saw Gala to their target.
Langholm gained a narrow win by two wickets over Carleton at the Castleholm last Saturday.
Playing on an artificial wicket, the visitors were all out for 110, their last wicket falling in the last ball of the 40th over. In the Langholm bowling, Johnstone had 4 for 22 with Graham Park 2 for 33.
Langholm made a solid start with Ben Maxwell (8) allowing Gregor Masterton (50) to make the bulk of the runs. The hosts finished on 111 for 8 in 28 overs.
Langholm are now level with Carleton at the top of Division Two of the Eden Valley League with a game in hand.
Hawick took on Melrose in an all Border clash in Division Seven on a damp Saturday afternoon, writes Ronan Alexander.
This was the home side’s first match on their new artificial wicket.
The visitors won the toss and chose to field with opening bowlers Stuart Hosney and John Loftus bowling tight spells, making runs hard to come by for the batsman.
The Teries got to 45, before the wicket of Gary Alexander fell, being caught for 22 off the bowling of Thomas Brown.
The Solley brothers batted sensibly as Declan fell for 25.
The run rate was very low, putting pressure on the middle order to score quickly and Pierce Solley to kick on.
Solley stayed at the crease with Euan Hair providing good support until the latter was bowled for a quickfire 17.
Solley passed 50 as the Buccleuch Park men finished on a below par 161 for 5 from their allotted overs.
Melrose also found the going tough with the pace of Neil Storey causing problems.
Captain Barry Scott was removed by the aforementioned Storey and his replacement with two excellent catches taken by Allan Moffat.
Colin Green and Loftus steadied the ship, however the visitors were always behind the run rate.
Green was caught at slip by Pierce Solley off the bowling of Gary Alexander for 26.
Craig MacDougall picked up two late order wickets, both cleaned bowled as Ronan Alexander took three from the other end, including the wicket of Loftus with a well-taken catch from Phil MacTaggart.
Hawick & Wilton
G. Alexander, c Scott b Hosney22
D. Solley, c Loftus b Scott25
P. Solley, not out66
P. MacTaggart, b Loftus7
E. Hair, b Brown17
B. MacTaggart, b Loftus1
A. Moffat, not out2
Extras21
Total for 5161
Melrose
C. Green, c P. Solley b G. Alexander26
B. Scott, c Moffat b Storey2
R. McLennan, c Moffat b Storey14
S. Hosney, c D. Solley b G. Alexander5
J. Loftus, c P. MacTaggart
b R. Alexander21
A. Hosney, not out15
M. Runciman, c Storey b R. Alexander6
R. Ward, b MacDougall0
W. Owen, b R. Alexander0
T. Brown, b MacDougall0
Extras10
Total all out99
z Gala Cricket Club holds the annual Border Sixes this Sunday at Meigle Park (10.30am).
The hosts take on holders St Boswells, Melrose and Kelso, while Biggar, Langholm, Hawick and Selkirk are in pool two.
The winners of each section play in the final.
GRAEME ORMISTON managed his highest score of the season on Saturday to maintain Gala’s promotion push.
Ormiston returned to open the batting for the Braw Lads in a wet West Lothian, and finished 48 not out with a mature innings in difficult conditions.
A depleted Gala travelled to Fauldhouse, with the hosts’ on-and-off-field problems meaning they were relegated from the National Leagues to East Division Two.
They are yet to win a game this season, and Gala captain Stevie Halls decided to put Fauldhouse into bat.
It seemed the correct decision as openers Colin Tonkin and Scott Cochrane both fell cheaply to Scott Paterson’s bowling, while Ricky MacDonald was unlucky to play onto his own stumps from Dean Moir.
At 17 for 3, Fauldhouse looked in trouble, but Franny Mahon stepped in to clobber his side back into the match. Mahon made Gala pay for a dropped catch following a mix-up between Kenny Paterson and Moir to score 53.
When Mahon was eventually out lbw to Robbie Pringle, Fauldhouse were 86 for five, but Gala managed to claim the final five wickets for 26 runs as Fauldhouse were all out for 112. Makeshift bowler Josh Irvine cleaned up for the tail to end with figures of 3 for 3.
After a heavy shower at tea, Gala started well against an enthusiastic opposition.
Ormiston and Halls put on 50 before the latter was caught by Mahon off the bowling of Alan MacDonald. When Josh Irvine departed an over later, Fauldhouse sensed a chance to cause an upset, but Ormiston, aided by the in-form Duncan Millar (30 not out), guided Gala home in the 37th over.
Langholm almost pulled off a shock win in their Junior Cup match on Sunday after looking to have no chance at one stage.
Hosts Appleby II made an impressive 168 for 3 in their first innings, and Langholm replied with 131 for 4, and being more than 30 runs short were made to follow on and managed 101 for 6. Appleby needed only 65 to win, which looked a formality, but in the end just made it to clinch victory on 67 for 8.
Once again, Gregor Masterton led by example in the batting, reaching his second 50 of the weekend before being bowled out for 55 in the first innings.
The Border Amateur Football league held their AGM last week and the following changes were made.
With Langholm relegated from Division A and Duns and Pencaitland leaving the top flight down to nine teams, Ancrum and Stow go up to make it 11. Gala Rovers are now Gala Fairydean Rovers.
There will also be 11 teams in Division B, with Biggar and Gordon coming up and CFC Bowholm relegated.
The C Division will field 12 teams. Abbotsford Albion are now Melrose FC and Tweedmouth Amateur Colts, Tweedmouth Amateurs.
Office bearers remain the same.
LOCAL Hearts supporters will back a bid by a fan-based consortium to buy their club out of administration.
More than 50 Jambos from around the region gathered at the Glenbank Hotel in Jedburgh on Sunday to quiz Foundation of Hearts directors Alex Mackie, Gary Halliday and Dougie Masterton on how the group, headed up by Ian Murray MP, can bring their club back to the fans.
And as the club entered formal administration at the weekend, Edinburgh businessman Mackie stressed the importance of the group’s aim.
He said: “It’s the main alternative, it’s actually the only show in town which is going to be sustainable for the future.
“The fans will get to choose who runs the show, hopefully local and dedicated people who are Hearts fans, plus business people.
“That future is rosy if they grasp that chance. If you get the right people in there and you get the right corporate governance, Hearts are a great club. They have got a great financial base and we should not fail, given the chance.”
Many of the local supporters in attendance had already pledged to make a monthly donation to enable the foundation to have funding available should their bid for the club be successful. George Meikle, chairman of the Borders Hearts Supporters Club, told The Southern: “It’s our club and we will do everything possible to make sure it survives.
“The meeting today has just made things clearer to everyone, so hopefully more people will get behind this group to save our club.”
For more information, visit www.foundationofhearts.org/now-is-the-time-to-make-history
BRITISH Orienteering Talent Squad member Kirstin Maxwell has returned from a successful week’s competition in Northern Europe.
On the opening weekend, Kirstin, from Jedburgh, was part of the Scottish relay team that finished in a best ever 62nd position out of 1,200 teams in the Venla relays in Southern Finland. The competition is normally dominated by the Scandinavians and consists of teams of four women running and navigating over a total of more than 28km of Finish forest.
Kirstin then crossed the Baltic Sea to Estonia to take part in a series of events around the capital city Tallinn, where she finished in an excellent eighth place in a world-ranking sprint held in the gardens and parkland around the presidential palace.
The highlight of the week was a city race around the old medieval town of Tallinn with Kirstin again having a good run, finishing in fourth place behind Australian Felicity Brown and athletes from the Czech Republic and England.
In a bold new move, organisers included all three peaks to mark the 50th running of the Eildon Hill race last Saturday, writes Rosi Capper.
The event began in 1961, climbing just the middle and highest of the characteristic peaks.
Some years later, local runner George Meikle had an unprecedented series of 10 successive victories, as well as having the honour of holding records for both the one and two-hill variants of the event. But this year, the three summits – known as Trimontium by the Romans – were all included for the first time.
And once again it was local runners who topped the bill.
A fine turnout of 90 runners lined up for the start in Gibson Park and the new route wended through the town and started with a steep ascent directly up the most northerly hill before descending to the Col as in previous years.
It then contoured on a small path to the most southerly hill and then back to the highest and central summit. From here, the old route has once more followed, down an initially treacherously steep descent, then a fast descending contour to pick up the line of ascent back through the town.
In a further change to tradition, the race finished in Gibson Park where it began, avoiding the grinding glory lap of the Greenyards rugby pitch.
The race was won in tremendous style by the host club’s Fergus Johnston, winning in a new course record of 37 minutes and eight seconds. Gala also won the ladies’ race, with Jenny Forbes winning her first hill race in 44.31.
With excellent runs by Rachel Fagan (44.41), Kirstin Maxwell (45.10), Fiona Dalgleish (46.59) and Shelagh King (1.06.19) Gala also won the ladies’ team trophy.
Hunters Bog Trotters claimed the men’s team prize, with the Gala men coming a close third after Carnethy, with some excellent runs from Mark Bryson (42.00), Jamie McGowan (42.41), Colin McCall (42.52), Tony Lunn (44.22), Alwyn Jones (44.26), Dave Nightingale (44.50), Derrick Brydon (46.23), Martin Clarke (47.05), Colin Tough (47.19) Tommy Knox (50.32) Ally McGilvray (56.28) and Billy McBain (58.45). Perhaps the biggest smile of the day, however, was on the face of the race organiser, Paul Morris (57.46) who, in addition to having the satisfaction of designing a successful new route, completed his first competitive hill race in 18 months following hip surgery last August.
Hunters Bog Trotters not only managed to take the team prize, but also won the relay race in the dad’s event as part of the Melrose children’s sports.
Thanks go to all who helped make the day a success.
OPPORTUNITIES for local players to pull on that famous red and white jersey are few and far between, writes Stuart Cameron.
But on Saturday the South competed at the Rugby Rocks event at Meggetland in Edinburgh, believed to be the first time the team have played in a sevens rugby tournament under the name “The South” although there have been Borders teams who have represented the area in a number of guises such as “Scottish Border Select” and “Kings of the Sevens.”
The squad featured a quality mix of players who have starred on the Kings circuit including three each from Hawick and Jed-Forest, two from Selkirk and one each from Melrose, Kelso, Peebles and Gala.
They won three of their four pool matches, beating Royal Scots, Zoo Mighty and Newitt before being edged out by a strong Esher side.
In the semi-final they beat Samurai 21-19 but then came up against an exceptional British Army team who won the final 45-26.
Former Selkirk RFC president Donald Macleod was officially confirmed as president of Scottish Rugby at Saturday’s AGM.
A retired surgeon, Macleod was elected as vice-president of the Union at the 2012 AGM. During his long service within Scottish Rugby, he was the Scotland team doctor between 1967 and 1995 and was the Union’s honorary medical adviser between 1971 and 2003. MacLeod also served as team doctor on the 1983 Lions tour.
Former Dundee HSFP coach Ian Rankin was voted the SRU’s new vice-president and speaking at Saturday’s gathering Macleod left no-one in any doubt that the clubs will have two powerful new voices at the top table.
“Ian knows the professional game, but his election epitomises the fact that the clubs know that we need to strengthen the coaching structure,” he said.
“We need to grow the game and recognise the huge amount of hard work that will be undertaken by club volunteers because it’s the clubs which grow the game, not the SRU. We cannot survive without the professional game because it brings in the money, but my heart lies with the club game, the amateur game.”
To that end he promised that he would ensure the new academy structure will be in place this winter, and promised to push for a full club Six Nations tournament.
Macleod’s presidency at Selkirk Rugby Club ran from 2009-2011, and he becomes the second Selkirk RFC member to hold the SRU’s top post. Current committee member Bert Duffy served as SRU president in 2003/2004.
The board election results from the council saw Fergus Neil and Mike Monro re-elected, while Ian Barr joined the board following Jed-Forest member John Davidson’s departure.
Also at the AGM, Scottish Rugby’s chief executive Mark Dodson reported that turnover went up to a record £39.3million while year-end debt was down to £11.2million – the lowest position in more than a decade. The union also achieved a surplus of £0.9million in the year to April 30.
The issue of league reconstruction provided the main talking point at the AGM. Haddington RFC’s motion to abandon the present pyramid structure for Championship Leagues A and B and move to a linear structure (while also expanding those divisions to 12-club leagues) won a comfortable majority and will be implemented in season 2014/15.