A life-saving rescue service’s search for a new home is over now planning approval has been granted for a £300,000 base at Kelso’s Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate.

The Border Search and Rescue Unit’s team of 26 volunteers currently works out of Kelso police station and a garage at the town’s racecourse housing its three vehicles.

However, so it can respond more quickly to emergencies, it has spent the last four years searching for an alternative base, discounting nine potential sites over that period.

Eventually, an application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council for a purpose-built steel portal-framed unit close to the Vermilion Dental Practice, and planning consent has now been granted.

A spokesperson for the unit said: “This purpose-built facility is in the right location and will allow us to respond quicker and more efficiently to any call-out, as well as hosting command and control of an appropriate incident.

“Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate provides the necessary space and location for a long-term, fit-for-purpose facility.”

The unit was formed in 1963 to provide mountain rescue cover in the south east of Scotland, and all its members are volunteers living locally.

The team is on call round the clock every day of the year, and last year members dealt with 19 incidents, taking up 677 hours of their time.

Fundraising to cover the cost of the building has started, with a grant of £35,000 from the council’s localities bid fund already secured.

Calls are being made for an urgent public meeting to be held in Hawick in a bid to find a solution to a surge in anti-social behaviour, vandalism and thefts in the town over recent weeks.

In the latest alarming incident, six youngsters, three of them thought to be no more than eight years old, went on the rampage in the town’s Orchard Crescent.

One of the boys was seen to run up and kick the wing mirror off a red Toyota Aygo parked in the street.

That follows on from a spate of recent reports of anti-social behaviour, particularly in Howegate, where an 86-year-old woman was terrorised in her home by youngsters kicking at her door.

In a separate incident, again at Howegate, traffic was brought to a standstill last week by youths throwing food at cars.

A woman who got out of her vehicle to confront the young yobs was faced by a barrage of verbal abuse.

Now, in the latest vandal attack to hit the town centre, graffiti has been painted on a cemetery wall in Old Manse Lane.

Additionally, police have been called out to a growing number of thefts from businesses, sports organisations, vehicles and retail outlets since the beginning of the year, including the theft of rugby balls and kit from a container at Volunteer Park.

That recent succession of disturbing incidents has led to calls for a public meeting to be held as a matter of urgency.

Hawick and Hermitage ward councillor Davie Paterson fully supports such a move.

He said: “It’s like these mindless yobs don’t want to live in a nice town”, adding: “After an extremely concerned constituent had brought it to my attention about the graffiti spray-painted on the church wall at Old Manse Lane, I immediately went along to have a look for myself.

“Sure enough, there it was. I have contacted the police and the council to see if they have any clues who could have been responsible for this wanton vandalism on a wall supporting St Mary’s cemetery.

“Various organisations and voluntary groups work their socks off to make Hawick a nice place to live, but to be faced with something like this is bringing everyone down. I

“f anyone has any clues as to who may be responsible for this and other similar graffiti in Crown Close, could they please contact the police, so that we can hopefully get this stopped.”

Members of Hawick Community Council have contacted town councillor George Turnbull, as chairman of Scottish Borders Council’s police, fire and rescue and safer communities board, to request that it urgently arrange a public meeting in Hawick Town Hall to address “widespread community concern over multiple recent examples of vandalism, theft and public disorder which are causing serious disruption to our otherwise peaceful town”.

However, Mr Turnbull said the board’s remit is on a strategic level and does not extend to operational matters such as vandalism, theft and public disorder.

He has suggested instead that the community council invite the police to one of its meetings after the Easter break and invite members of the public to attend to air their thoughts.

Whatever form the meeting takes, it can’t come soon enough for Mr Paterson.

“Something needs to happen because it can’t go on like this,” he said.

“It’s a shame that there’s not enough police on the beat.

“That’s something I have long called for but that is not likely to happen now under Police Scotland.

“We need to target hotspots for trouble such as Howegate, but now Howegate is not the only area affected.

“We spent money on a new community action team and a new surgery, and I was hoping that would help things.

“We now need to look at what else we can do.”

A developer is drawing up plans to establish a major commercial woodland midway between Camptown and Bonchester Bridge.

The as-yet-unidentified developer wants to plant trees on 125 hectares of land at Belling Hill.

Speaking at Southdean Community Council’s March meeting last week, forestry consultant Mark Hamilton, drafted in by Savills to create a woodland plan for the area on behalf of its client, said that an application would be submitted to the Forestry Commission this month.

He told members: “The prime objective is to create a productive woodland for economic reasons.

“The individual has bought 154 hectares of land at Belling Hill, and the proposals involve planting 125 hectares of that called Belion Wood.

“The owner is keen to press on, and we’re likely to submit the application to the Forestry Commission in April.

“If that is successful, we would be looking to plant around this time next year.”

He said that, driven by its climate change agenda, the Scottish Government wants to increase woodland cover from 17% to 25%.

“Forestry gets most of its money from the climate change banner,” he added.

Scottish Borders Council also has a target of 25% woodland, 10% more than at present.

However, members of Southdean Community Council said that residents had serious concerns about the scheme, including road haulage and the impact on the landscape, within a Scottish Natural Heritage designated special landscape area.

David Skinner said: “We have concerns about lorry movements because many of the roads in this vicinity are single track with no passing places.”

Mr Hamilton said that harvesting, to start around 35 years from now, would be done in stages. He said there would be an estimated 325 lorry movements every five years and that passing places would be looked at nearer the time.

However, Mr Skinner said: “I’m sure 35 years ago, when permission was given for other woodlands, they said the same thing yet I was speaking to a lady the other day who met a timber lorry at Chesters Brae and had to reverse nearly half a mile because there was no plassing place, and the lorry could not reverse. She was very upset.”

Community council chairman Philip Kerr said: “This would be yet another forest among a whole raft of forests.

“The effect would be cumulative.”

He added that the site sits among the largest area of heath in the Teviot and Liddesdale special landscape area, adding: “I don’t think they should be covering it with 80% woodland.”

Members agreed to discuss the application again when it is submitted to decide the best way forward.

Spring might have sprung, but winter made a comeback in parts of the Borders last night, April 2, and into today.

The clocks going forward at the weekend didn’t stop the weather going backwards a season.

Heavy snowfalls were seen in parts of the region including Carter Bar on the English border and in Berwickshire, leading to a yellow weather warning being in force until 10am today and council gritters being deployed on affected routes.

No further snowfalls are forecast, so today’s might well turn out to be this winter’s last hurrah.

Temperatures are expected to reach 7C or 8C tomorrow and to hit double figures on Friday and over the weekend in parts of the region.

Council chiefs in the Borders have defended their recycling performance following concerns over contamination levels and failure to meet Scottish Government targets.

At last Thursday’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, fielded questions from concerned opposition councillors.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson asked: “Is it true that more and more recycling waste is put into landfill by the company we use due to the amount of contamination in the recycling?

“I am informed that this has increased quite dramatically from previous years and would like to know how much extra this is costing Scottish Borders Council.

“Do you not think that this is a real let-down for the vast majority of people in the Borders who faithfully recycle?”

Mr Edgar pointed out that the local authority performs well against its contamination targets, saying: “The quantity of contaminated material collected, in terms of the council’s kerbside recycling service, has remained fairly static in recent years at around 12%.

“In the last 24 months, the council has only once exceeded the target contamination level outlined in its recycling contract.

“Contamination is an important factor, and officers are currently developing a communications campaign to increase awareness, reduce contamination and increase recycling rates.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their continued support for the council’s waste and recycling service, and ask them to continue to play their part.”

A council spokesperson said afterwards: “In 2017, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency indicated that the average contamination of material accepted at material recover facilities is around 17% but, in some cases, is as high as 43%.

“Based on this, Scottish Borders Council continues to perform well but, as ever, there is room for improvement.”

The council’s failure to meet national recycling targets was also brought up by Leaderdale and Melrose councillor Kevin Drum.

He asked: “How does the council plan to ensure it meets the Scottish Government’s targets for recycling, which is 60% of household waste recycled or prepared for re-use by 2020?”

Mr Edgar admitted that the council has fallen well short of the government’s targets there but added that compared to regions such as Orkney and Dumfries and Galloway, it is performing well.

He told the chamber: “The Scottish Government’s recycling targets are aspirational and targeted as a whole, and therefore the council currently has no statutory obligation to meet these targets.

“Scottish Borders Council is achieving a recycling rate of 39.9% and performing extremely well when compared against its rural family group of Scottish authorities, which achieved a recycling rate of 30.5% over the same period.

“Over the last four years, the council has taken a number of steps towards improving its recycling performance.”

“That includes the introduction of a footways collection service, upgrades to community recycling centres, as well as introducing re-use schemes at a number of facilities, and working with local community groups and the third sector.

“Going forward, the council is in the process of developing a new waste transfer station, which will enable it to close its landfill site and divert waste for treatment, while also capturing potentially recyclable waste.

“In addition, the council is also looking at an education and awareness campaign.

“Achieving the Scottish Government’s aspirational target of 60% is likely to be extremely challenging, requiring significant change and investment nationally.”

The average rate of recycling household waste for Scottish authorities is 46%, but East Renfrewshire, West Lothian and Clackmannanshire have all hit the 60% mark.

Council bosses have agreed to be more lenient after giving single people just two weeks to prove they are entitled to a council tax reduction.

Adults living on their own, not counting children, are entitled to a 25% single-occupancy discount.

However, on Wednesday, March 13, Scottish Borders Council announced a region-wide review of that discount and sent letters to affected households demanding they fill out an online form before March 31.

Failure to do so, the letter said, would result in the discount being terminated.

Tweeddale East councillor Stuart Bell, calling that approach into question at last Thursday’s full council meeting, said: “There have been complaints on social media about the direct tone of the letter.

“I have told councillor Robin Tatler, the executive member for finance, that my concern is not so much the language, though that could be a little less blunt.

“I simply don’t think it is reasonable to give householders just two weeks to respond. What if they are ill or away? This just generates anxiety.

“The council should set an honest timescale, and my question is intended to give councillor Tatler an opportunity to do this in public.”

Almost 21,000 households in the Borders are currently in receipt of the reduction.

Fellow Tweeddale East councillor Mr Tatler told the chamber: “To ensure the best use of resources, we used the annual council tax bills as an opportunity to issue an insert asking people to renew their entitlement to single-occupancy discount online.

“To ensure a significant response, residents were asked to confirm their status within a two-week time period.

“Given the process is very straightforward, and that support is available from customer advice and support staff, we consider this a suitable timeframe.

“However, I wish to assure you that reminders will be issued for those who have not responded before the deadline.”

In a follow-up question, Mr Bell asked: “It was an insert, and we got a members’ briefing. That briefing had a timescale on it different from the timescale that is on this insert.

“The insert isn’t headed or branded by Scottish Borders Council, nor is it signed.

“It does look like an important notice and has resulted in some anxiety amongst the recipients of this.

“I think we need to find a way of giving a more tempered statement to the public that indicates a more reasonable approach and gives some assurance to residents.”

Mr Tatler replied: “Since I got this, I’ve held a meeting with council directors and we discussed a number of issues, including formatting,e and those points have been taken on board and the deadlines on the reminder letters will be increased.

“As of now, we have received 13,927 responses out of 20,550 households that receive this discount.”

A drug dealer found in possession of thousands of pounds’ worth of heroin has been jailed for 18 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Brian Potts, 33, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class-A drug at his Tulley Court home in Galashiels between August 7 and December 4 last year.

Police officers found 69 grammes of heroin, as well as cash, scales, tinfoil and other items associated with drug dealing.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told him dealing in drugs and the misery it caused is completely unacceptable.

His prison sentence was backdated to December 5, that being when Potts was first remanded in custody in connection with the matter.

He was admonished for a charge of possessing ecstasy.

A 30-year-old man has been admonished after admitting assaulting his sister and his mother during a bust-up at a house in Queens Drive in Hawick on June 15 last year.

Craig Wallace, 30, of Rennie Court in Kelso, also pleaded guilty to a third charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

He was admonished at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for those offences after being of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence.

A man found guilty of assaulting two of his sisters following a trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been ordered to carry out 90 hours’ unpaid work.

Danny Sharkey, 25, had denied carrying out those attacks at a house in McLagan Drive in Hawick on September 17.

Sharkey, of Wellfield Road in Hawick, was told he has to complete his community payback order within the next six months.

Kelso............................13

Aberdeen Grammar....34

A much-improved Aberdeen side had too much firepower for injury-beleaguered Kelso in the semi-final of the National Cup.

The city team were just too physical and ran out winners by five tries to one.

It was to Kelso’s great credit that they were still in the game at half time, despite conceding three tries.

An early penalty by Craig Dods set the scoreboard running but the enormous pressure exerted by Aberdeen brought a try by Ben Inglis, after Kelso just ran out of tacklers.

Bryn Perrott added the conversion and that try was followed 10 minutes later when, from the game’s first scrum, number eight Greg Ryan controlled the ball at the base of the scrum to plunge over. The conversion was missed.

A clever kick and chase by Mark Wilson took the hosts into the danger zone and the visitors conceded another penalty, which Dods slotted. A penalty was awarded against Kelso at a defensive scrum and Ryan tapped and drove over while Kelso were still organising their defence. Perrott added the extra points.

A break by Gregor Mein, followed up by Dods and captain Phil Hume, allowed Arran Jackson to make more ground. A Kelso penalty was stopped within the 10 metres and, with the referee playing an advantage, Dods kicked towards the left wing, where Jackson fielded and touched down. Dods converted from far out and Aberdeen centre Tom Aplin was yellow-carded. That made it 13-17 to Aberdeen at half time.

A Perrott penalty after 10 minutes of the second half stretched the lead. Aplin and Dods both were unsuccessful with long-range penalties but a blistering move by the visitors’ backs allowed winger Craig Shepherd to swallow dive over at the posts to give Perrott an easy conversion and Aberdeen a 27-13 lead.

Kelso had a period of pressure but to no avail and put up desperate defence for the rest of the game, but had Kris Mein yellow-carded and succumbed to a penalty try.

Kelso: Arran Jackson; Mark Wilson; Gregor Mein; Craig Dods; Matt Kindness; Murray Hastie; Phil Hume; Gareth Clark; Blair Robertson; David Leitch; Alex Thompson; Cammy Brown; Kevin Dryden; Kevin Wilson; Kris Mein.

Replacements: Craig Sweenie; Fergus Common; Greg Cessford; Andy Tait; Angus Roberts; Gregor Miller; Craig Bruce.

Peebles 7

Biggar 25

Peebles were the club who ended runaway leaders Biggar’s unbeaten run on their own ground back in October.

But the Lanarkshire club ironically gained revenge on Saturday by coming to The Gytes and scoring a win which finally clinched the National League Two championship.

Playing in near-perfect spring-like conditions, both sides played an expansive, hard-tackling game, which entertained the crowd.

Biggar drew first blood when, after 20 minutes, Matthew Stewart kicked a penalty to put them 3-0 up.

As expected, at this stage, Peebles had the edge in the tight, with their pack disrupting the Biggar eight in the scrum.

The home lineout, however, didn’t function just as well, with ball won but not as tidily as would have been preferred.

Biggar lost prop Donald Voas through injury – his brother Douglas was in the Peebles squad – and replacement Paul Davidson helped Biggar take at least three put-ins against the head – an unusual occurrence for Peebles.

Some good lines were taken by both sets of backs, while kicks and chases provided real excitement.

The next score came from Biggar captain Alan Warnock – a former Peebles player – who got on the end of a great attack to score a try which Matthew Stewart was just unable to convert.

A second penalty gave Biggar a half time lead at 11-0.

The opening exchanges for the second period saw Biggar scrum half Davy Reive shown a yellow for preventing fair release.

Peebles tried very hard but could not capitalise on the one-man advantage, with the visitors uncompromising in defence.

The game was won on the back of two Peebles attacks which misfired – this as much to do with Biggar pressure as any perceived Peebles errors.

The first saw Ross Bradford snaffle an interception pass from Peebles stand-off Donald Anderson to run home from half way.

Another Anderson pass shortly afterwards fell in similar fashion to Gregor Stewart, who also ran in from long range. Matthew Stewart (unrelated) kicked the conversions to both these scores to put Biggar ahead and effectively out of sight.

It looked as if Biggar would keep a clean sheet – which in itself would have been cause for celebration – but Peebles winger Scott Stoddart made amends when, and with only seconds remaining, he latched on to a speculative pass from Conor Lavery to beat the Biggar chase for a try. A stramash ensued as Biggar’s replacement winger, Iain Renwick, slid into Stoddart as he scored, while the conversion, by Anderson, was successful.

A whistle by referee Gardner signalled a penalty restart to Peebles on halfway – not celebration time, as Biggar had thought.

But the festivities weren’t deferred for long, with a mistake bringing to an end a series of phases begun by Peebles.

Fidra Lions 0, Fjordhus Reivers Development Team 5

Fjordhus Reivers U16 Development Team knew going into their final game of the season at Peffermill that a win would result in them

becoming League winners.

From the outset, they were composed and confident in their game plan and settled quickly into open attacking hockey.

Felicity Walls secured the first Reivers goal from a well-worked move in the circle.

With more attacking play, Reivers were awarded a penalty corner, from which Roseanna Prentice found Molly Darling at top ‘D’ to take a strike and

score the second.

Reivers moved the ball with confidence from defence, through midfield to the strikers, to secure space and set up many attacking phases.

Felicity Walls slotted her second in before making an attacking run up the right. She fired the ball across the baseline to find Luisa Brown on

post, and she neatly scored the fourth Reivers goal.

The final goal of the game was initiated by Rebecca Anderson, who created space and moved the ball accurately to Molly Darling in the circle. Molly secured the pass and found Felicity, who followed up to score her third of the game.

This well deserved 5-0 win assured the team of top place as League winners.

Congratulations were expressed to the entire squad, which has achieved this result from consistent hard work and determination in training throughout the season.

Thanks were epxressed also to Janet Jack for coaching the girls and to Chloe Richardson for umpiring the conclusive game.

Executives at Kelso Racecourse hope history can repeat itself this Monday, when all three of the trainers responsible for Scotland’s Grand National runners have entries at the Borders track.

Two years ago, One for Arthur paraded at Kelso two days after his Aintree success.

Lucinda Russell, who is preparing One For Arthur for a historic second victory, has entries in six of the seven races on Kelso’s programme.

Riverbodiva and Sammy B have live chances in the second race, the Duncan & Margaret Sinclair Memorial Handicap Hurdle, while Royal Reserve seeks to win more prize money for the Doddie Weir Foundation in the final race of the day, the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at 5.10pm.

The bookies rate Lakeview Lad, a previous Kelso winner, as Scotland’s best chance of lifting the Grand National trophy.

Nick Alexander, who trains the grey gelding for owner Trevor Hemmings, could be represented in the opening race on Buccleuch Cup Day by Elvis Mail, who ran well to be placed in the Grade 2 Premier Hurdle at Kelso last month.

The Fife-based trainer has also entered course specialist Landecker, a six-time winner at his favourite track, in the Duncan & Margaret Sinclair Memorial Hurdle.

Selkirk-based Stuart Coltherd saddles Captain Redbeard in the big race on Saturday.

He’ll be hot to trot following his victory in the Malcolm Jefferson Memorial Chase in February and a close third to Blue Flight in the Premier Steeplechase in March.

Coltherd could saddle Mrs Vonn in the Borders Carers Centre Handicap Chase, the third race on the programme at 3.10pm.

Despite other races having a greater prize fund, the traditional feature event of the day is the Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunterchase, open only to horses which are registered with northern hunts and point-to-point associations.

As many of these horses hail from amateur yards, the industry’s equine influenza biosecurity protocols will require them to have nasal swabs tested before attending the races.

The track has, therefore, taken the unusual step of offering £100 appearance money for all runners in the race which fail to win any prize money, to help offset the owners’ costs.

The best quality field will line up for the Hunter REIM Ltd Handicap Steeplechase, where the 16 entries include Rock On Fruity and Squouateur (both trained by Ben Haslam) and Takingrisks (Nicky Richards), all of whom have an official handicap rating of 135 – the highest permitted under the race conditions.

Another Venture, a cosy winner at Plumpton last month, is rated just three pounds lower for Kim Bailey, who has an excellent record with his raiders from the south.

Racegoers could be forgiven about having a feeling of déjà vu about the Manners Le Garcon D’Or Handicap Steeplechase, as the first four home last year could all re-oppose. Charlie Snow Angel (Sandy Forster), Halcyon Days (Rebecca Menzies), Mumgos Debut (Lucinda Russell) and John Williams (Sandy Thomson) are all entered again.

The gates open at noon and the first race will get under way at 2.10pm – hopefully just after a victory parade for a Scottish-trained Grand National winner.

Hawick Linden.................33

Corstorphine Cougars......19

A bonus-point victory under the Volunteer floodlights completed a fantastic, 100 per cent, 18 wins from 18 season for the already-crowned East 2 champions, Hawick Linden, on Friday night.

They looked the more likely side, reports Gary Alexander, but couldn’t shake Corstorphine off until the later stages in a game in which play didn’t really start to flow until the last 15 minutes.

Twice, the Linden shunted the visitors back in the scrum in attacking positions but a loose ball in the backs seemed to have ended their scoring opportunity, before a kick charge down saw Matthew Mallin with the pace to win the touch down race.

From a scrum in their own half, Graham Colville made a surging run. When tackled, James Rowley cleared out and quick ball for the backs found Liam Sharkey, whose neat offload released Kieran Murphy, who cut inside to extend the home lead to 10-0. Colville had to leave with a leg injury.

At the mid-point of the first period, Corstorphine were on the scoreboard. Following an attacking line out, they dived over from short range and the successful conversion narrowed the gap to three points.

Liam Sharkey then became the second Linden back row to be forced off with injury.

The Royal Blues then shot themselves in the foot as they missed touch with a penalty kick, followed by a missed tackle out wide, as the Cougars ran back with purpose and were rewarded as they crossed at the corner to take the lead.

Hawick knew they were in a game and opted for the posts, with a couple of penalties which Kris Rowley struck sweetly between the uprights to put his team 16-12 ahead.

Rory Graham then added five points on the half-time whistle, thanks to his pack, which once again shunted the scrum forward and, when the ball popped out, the co-captain pounced to touch down.

With a set of jerseys having arrived from Hawick RFC, to counter a perceived colour clash, the Royal Blues were now the Greens for the second half.

Just as the Linden had looked to be putting some daylight between the sides, the Cougars struck back. A quick tap penalty set their livewire wing forward on the hoof and, a couple of phases later, they touched down at the posts, with the conversion bringing the score back to 21-19.

On 64 minutes, James Rowley picked from the base of the scrum and Pete Drysdale ran over for the bonus point try. The missed conversion meant there was just a converted score to separate them.

Mallin ran well to the 10-metre line and sent Matthew Bell away, with Glendinning in support, for what looked to be a glorious try.

Alas, Mallin was hit high, the whistle wwent for a penalty and yellow card to the Corstorphine tackler – but the Royal Blues felt they were the ones who’d been penalised.

But, with four minutes left, victory was finally clinched with a fantastic score. When the ball reached Murphy on half-way, the winger beat his man on the outside then set off on a weaving run that almost took him all the way. But he found Mallin in support, who went under the posts for the 100th touchdown of the Linden’s league campaign.

The world’s greatest steeplechase is almost here again – and some top Borders talent will be taking part.

On Saturday at Aintree, it’ll be time for the Randox Health Grand National, one of the greatest sporting occasions in the world – with two horses either owned or trained locally taking part.

One For Arthur, who scored a thrilling memorable victory in 2017, is back after a lengthy lay-off because of injury, with winning jockey Derek Fox in the saddle once again.

One For Arthur is owned by the Borders consortium of Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung – better known as the Two Golf Widows.

Also returning to the course is Captain Redbeard, who took part last year, trained by Selkirk’s Stuart Coltherd and piloted by Stuart’s son Sam.

Both camps said they were are deeply privileged to be involved again and, above all, hoped for a safe, enjoyable race.

One For Arthur returned gingerly to race action over the festive season but both Deborah, from Cessford, and Belinda, of Ancrum, said he deserved his chance at Aintree again.

“We’re very pleased to have him back again,” said Belinda. “He is in good order.

“We’ve not had the best of preparations for the race, because he was off for a year and then he had a few niggles and issues.

“But (trainer) Lucinda (Russell) and the team have done a great job.

“He seems to be back where he was a couple of years ago but you never know – you need a lot of luck in the race and we are just hoping for a clear round and for him to get round safely,” added Belinda.

“He definitely deserves his chance, as he is in good form.”

Co-owner Deborah was equally convinced that their 10-year-old former winner was there on merit.

“He deserves to be there and give it another go,” she said. “He’s really come back into himself. He loves the fences and it’s a cracking race.”

The memories of 2017 were still very pleasant, said Deborah adding she and Belinda were delighted to be there.

“He owes us absolutely nothing,” she said. “All we want is to get him safely back in that lorry, going home at night. If he gets a clear run and gets a bit of luck, it would be lovely if he ran himself into a place.

“Expecting him to win again is probably asking a bit too much – but fingers crossed. He’s a little star for us and we just want him to come home safely.”

Over at Selkirk, Stuart Coltherd admitted he too was excited about the race – after some contradictory information about whether Captain Redbeard would take part – and agreed that luck was certainly needed on the day.

Captain Redbeard, with Sam Coltherd on board, took part last year – but the Captain unseated Sam at the seventh fence, the Foinavon.

“We learned a lot from last year but, in a race like that, you’ve got to have a certain amount of luck regarding where to be, or where to try and be,” said Stuart.

He added the National was the “number one race” and it was reportedly watched by around 66 million people around the world last year.

It was “mind-blowing” being involved in something like that, he added.

Sam was “a year older and a year wiser” said his dad, and had gathered more experience since then. “Being a jockey is one of those things you can’t replicate it anywhere else apart from riding horses and riding winners,” said Stuart, adding Captain Redbeard’s form going into the race had been “every bit as good as last year”.

“I feel, all being well, I would like to think he’ll run a big race,” he added.

Captain Redbeard, who won the Malcolm Jefferson Memorial Chase in February, could also be due to race at Kelso on Monday. Kelso race preview –page 71.

Peebles Rovers 1

Newtongrange Star 3

The crowd at Whitestone Park was swollen considerably by the attraction of Sunday football and the special occasion of ‘Groundhop Day’.

The game was delayed by a day to allow dedicated travelling fans to complete a packed weekend of match attendance at various venues in the East of Scotland League, as the Groundhop UK group staged one of its Scottish visits.

However, Peebles Rovers couldn’t make the most of the extra attention, going down 3-1 at home to Newtongrange Star.

The Midlothian men opened the scoring after 12 minutes when a ball from Thomson found Kyle Lander on the right. He easily turned Gettel before driving into the box and squared for Sean Jamieson, who calmly slotted home.

Porteous had a good chance after 22 minutes but headed over from 12 yards before Jamieson fired straight at the keeper after good work by Lander.

Porteous glanced a Scott cross inch’s wide after 36 minutes before Scott doubled Star’s advantage on 40 minutes, when he raced on to a long ball and waited for it to bounce before smashing it past Tom Kerr.

Peebles had their first effort on goal after 47 minutes but Grant Wilson sent it out of the ground.

O’Hara fired in a dangerous cross after 51 minutes which evaded everyone inside the box.

Star had claims for a penalty turned down when Porteous appeared to be pulled down in the box after 57 minutes.

Lander brought out a brilliant fingertip save from Kerr after 62 minutes when he rolled his marker on the edge of the box before firing a stinging effort goalwards.

Peebles pulled one back when Currie was short with a back pass, allowing David Lindsay to nip in and flick it past Dunsmore.

A Hunter free kick was just scrambled behind for a corner from which a poor delivery almost led to a swift counter attack that Currie did well to block on the half way line.

Star put the game beyond any doubt after 77 minutes when they deservedly got their third goal.

A lovely diagonal ball by Thomson was brought down by Lander. His cross was turned in via the far post from a very acute angle by Porteous.

Forster brought out an excellent save from Kerr after 80 minutes when he dived low to his left to turn away the Star striker’s effort, before O’Hara volleyed a Thomson corner inches wide.

Sports-loving prep school pupils from Melrose are toasting a hat-trick of netball wins and double success in track and field.

St Mary’s School has, for the third year in succession, won the annual U11 netball tournament hosted by Ardvreck School in Crieff.

The girls saw off opposition from Fettes, Craigclowan and Cargilfield in the pool stages and had a convincing 10-0 win against Loretto in the semi-finals.

They met Fettes College Prep again in the final and, after a frantic start, settled down to win the game 6-2.

This match ended a highly successful and unbeaten season for this talented group of youngsters.

In 11 matches, they scored 130 goals, with only 35 against.

There was also a double triumph for St Mary’s in the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Cross Country tournament for 2019, held at Dunbar.

The Borders school won the U11 and U13 girls’ team events.

It entered 35 runners from eight to 13 years of age, who were joined by another 328 children from 13 different schools.

The standard of running was, as always, incredibly high.

Every single St Mary’s pupil ran with grit and determination, each focused on doing their very best for their school team.

Special congratulations went to Anna and Libby Barr, who were second in the U11 and U13 girls’ competitions respectively, and to Emma Scott-Watson, who was just behind Libby, in third place.

Strong and clever tactical running from all athletes in the U11 and U13 girls’ teams saw them both deservedly lift this year’s team trophies.

It was a fantastic effort and the school expressed ‘well done’ sentiments to Anna Barr, Freyja Hawson, Olivia Richards, Tiggy Mathieson, Skye Macintosh, Libby Barr, Emma Scott-Watson, Daisy Scott-Watson, Eliza Maclay, Rosie Platt and Lara Jeffrey.

Scotland’s rugby-playing women, assisted by three from the Borders, have reached the quarter-finals of a sevens tournament in the Far East.

International team mates Lisa Thomson (Hawick), Chloe Rollie (Jedburgh) and Mhairi Grieve (Selkirk) are taking part in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series Qualifier in Hong Kong, where the Scots won two of their first three matches.

Captained by Helen Nelson, they defeated Belgium 31-12 in Pool A in the opening match of the tournament, scoring five tries, then lost 27-19 to Japan in their second game. The Scots had Rhona Lloyd yelllow-carded, while two Japanese players were sent to the sin bin late on.

In their third match, Scotland defeated Mexico 38-5 – with Mhairi coming off the bench to grab a late try.

The Borders women each played in all three matches – Lisa was in the starting line-up for all of them, while Chloe was on the bench against the Belgians and started against Japan and Mexico.

Mhairi began as a replacement in all three games but saw action – and helped put the finishing gloss on the result against Mexico, scoring a try with two minutes remaining. Her effort was converted by Annabel Sergeant.

The ladies will resume tomorrow (Friday) in the last eight against Papua New Guinea.

Talented young local badminton players headed for Berwickshire High School recently, as Duns Badminton Club staged its annual Primary School Tournament.

With around 50 entries, the day ran smoothly, with Pete Hardie ensuring the courts were in constant use, supported by Lynn Rhind, Pearl Ford and Deborah Kenworthy at the technical table, along with David Burns and his team of umpires.

Christine Wyllie, chairman of Borders Badminton Group, presented the prizes. Rob Harvey, chairman of Duns Badminton Club, thanked everyone who had been involved with organising and running the tournament. Special mention went to the club’s junior members, who had helped throughout the day.

Pictured are the winners and runners-up, who were:

Boys’ Singles – 1 Louis Kirkpatrick (Peebles), 2 Olly Langley (Duns). Girls’ Singles – 1 Erin Doyle (Duns), 2 Molly Sharp (Duns).

Boys’ Doubles – 1 Olly Langley and Jack Redpath (Duns), 2 Ross Smart and Murray Cormack (Peebles). Girls’ Doubles – 1 Erin Doyle and Eliza Bevan (Duns), 2 Chloe Patterson (Hawick) and Florence Kirkpatrick (Peebles).

Best Boy – Campbell Thomson (Duns). Best Girl – Florence Kirkpatrick.

Police are appealing for help to identify a whip-wielding pedestrian said to have shouted and sworn at a female motorist at Ashkirk.

The incident took place at around 10am on Monday, April 1, at the Floss on the road from Ashkirk to Hartwoodmyres, near the Woll golf course.

The man, said to be elderly, is reported to have shouted abuse at the female driver of a silver Citroen C3 car while brandishing a horsewhip.

He is described as white, in his seventies, around 5ft 2in tall and of small build.

Constable Scott McDonald, of Hawick police station, said: “This was a very frightening incident for the motorist, and the behaviour and actions of the man involved are totally unacceptable.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who can assist with this investigation and, in particular, would like to trace an elderly female passing the area at the time while she walked her black terrier-type dog. It is likely she will have witnessed what happened.

“This person, or anyone else with any relevant information, is asked to come forward.”

Potential witnesses are asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 1,944 of April 1. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.