ABBOTSFORD

THE Border Computing Ltd Indoor League continued last week, and on Wednesday the triple of Gordon Bowers, Scott Thomson and Brian Anderson had a convincing 23-10 win against John Hardie, Vic Graham and Ian Macdonald.

Tommy Mann Jnr beat John Manzcak in their singles tie by 14-7, while his team-mates in the pairs, Ecky and Colin Hancock, overcame Jackie Hardie and Tom Boyd 16-6.

On Thursday, Jimmy Grieve beat young Taylor Johnstone 19-8 in the singles, but Grieve’s pair of Les Tait and Kevin Stanners went down to Johnstone and John Purves by 11-1.

The second singles tie of the night saw Brian Anderson take the lead against Ian Macdonald, and when Anderson scored a four to pull away all looked lost for Macdonald. However, he struck back on the next end by scoring four himself and this, followed by two counts of three, gave him a 17-12 success.

In the final match of the night Gordon Bowers and Scott Thomson beat John Hardie and Vic Graham 9-6.

The visitors on Friday were Stevie’s Sharks – and in the rinks games both home teams emerged triumphant. In the pairs afterwards, Vic Graham and Robbie Graham had a close win against John Hardie and Jimmy Grieve.

Anyone hoping to buy horses for the race night this Saturday can still purchase them at the bar.

EARLSTON

BEREFT of bowlers during the winter break, the new Earlston BC extension is crying out to be put to good use and the club is looking for some help in its latest project.

Keen to start a regular carpet bowling crusade, the club is looking for boards to allow members to get the ball rolling. Anyone who knows of any such items which are not in use and could be loaned to the club should contact fionascott@tweeddalepress.uk or 07926 529710.

The club will hold its AGM on Sunday, November 25, at 7pm in the clubhouse. On Friday, November 30, at 7pm a quiz night will take place.

Entry is £5 a team (up to five people per side) and members are asked to take a raffle prize.

TWEEDBANK

LAST Wednesday saw the seniors entertain Balbardie Club from Bathgate.

With five ends completed across the four rinks, counts of six and seven had already been conceeded by the hosts.

Consequently, at this stage, Balbardie already had a lead of 24 shots. The closest Tweedbank rink was three shots adrift at 4-1.

At 10 ends, Balbardie remained ahead, although not having managed to widen the gap. At this stage one home rink had even managed to go in front, albeit by a single shot.

As the second half of the match progressed any chances of a Tweedbank revival were lost and the divide began to widen, reaching 35 shots after 15 ends. Balbardie ran out 83-48 victors.

There were no winning rinks for Tweedbank, although one did manage to recover from 11-4 down to finish with a draw, while a second rink which had battled hard throughout were just five shots adrift.

Skips and scores: Rob Fulton 16, I. Drysdale 25; Peter McGauchrane 10, R. Templeton 15; Hugh Clifton 14, R. McIvor 14; David Weir 8, H. Marshall 29. Result: 48-83.

There was again no match for the gents on Saturday, but the ladies were away to Teviotdale.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the early stages, leading by 21-17 with five ends completed.

In the course of the next five ends, Tweedbank managed to increase their lead, which stood at 12 shots after 10 ends. Three of the four visiting rinks were now in front and the fourth level.

However, Teviotdale began to fight back during the second half and in the course of the next five ends they turned the deficit into a single-shot advantage. Two Tweedbank rinks remained ahead, but the other two had fallen behind.

Teviotdale continued the stronger team in the final quarter and they pulled away for a 77-61 victory, Tweedbank ending with all four rinks down.

Skips and scores: Gail Lindores 15, Joyce Dickey 22; Pat Houston 14, Caroline Hogarth 19; Jackie Ormiston 15, Julie Forrest 17; Ella Brydon 17, Irene Bennett 19. Result: 77-61.

With no gents’ league it was the national playdown in the junior singles, and in this event Tweedbank was represented by Ben McGregor.

Facing an opponent from Dundee IBC in the first round of the event hosted by the Abbeyview Indoor Club in Dunfermline, McGregor started reasonably well. There was little between the two during the early ends before the Dundee junior took a small lead, however, McGregor pulled the score back to seven shots each.

McGregor then made a mistake which became crucial to the match. He lost the jack in the ditch and the change in jack length suited his opponent, who began to take control and eventually triumphed 21-8.

At club level, the finals of the ladies’ and gents’ fours were played on Friday.

It was a somewhat one-sided affair in the female contest with Rita Jefferson and Jeanette Redpath both playing particularly well at the front, supported by Jackie Ormiston at third and Ella Bryden (skip). The match did not go the full 21 ends, the final score being 20-5.

The same could not be said in the case of the gents, with Ben McGregor, Gary Thorburn, Ryan Thorburn and Malcolm Thin facing Ross Nichol, Derick Pearce, Neil McNally and Kenny Johnstone.

After losing three shots on the first end, Johnstone’s team gained seven shots in the next three ends. They then lost three singles, making the tally 7-6 for Johnstone. Another four shots in three ends put Johnstone five ahead, and with seven ends left to play his team was up 13-9.

The 15th end was vital for Thin’s team, bagging a count of four which levelled the score. But the four-shot difference was restored by Johnstone with just three ends left. Two singles for Thin left his side needing three shots on the last end to win. With the situation not in Thin’s favour, the first two attempts to complete the last end were burnt and on the third bid the three required were gained by Thin’s team to triumph 18-17.

The final of the gents’ senior fours will be held tomorrow at 7pm.

On Monday, draws were made for the national triples competitions for seniors, gents and ladies, together with the teams for the ladies’ triples league. As has been the case with the fours, dates were allocated for the playing of all ties up to and including the finals.

This information can be obtained from the stadium noticeboards.

EARLSTON

Earlston’s Rose Thorburn and Mark Reilly lifted this year’s Scott’s Garage Pairs trophy at Eyemouth Golf Club on one of the few sunny days this year.

The competition, kindly sponsored by S & M Scott, was the last in the Earlston calendar. Many thanks go to the catering and grounds staff at Eyemouth for a superb day’s golf and wonderful meal.

Tickets for this year’s social evening on Friday, November 16, are on sale in the Black Bull, Earlston, at £8 each.

GALASHIELS

John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Seniors Section: J. Phillip Memorial Trophy winners, W. Morrison & I. B. Johnston. Macgregor Cup: 1, P. Seggie Nett 36; 2, R. W. Scott 41; 3, I. Young 42.

KELSO

Treble Six Pairs: 1, L. Murray & H. Patterson 62.5; 2, S. Anderson & B. Anderson 64.

THE WOLL

Woll Waltz: 1, C. Pritchard, S. Bell, R. Nisbet; 2, A. Brunton, J. MacKenzie, D. Main.

Winter League round one: 1, J. McWhinnie 45 points; 2, A. Brunton 41; 3, N. Allinson 40.

The dinner and prize giving is on Friday, November 16. To reserve tickets please call reception on 01750 32711.

BEST Performance Squad members made their season’s intentions clear at the first instalment of the 2012/2013 East District Age Group Championships.

Running over three weekends the first round, consisting entirely of distance events, was held at the Bathgate Sports Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

Fourteen-year-old Ryan Brown performed brilliantly in all three of his events to come away with a gold and two silvers.

Brown won gold in the 400m individual medley and now has the Scottish age group record for this event in his sights after narrowly missing the milestone on this occasion.

He achieved impressive personal bests in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle events also, coming within just a second of the East District age group record in the 1,500m.

Kirsty Armstrong, 13, also starred at the meet, matching Kelso ASC team-mate Brown’s medal haul of one gold and two silvers.

Her gold also came in the 400m medley, while her silver medals were achieved in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.

Lizi Clelland narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth in the 400m freestyle. The 13-year-old Kelso ASC member also achieved significant pbs in the 400m medley and 800m freestyle.

Many of the team’s swims resulted in substantial personal best times.

Contributing to the team’s 84 per cent pb rate for the weekend were Gregor and Kathryn Swinney of Peebles ASC, Matthew Berlansky of Gala ASC, and Jenny Adams, Morgan Anderson, Morvern Anderson and Amy Richardson, all of Kelso ASC.

Borders performance coach Alex Jordan told TheSouthern: “Being early in the season, team members are not entirely race-fit just yet. However, they achieved many great results over the weekend, simply through fantastic racing.

“This was a top start to what is hopefully going to be another successful season for the team.”

The BEST Performance Squad is an initiative of the Borders Performance Development Programme, which runs in partnership with Scottish Swimming, Borders Sport & Leisure Trust and five local swimming clubs – Duns, Gala, Kelso, Peebles and Teviotdale.

Members from these clubs have the opportunity to join the Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) Performance Squad which involves attending morning training sessions with coach Jordan.

The programme has been a catalyst for impressive results from Borders swimmers at local to international levels.

AMAZINGLY, although the day started off with a really hard frost, Braidwood’s Sunday event was blessed with winter sun once again.

The first shoot on winter opening hours meant proceedings kicked off 30 minutes earlier at 11.30am, with all finished by 3.30pm, before light deteriorated.

It was most definitely Gordon Boertien’s day. The Lockerbie sure-shot enjoyed a clean sweep over all the sections. He won the first layout outright, with a score of 35 ex-40, to earn the New Trophy. Continuing in the same vein, he topped the leaderboard on layout two on 36 ex-40, leaving him the undisputed high gun for the whole day with an aggregate score of 71 ex-80, the only man to break the magic 70 barrier.

Ali Cumming (Galashiels) and Bruce Todd (Dumfries) were closest in the first event, sharing runner-up slot on a score of 33, while Joe Baumgart (Hawick) and Donald Livingston (Edinburgh) were only a single point less.

Todd shared the second highest score of 34 in round two with Kenny Scott and Nigel Rock (both Kelso), and Roy McCowan (Gretna) next highest at 33.

Todd had the second highest overall score of 67 ex-80, while Rock and Livingston both ended the day on 64.

The next shoot is on Sunday, November 18, when the Teviotdale Shield is the members’ trophy.

This time it’s Jim Brodie who has the opportunity to defend. Entries close at noon. All welcome.

HARD WORK and dedication from both players and coaches is paying off for Fjordhus Reivers as their mixed Under-14 squad takes its first steps into league competition.

Last weekend, the team travelled to Edinburgh to continue their campaign in the East Under-14 league and came away with two victories against well-established junior outfits.

The group train at Tweedbank twice weekly under the guidance of Pippa Bell, who told TheSouthern: “Competition at this level is important for the youngsters, so they can gauge how their training is going and it also allows the coach to assess their progress.”

Without doubt this proved positive on both counts at the weekend as the mixed team of boys and girls put on fine demonstrations of skill, team work and sportsmanship to win against Erskine Stewarts Melville (ESM) 4-1 and Waverley Inveresk Trinity (WIT) 4-0. These two clubs have been involved in junior hockey for many years, so it is testament to Pippa as coach and her young players that they are competing so confidently at a high level in their first year in the league.

It is also encouraging to see so many boys playing within the squad, which has so many members that the travelling team is selected on a rotational basis ensuring that all participants take it in turns to play.

The club is still developing and has the capacity to run five Under-12 squads, an Under-13 squad, an under-14 squad, a boys’ squad of 15 years plus, and two senior women’s and a men’s squad.

The club has also worked hard to ensure that all their squads have qualified coaches running every session and they, along with the many volunteers within the club, are providing the structure for its continuing success.

Granite City Wanderers 1

Fjordhus Reivers 1

NATIONAL LADIES DIVISION TWO

Reivers took the long drive north to the oil capital of Scotland to play Granite City Wanderers, who are currently flying high in the league.

Granite City are the envy of other clubs due to the fact that they have a full-time coach, funded by Aberdeen Asset Management and Scottish Hockey.

To make matters worse, the Border ladies could only muster 11 players to make the journey due to the youngsters having school commitments.

This meant that the 11 who took to the field would have to play the whole game, compared to the home team who had a full complement of 16 and would be using their rolling substitutions to effect.

GCW passed back and from the start it proved to be a very physical and aggressive game, with both teams testing each other out, with no quarter given or asked by both sets of players.

On 10 minutes, Reivers gained a penalty corner after good build-up play by Laura Mclean on the left, the home keeper saving well to thwart her.

Some silky play by Sarah Mathers on the right of midfield created a couple of glorious chances, but they were unfortunately not capitalised on by the strikers.

Leisa Poole and Elena Lunn were combining well and looked sharp and up for the game.

Play swung from end to end with hefty challenges and stick tackles flying in from both teams. There were a lot of verbals given to the Borderers and they did well to resist getting involved.

On 18 minutes Stacey Tennent in the Reivers goal made the save of the season when, at full stretch, she parried the ball away from a certain goal.

For the last 10 minutes of the half, Granite City gained the upper hand. From a goalmouth melee, after initially being saved by Tennent, the ball was scrambled over the line.

Reivers did not lie down to their opponents in the second half, and from the restart, they harried, stole possession and fought for every scrap of ball.

And GCW did not know how to cope with a good old-fashioned battle. Janet Jack and Pippa Bell had swapped positions and were firing their troops up by playing some inspirational hockey.

This rubbed off on the Borders ladies and every player wearing the Fjordhus shirt gave 100 per cent and showed bags of courage and skill. It was not only the Granite City side that the Border ladies were playing, as the umpires consistently failed to give any form of free hit, let alone three stonewall penalty corners. This inability of the umpires to stamp any form of authority turned the match into a bad-tempered affair.

The Borders ladies were extremely professional and although being provoked, did not retaliate and concentrated on their own game. That patience paid off 20 minutes into the second half. Reivers’ defence stole the ball, switched play through Jack, who laid off to Denise Fairbairn, who in turn fed Leisa Poole. She cleverly turned her defender and fed Laura McLean, who had her front-stick shot blocked, but followed up with a super reverse stick shot to level the match. This was a fantastic passing move up the pitch which spurred Reivers on to further attacks.

The final whistle went and Reivers fully deserved the draw and the point. The 11 ladies that boarded the bus in the morning as a team, played as a team and worked as a team, and were a credit to themselves and to the Fjordhus club.

Coach Janet Jack was frustrated at the lack of respect by the opposition and the umpiring decisions, but was full of praise for her 11 Border warriors.

Fjordhus Reivers: S. Tennent, J. Jack, E. Newlands, N. Wheallens, J. Wilson, P. Bell (capt), L, Mclean, D. Fairbairn, S. Mathers, E. Lunn, L. Poole.

MELROSE coach Craig Chalmers is looking for his team to cut out costly mistakes and get their Premiership title campaign back on track when they travel to Mayfield to face Dundee this weekend, writes Fiona Scott.

On naming his team today Chalmers commented: “Last week saw us play another poor first half which was littered with mistakes and cost us the game once again.

“We must do the simple things well this week against Dundee if we are to get back on track at a tough venue to get a result. Two teams desperate for a positive result to get their seasons back on track.

Alex Jessop, Jamie Murray and Richard Mill all come into the backline while in the forwards Alun Walker starts at hooker, Peter Eccles starts at lock and David Crawford get’s a start at openside.

Melrose team to play Dundee at Mayfield (2pm): A.Jessop; U.Kalamafoni Jnr, J.Murray, R.Mill, J.Helps; A.Skeen, B.Colvine; N.Little, A.Walker, G.Holborn, R.Miller, P.Eccles, J.Dalziel, D.Crawford, A.Nagle. Subs: W.Mitchell, C.Arthur, R.Ovens, S.Mccormick, S.Chalmers.

PROLIFIC Gala goal scorer Des Sutherland hit the headlines of the social media sites last Saturday when he notched an amazing – and likely record breaking – eight goals during Gala Rovers’ 12-2 destruction of Scottish Widows in the Scottish Amateur Cup (see report on page 26).

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that the local roofer, who celebrates his 27th birthday a week today, spent four days in the Intensive Care Unit at the Borders General Hospital just over two months ago after falling from a ladder in a work-related accident.

Sutherland told TheSouthern: “If it hadn’t been for a workmate breaking my fall in an attempt to catch me I may not have been alive.

“As it happens, I was extremely lucky and only suffered a dislocated hip. After the accident we thought I wouldn’t be able to play again, until after Christmas anyway, but after a spell in ITU, where I was monitored for internal injuries, I was given a clean bill of health.”

Last Saturday’s efforts brings Sutherland’s tally for the season to 30 goals, in eight games, and he is well on target to beat his previous seasons best of 52.

“I am just really enjoying my football at the moment and I think that tells on the pitch,” he added.

“The Rovers are a great team to play for and it’s thanks to them that I am able to score so much as there is always someone there to set me up. Everyone turns up for training and games early so that we can enjoy a laugh and a joke before we get started and there is a real feelgood factor within the whole club.”

This weekend Rovers play Glasgow outfit Ashvale Victoria in the third round of the national competition.

In the East of Scotland scene this weekend Hawick Royal Albert and Selkirk lock horns at Albert Park in a First Division dogfight.

Apart from Ross Brand being suspended, Albert manager Graeme Chadwick selects from a full squad, including new signings Paul Russell and Bobby Nwanze who returns to the club after a brief spell with Preston Athletic, while Selkirk have Jason Inglis and Euan Pritchard doubtful.

Talking of his side’s meeting with Peebles Rovers, Gala Fairydean manager Garry Fraser said: “Peebles are under new management and I believe a few new players have been signed. Apart from this I don’t know anything else about Peebles and just don’t know what to expect from them. We will be looking for a win though.”

Fairydean have Paul Sutherland and Ben McGregor out, while Craig Tyson is doubtful.

In yet another derby outing Kelso United tangle with Duns, while in the Premier Division, Vale of Leithen face Whitehill Welfare.

HOLLYBUSH CROSS-COUNTRY HANDICAP: Saturday, November 10 – Incorporating Gala Harriers Club Championships followed by the annual presentation night (racing starts at 2pm).

EOS PREMIER DIVISION: Saturday, November 10 – Whitehill Welfare v Vale of Leithen (2.30pm).

EOS FIRST DIVISION: Saturday, November 10 – Hawick Royal Albert v Selkirk; Gala v Peebles Rovers; Duns v Kelso United (2.30pm).

SCOTTISH AMATEUR CUP SECOND ROUND REPLAY: Saturday, November 10 – Linton Hotspur v Newtongrange Star A (1.30pm).

SCOTTISH AMATEUR CUP THIRD ROUND: Saturday, November 10 – Ashvale Victoria (Central) v Gala Rovers (1.30pm).

SOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND: Saturday, November 10 – Hawick Waverley v CFC Bowholm; Selkirk Victoria v St Boswells; Peebles Amateurs v Carluke Hearts (1.30pm).

BAL DIVISION A: Saturday, November 10 – Chirnside United v Hearts of Liddesdale; Greenlaw v Duns Amateurs; Leithen Rovers v West Barns Star; Tweeddale Rovers v Newtown (2pm).

BAL DIVISION B: Saturday, November 10 – Gala Hotspur v Hawick United; Hawick Legion v Jed Legion; Stow v Eyemouth Amateurs; Winton v Ancrum (2pm).

BAL DIVISION C: Saturday, November 10 – Earlston Rhymers v Biggar; Gordon v Kelso Thistle; Hawick Legion Rovers v Tweedmouth Amateur Colts; Lauder v Gala Athletic (2pm).

NATIONAL LADIES DIVISION TWO: Saturday, November 10 – Fjordhus Reivers v Erskine Stewarts Melville at Tweedbank (2pm).

EAST LADIES DIVISION ONE: Saturday, November 10 – Fjordhus Reivers II v Edinburgh University V at Tweedbank (12.30pm).

EAST MENS DIVISION ONE: Sunday, November 11 – Fjordhus Reivers v Erskine Stewarts Melville at Tweedbank (1pm).

FIRST NOVEMBER MEETING: Saturday, November 10 – At Kelso Race Course (first race 12.25pm). Full preview on page 25.

BOOKER BORDER LEAGUE: Friday, November 9 – Hawick v Peebles (7.30pm). Saturday, November 10 ‑ Hawick YM v Jed-Forest (2pm).

RBS PREMIERSHIP: Saturday, November 10 – Gala v Stirling (3pm); Dundee v Melrose (2pm).

RBS BORDER CUP: Saturday, November 10 – Selkirk v Kelso (3pm).

RBS BORDER SHIELD: Saturday, November 10 – Duns v Gala YM; Earlston v Berwick; Langholm v Hawick Linden (2pm).

RBS EAST REGIONAL BOWL: Saturday, November 10 – Bo’Ness v St Boswells (2pm).

SEMI-JUNIOR LEAGUE: Saturday, November 10 – Duns Colts v Hawick PSA; Selkirk Youth Club v Gala Wanderers; Berwick Colts v Peebles Colts; Jed Thistle v Langholm Colts; Hawick Wanderers v Tynedale Colts; Melrose Wasps v Kelso Quins (2pm).

UNDER 16S LEAGUE: Sunday, November 11 – Selkirk v Berwick; Peebles v Jed-Forest; Melrose v Hawick Albion.

Check with clubs regarding kick-off times.

EMC AUTUMN TEST: Sunday, November 11 – Scotland v New Zealand at Murrayfield (2.30pm).

FRIENDLY: Wednesday, November 14 – Hawick Linden v Ottawa Indians (7pm). The Canadian Indians are on tour and will be at the Scotland games against New Zealand and South Africa. Linden’s Dave Naylor, Gary Cairns and Barrie Keown have all played for the Indians whilst Marc Jacques came the other way and played for both the Linden and Hawick in 1992/93. Match sponsored by John Rae Ltd.

JEAN YULE CUP: Thursday, November 8 – Group One: Innerleithen v Selkirk B; Jedburgh Legion v Hawick Burns B. Group Two: St Boswells v Hawick Burns A; Selkirk A v Hawick Con B.

HOW do you begin to overcome such overwhelming odds and pull off a win against the World champions?

That is Andy Robinson’s task as he attempts to lead Scotland to a first ever win against the mighty All Blacks.

Scotland are 20/1, while you can risk £100 of your money to win just £4 on a New Zealand victory.

New Zealand haven’t lost for almost 20 matches, they are World champions, they have been crowned Kings of the Southern Hemisphere and are at the top of their game right now.

Scotland have only managed two draws against them in more than 100 years and haven’t played together since the successful Pacific tour in June.

Edinburgh are having a disastrous start to the season. Glasgow have done better, but both pro teams are as good as out of the money-spinning Heineken Cup.

Scotland also has an injury list which is growing alarmingly.

The national side is to being underdogs and the pressure is clearly off them, so they have nothing to lose and new captain Kelly Brown, who wins his 50th cap on Sunday, will try his best to inspire his players in front of a sell-out crowd who are not turning up to see Scotland thrashed. All they ask for will be a performance to make a nation proud, and the longer they can go in the match without conceding points, the more the supporters will get behind their team.

From a Borders perspective, the region is well represented. Brown is back after injury, Ross Ford is at hooker, Geoff Cross is in the front row, Greig Laidlaw is selected at fly half and Stuart Hogg is wearing 15. Sadly, no Lee Jones this time, but hopefully he will get a chance later to show Robinson why he was wrong to drop him. It all kicks off at 2.30pm on Sunday and it will be quite an occasion.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Sean Lamont, Nick De Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser; Greig Laidlaw, Mike Blair; Ryan Grant, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Richie Gray, Jim Hamilton, Ross Rennie, Alasdair Strokosch, Kelly Brown. Subs: Scott Lawson, Allan Jacobsen, Kyle Traynor, Alastair Kellock, David Denton, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Max Evans.

Read Stuart Cameron’s column ‘Stuart on Scotland’ in next week’s Southern and throughout the Autumn Test campaign.

z Jed-Forest coach Darren Cunningham has stood down from the post with immediate effect.

President Billy Grieve made the announcement on Sunday, citing the bad start to the 2012/13 season, which sees the team at the bottom of the National League.

He said: “Our recent bad run of results are against where Jed-Forest want to be in Scottish Rugby.

“Darren has always shown dedication and enthusiasm during his role, however, it is results that matter and to that end he has failed to deliver this season.

“We wish Darren well for the future. The club will now seek to appoint a new head coach in due course.”

Cunningham took Jed to the top of Premier C and Premiership Two in successive seasons, as well as winning the Kings of the 7s trophy earlier this year, but, having lost several key players over the summer, the team have won just one game this campaign.

z See panel at foot of page for this weekends’s local fixtures, while previews for Gala and Melrose’s Premiership matches will be posted at www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk once teams are announced.

TIME is a funny thing, so the cliché says.

Back in October 30, 2010, Peebles’ Craig Borthwick lay in agony on his home pitch, having suffered a horrific double leg break against Borders rivals Gala.

Almost two years to the day – October 28, 2012 – and the same player scores a late try on his Scottish rugby league side debut against a star-studded second string England team.

And the 26-year-old now has his eyes set on the World Cup with Scotland’s first pool game on – you guessed it – October 29, 2013.

A spot at next year’s tournament in England and Wales would cap a remarkable comeback from a career-threatening injury.

Borthwick told TheSouthern: “My debut came at the right time in terms of putting myself in the shop window and hopefully this time next year I will be featuring in the World Cup.

“There are more guys to come back into the squad, but each country takes 24 players, so hopefully if I keep working hard, I can make it.”

The sight of Borderers travelling south to make a living from rugby league was once a fairly common one, with the likes of Kelso RFC pair Alan Tait and George Fairbairn both having hugely successful careers in the 13-a-side game.

Nowadays, it is less so, following union’s move to professionalism in 1995.

But Borthwick is an exception, turning out for Gala at union, as well as playing for the Edinburgh Eagles rugby league side, while still working as a stonemason.

He said: “I have always fancied playing rugby league, but there are not a lot of chances to do so up here.

“I think it suits my type of game in terms of the tackling and running with the ball. Of the two, I prefer rugby league.

“I first went along to the Edinburgh Eagles and from there got into the Scotland A squad. I was selected for the professional squad in 2010, but three days later had my injury against Gala.

“I went from such a high from being involved with the squad to breaking my leg and being out for almost a year.

“I got the chance to go to the pro squad again this year and attended training camps, and just missed out on the team for the Ireland game, before making the squad for the English Knights game (Scotland lost 62-24).

“I was a bit nervous beforehand, but I was told to go on and make an impact, and I managed to grab a try late on.

“It was a lot faster than I am used to and there were some big names involved, guys who are playing in the Super League and NRL in Australia.”

However, Craig is now back to union with Gala, and his coach George Graham is one of few men to have represented Scotland in both codes.

“I spoke to George about playing for Scotland at league and said I might be away for a few weeks with the international team,” said Borthwick.

“He had a wee grumble, but I think he saw the bigger picture. However, at the moment I am concentrating on Gala and keeping us in contention for the Premiership title.”

As for the chances of Scotland gaining a Super League team, Borthwick is unsure.

He said: “There is always talk of a professional team being set up in Scotland, but the funding is always the issue.

“I think if someone came up with the cash for a pro team, the game would take off.

“There is an opportunity, but as usual it comes down to money, which is tight at the moment.”

In a strange twist, Borthwick was handed his first cap by former Hull Kingston Rovers and Great Britain legend Fairbairn, who was born in Peebles.

Now Scotland team manager, Fairbairn believes his fellow Borderer can make the World Cup.

Speaking from the pub he owns in Hull, Fairbairn told us: “Craig has been in our squad for the past two seasons, but obviously suffered a bad leg break.

“But he has looked after himself well and is showing a lot of potential, so has a real chance of making the final World Cup squad.”

ST BOSWELLS

AT their weekly Primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 82 clean cattle, 94 OTM cattle, 1,708 new season lambs and 513 ewes.

Bullocks (39) averaged 208.5p per kg and sold to 239p (+0.3p on week) and heifers (39) averaged 208.3p per kg and sold to 238p (-0.3p on week).

Four young bulls averaged 196.3p per kg and sold to 199p (n/c on week) while 94 beef type OTM cattle averaged 124.7p per kg and sold to 187p (+1.3p on the week).

The 1,708 new season lambs averaged 161.3p per kg and sold to £92 (+10.7p on week) and 513 ewes averaged £46.24 and sold to £91 (n/c on week).

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.39 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.38 Robert Wilson Butchers; Greenknowe 2.36 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.25 M/s Penny and Sons; Humebyres 2.36 M/s J Penny and Sons; Redden 2.30 Charles Wilson; Ramrig 2.29 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd, 2.23 M/s T A Shaw; Traprain 2.28 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.26 Colin Peat; Longnewton 2.27, 2.26 M/s J Penny and Sons; Lennoxlove 2.26 Robert Wilson Butcher, 2.20 Ramsay Butcher; Upper Nisbet 2.24 Craig Douglas Butcher; Upper Hundalee 2.20 Malone of Edinburgh.

Principal prices per head: Bee Edge £1457.90, £1392.30; Upper Nisbet £1438.80, £1401.60; Humebyres £1404.20.

Cows per head: Mosstower £1458.60, £1197, £1151.15; Huntington £1440; Ecclaw £1422.75, £1131; Humebyres £1369.40; Shoestanes £1300; Hoselaw £1242; Corsbie £1224.60; Dalkeith Home Farm £1212.60, £1124.55, £1113.50; Timpendean £1146.75; Upper Blainslie £1094.75.

Cows per kg: Mosstower 1.87, 1.71; Huntington 1.80, 1.59; Dalkeith Home Farm 1.72, 1.70, 1.53; Timpendean 1.65, 1.55; Humebyres 1.64; Corsbie 1.57; Skelfhill 1.54; Hutlerburn 1.53; Upper Blainslie 1.51; Meigle 1.45 Hoselaw 1.45.

Bulls: Meigle £1537(1.45)

Principal prices - Lambs per head: Tex.x;- £92 Saughland, £90 The Lee, £89, £87.50 Crumhaughhill, Suff.x;- £90, £85 The Lee, £81 Headshaw L, Bel;- £86 Sydenham, £78 Hartside, Chev;- £73 Dere Street, Char;- £72 Woodhouse, GF;- £67 Beirhope, £66.50 Saughtree.

Principal prices lambs per kg: Tex.x;- 204.8 Craighouse, 198.9 Crumhaughhill, Bel;- 195.5, 194.9 Sydenham, Suff.x;- 172.1 Woodhouse, 169.8 Belmont and Torwoodlee Mains.

Cast ewes: Suff;- £91 Dere Street, CM;- £83 Langtonlees, HB;- £81 Bonjedward Mill, Suff.x;- £81 Bedrule, Tex;- £77 Bonjedward Mill and Bedrule, £75 Langtonlees, GF;- £61 Cathpair, £57 Redpath East End and Bedrule, Char;- £55 Whitehope. I, BF;- £55 Carterhouse. J.

Rams: Suff;- £87 Ecclaw, Ham;- £87 Ecclaw and Bridgelands, Zwar;- £79 East Bridgelands, Tex;- £79 Ecclaw.

WOOLER

AT Wooler Primestock Sale held last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 896 lambs and 129 ewes.

With recent national trade at a low, caused a smaller show of both lambs and ewes, as a result trade seemed to be a touch dearer but with no sign of the long term trade changing.

Leading prices per head:- Suff.x:- £76, £75, £74 Lilburn Estates (Roseden). Tex:- £75.50 South Ditchburn, £75 Greenhead, Reston (2), Hoprig and Wandon, £74 M Hall, South Charlton, £73.50 Wandon, £73 Low Middleton, £72 South Charlton, Shipley Smallburn, £71 South Ditchburn, Springhill, Seahouses (2), Elwick, £70 Kettleburn (2). Suff.x:- £74 Springhill, Seahouses, £70 South Lyham (2), Craighouse, £69.50 North Sharperton, £68.50 Craighouse, Low Middleton and East Fleetham. Cha:- £74 Wandon, £70 Elwick (2), £67.50 Lemmington Hill Head. Bel:- £70 Roddam, £69 Ladykirk. Chev:- £65 South Charlton. Ven:- £65.50 South Lyham.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 179.5p Roddam, 173p, 164.3p Ladykirk, 160.7p Roddam. Tex:- 171.6p South Ditchburn, 169.8p Low Middleton, 168.3p Ladykirk, 165p Lorbottle, 164.6p Roddam, 163.3p Wandon, 161.9p Ladykirk, East Fleetham and Pallinsburn, 161.4p South Ditchburn and Elwick, 160.7p Lemmington Hill Head and Roddam, 159.6p Greenhead, Reston, 159.5p Castlelaw. Suff.x:- 156p Castlelaw, 155.7p Craighouse, 153.5p Roddam, 152.3p Shipley Smallburn. Cha:- 169.2p, 161.3p, 159.1p (2), 156.8p, 151.2p Elwick, 151p Wandon, 150p Lemmington Hill Head. Chev:- 154.8p South Charlton. GF:- 151.3p Craighouse.

Ewes, leading prices:- Mule:- £82 Wandon, £55 Hoprig, £52 Ross Farm and Ladykirk. Tex:- £80 Chillingham Newtown Sheep, £75 Wandon, £65 M Hall, South Charlton and Hoprig, £58 Hoprig, Springhill, Seahouses, £55 Todrig and Ladykirk. Lei:- £55 Todrig. Suff.x:- £74 Wandon, £70 Springhill, Seahouses, £66 Hoprig, £65 Doune Brae, £60 Ross Farm. CM:- £60 South Charlton. BF:- 75 Clennell.

LONGTOWN

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 30 prime cattle, eight young bulls, 41 over 30 month cattle, 5,293 prime lambs and 8,307 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A small show of prime cattle but a slightly improved show for quality on offer.

The sale was topped at 218.5p for a Limousin heifer from D.J. Garthwaite and Son, Wyseby Hill Cottage. Limousin bullocks sold to 210.5p from T. Armstrong and Sons, Sceughdyke.

Principal prices per kilo: Bullocks, Limousin 210.5p Sceughdyke, 207.5p Becton Hall, 200.5p Riggfoot. 192.5p Sandbed. Heifers, Charolais 204.5p Swaites, Simmental 184.5p Sceughdyke. Limousin 218.5p, 208.5p Wyseby Hill Cottage, 190.5p Haining House.

Principal prices per head: Bullocks, Limousin £1463 Sceughdyke. £1411 Becton Hall, £1324 Haining House.

There was a small show of prime bulls forward selling to 217.5p for Limousin from M. and G.A Nicholson, The Lake.

Principal prices per kilo: Limousin 217.5p, 213.5p The Lake. Friesian 171.5p, 162.5p Becton Hall.

Principal prices per head: Limousin £1392, £1345 The Lake.

A better show of OTM were on offer and with plenty of keen bidding, saw trade slightly sharper for the better end of cows. Top price of 184.5p for a Limousin shown by J.W. Slack and Son, Newby Farm.

Limousin stock bulls sold to 163.5p from J Robertson and Son, Becks.

Principal prices per kilo: Limousin 184.5p Newby Farm, 178.5p Swaites, 127.5p Riggfoot, 119.5p The Side. Charolais 174.5p Shankbridgend, 143.5p, 135.5p Greystoke Castle. British Blue 113.5p Laverhay. Aberdeen Angus 141.5p The Shaws, 138.5p Sorbie, 136.5p, 133.5p, 120.5p, 118.5p, 117.5p The Shaws.

Principal prices per head: Limousin £1180 Newby Farm, £954 Swaites, £945 Clarghyll, £812 The Side. Charolais £1177, £1084 Greystoke Castle, £881 Shankbridgend. Aberdeen Angus £1146, £1081, £962 The Shaws, £941 Sorbie, £846, £817 The Shaws. Limousin Bull £1471 Becks.

The 5,293 lambs averaged 157p with a large number of small and store lambs forward, with good quality well fleshed export weight lambs being 165-175p.

The best quality lambs were 180-200p and more quality lambs were required to fullfill buyers orders.

Top price per kilo 210p for Beltex from A Bell, Hillcrest and to £100 per head for Texels from A Pirie, Machrihanish Farm. Other Texels £91.50 Skelfhill, £84.80 Ashley Park; Suffolk x £87.80 Skelfhill, £85.80 Sceughdyke, £80 Tinnis Hall; Cheviots £61.80, £60, £59.80 Potholm; Charollais £86.80 The Wreay, £78.80 Leaona Villa, £77.20 Sceughdyke, £75.20 The Wreay; Halfbreds £67.80, £59.80 High Moat; Greyface £72.80 Glenlea, £71.80 Greensburn, £69.80 Pitland Hills; Cheviot Mules £63.80 Skelfhill; Leicesters £55 Penpeugh; Blackface £63.80 Penpeugh, £61.80 Minsca, £56.80 Penpeugh; Beltex £83.80 Hillcrest, £78.80 Shoestanes, £76.80 Wallend; Zwartbles £60 Newington; Kerry £69.80 Pilmuir.

Lightweight lambs to £61.80 for Texels from Cowcorse, £59.80 Gibbs Hill, £58.80 Wallend; Suffolk x £59.20 Commonside; Cheviot £56.80 Airds of Balcary, £52.80 Mid Harrietsfield, £52.20 Brocklewath; Charollais £46.80 Crossibeg; Greyface £42 Airds of Balcary, £41.80 Haithwaite; Blackface £50.80 Gibblaston, £45.80 Brantwood, £43.80 Ballywilline; Swaledale £34.80 Cowcorse; Jacob £32.80 Cowcorse; Easycare £40 Viewfield.

In the cast ewes and rams big heavy ewes were easy to sell and in demand with smaller plainer ewes plentiful in numbers and still hard to sell.

Heavy ewes to £118.50 for Texels from Bascodyke Foot and for Suffolk rams from Eastgate.

Other Texels £112.50 Bascodyke Foot, £108.50 Roadside; Suffolk x £93.50 Marygate, £92.50 Roadside, £88.50 Baron Road; Bleu de Maine £88.50 Stackbraes; Charollais £88.50 Severs, £85.50 Eastgate; Halfbred £67.50 Eastgate; Greyface £77.50 Marygate, £76.50 Woodhead, £75.50 Todhillwood and Kirtlevale; Cheviot Mules £61.50 Relief and South Mains; Leicester £86.50 Penpeugh, £78.50 Roadside and Marygate, £76.50 Eastgate; North Country Cheviot £79.50 Roadside, £78.50 Severs, £69.50 Keith; Beltex £103.50 Main Street, £90.50 Abbey Cowper, £84.50 Woodhead; Zwartblews £77.50 Severs; Wensleydale £69.50 Fellview; Wiltshire £69.50 Roadside.

Light ewes to £78.50 for Llyn from Mitchelston; Cheviot £65.50 West Street, £62.50 Watergate, £59.50 Marygate; Blackface £67.50, £52.50 Pitland Hills, £52.50 High Staward, £51.50 Eastgate; Swaledale £44.50 Rawfoot, £43.50 Dawn House; £39.50 Dale House; Herdwicks £30 Backgate; Clun £43.50 Polmaise; Lonk £40 Cleuchhead.

Goats to £62.50 Ballimachiller, £54.50 Baron Road, £49.50 Ballimachiller.

Suffolk rams £118.50 Eastgate, £100 Severs; Cheviot £80.50 Eastgate; Texels £108 Minsca, £100 Ballimachiller, £95.50 Patties Hill; Rouge £88 Blackhamilton; Charollais £95 Blackhamilton, £90 Severs; Leicester £100.50 Dale House, £100 Minsca; Blackface £76.50 Yatesfield, £67.50 High Staward, £66.50 Crindledykes.

Scottish agricultural experts have updated The Farm Management Handbook.

New sheep and dairy sections in the SAC Consulting book include figures for high and low-cost systems. The manual also includes detailed gross margins for livestock, arable, forage and organic enterprises, whole farm data, information on renewable energy, diversification projects, organics, labour, rural aid, taxation, contracting charges, buildings, forestry and credit, reference data, contacts and further sources of information.

CONTROLLING BVD will be the subject of a free farmers’ meeting at The Lodge, Carfraemill, on Wednesday (November 14).

Bovine viral diarrhoea can cause abortion, infertility, poor performance and suppressed immune systems in calves, which can lead to death.

Experts agree small numbers of animals which are persistently infected by the virus act as a reservoir, passing it on.

A spokesperson for Moredun Research Institute, which has organised the meeting, said: “BVD is a serious welfare and economic problem for cattle farmers. Worryingly, it is present in over 90 per cent of UK dairy and beef herds, presenting a serious threat to the health and productivity of cattle.”

The institute’s Dr Kim Willoughby will talk about the main signs of BVD and how it spreads before describing control and prevention options, including vaccination and cattle health schemes.

Stow livestock farmer and NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller, who is a vet, will talk about the Scottish Government’s new BVD eradication scheme to which the union and other organisations contributed.

He said: “This eradication scheme is a genuine opportunity for Scotland to rid its cattle herds of the scourge of BVD. I firmly believe that we are well on the way to helping all Scotland’s cattle producers tackle the threat posed by BVD and reap the economic benefits that eradication will deliver.”

The Scottish Government subsidised screening of around 4,000 herds between September 2010 and April 2011. The second phase of its attempts to clear the disease will see cattle farmers required to screen their herds for BVD by February 1 next year and annually thereafter.

From next month, the government plans a ban on knowingly selling persistently-infected cattle, a requirement to declare a herd’s BVD status before a sale and movement restrictions on those herds that have BVD.

The Scottish Government’s Emma Patterson will explain what is required of farmers in terms of testing as part of the BVD eradication plan, and provide details of the measures being introduced to help farmers get and stay BVD-free in Scotland.

The meeting, which is open to all and is funded by Novartis Animal Health and Quality Meat Scotland, begins at 7.30pm.

NATURAL flood prevention and how farmers can help will be the subject of a farm walk near Heriot next week.

Experts from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC, formerly Scottish Agricultural College), Tweed Forum and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will discuss steps farmers can take at the free event on Wednesday (November 14) at Crookston Farm.

Farmers Graeme and Jimmy Sinclair, hosting the visit, will show some of the measures they have tried to help slow the flow of rainwater from their land.

Graeme said: “The steps we are taking to reduce surface water run-off rates will hopefully have a positive effect on reducing potentially damaging flood water levels in Stow and Galashiels. At the same time, they benefit our livestock management and also the farm environment. But to create a lasting effect the approach needs to be co-ordinated.”

SRUC consultants have worked with Tweed Forum and local farmers in investigating the potential of natural flood management. They admit the environmentally-friendly steps will never solve all the flooding problems, but say they can lessen the damage to land or property and contribute to reducing the flood peak and increasing community resilience to damage.

Work in the Gala Water catchment area, with funding from Scottish Borders Council, has seen experts help arrange several measures on farms, including Crookston.

Tweed Forum’s Hugh Chalmers said: “It is about getting the best deal for the individual farming system as well as other benefits. Restoring natural habitats can reduce the effect of extreme events on the farm as well as farms and communities downstream. It can also deliver other benefits, like the protection of livestock, an increase in riverside plants and animals, better fishing and locking up carbon.”

The information day is open to all and will cover several techniques to slow water run-off including, for example, fencing off cleuchs in upland areas and planting native woodland to prevent stock trampling and encourage deeper soil layers.

An SRUC spokesman continued: “Fencing also 
keeps stock out of wet areas that harbour the snails 
linked to liver fluke infection. Different stocking levels 
create different grass sward heights that absorb more water. Redesigning ditches 
and forest drains means they don’t carry flood water downstream so quickly, while ponds not only hold back surface run-off but provide drinking water and sporting potential.”

Speakers will include SRUC sheep specialist John Vipond who will talk about more accurate feeding saving money and reducing the effect on the environment.

Mr Chalmers will talk about the natural flood management techniques introduced on Crookston farm while Chris McDonald of SAC Consulting, a division of SRUC, will advise on diffuse pollution prevention measures. SAC Consulting’s Donald Dunbar will talk about alternative drinking water for livestock.

SEPA’s Wull Dryburgh will cover land management and binding rules on environmental practice and SAC Consulting’s Rebecca Audsley will talk about conservation planning and benefits.

The free event, from 10am to 2.30pm, includes lunch and anyone interested in attending is asked to contact SAC Consulting coordinator Val Angus on 01835 823322 or by e-mailing Val.Angus@sac.co.uk.

A BORDERS shepherdess is a finalist in a national competition to find the country’s best farmers’ apprentice.

Annabelle Story, who works at Dolphinston Farm, near Jedburgh, is one of 10 in the final line-up for the industry magazine Farmers’ Weekly Farmer Apprentice 2012.

The graduate of Harper Adams University College near Newport in Wales admitted she nearly didn’t enter: “I thought I’ll never get in! I don’t really know enough considering I have just been on the farm since July, but my boss told me to do it and it went from there.”

She works for Peter Scott looking after 1,600 Lleyns and says farming is something that’s in your blood.

She said: “It’s born in you. I didn’t grow up on a farm and I missed it, so that tells you something. Every day is different, it’s really good fun, you’re outside – and there’s something about sheep, I don’t know what it is. You do have your ups and downs, but I miss them when I’m not there.”

Annabelle, 21. credits her grandfather, Harland Story, with sparking her interest in farming: “Every weekend we used to go to his house and he taught me how to look stock, how to tell when one was ill. We used to go moling [catching moles] a lot and build stone walls.”

Originally from Allendale in Northumberland, Annabelle helped out at sheep farms whenever she could and is grateful to Haydon Bridge sheep farmer Annabelle Bates where she learned more about her trade.

Farmers’ Weekly and McDonald’s launched the competition with a £10,000 prize in June amid statistics saying the industry needs to attract 60,000 new entrants during the next 10 years to sustain the sector.

The magazine told its online audience: “We hope to show what a thriving, entrepreneurial and innovative industry farming is and light a fire within talented, but increasingly office-bound youngsters by showcasing the opportunities that lie in wait in the British countryside.”

The competition is open to people aged 18 to 25 and contestants had to submit a one-minute video demonstrating their passion for farming, creativity, business acumen, communication skills and ambition.

The finalists attended a five-day bootcamp at Reaseheath College in Cheshire last month and the first of a six-part web-TV series showing them tackling the practical, business and communication challenges there goes online on Tuesday (November 13).

The competition judges are Co-operative Farms’ former managing director Christine Tacon CBE, a governor of Harper Adams, Glenapp Estate farm manager Charlie Russell, a director of Scottish Beef Cattle Association and last year’s Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year and Reaseheath College’s agriculture programme leader, Matthew Bagley, National Sheep Association central region representative and the winner of best sheep flock in Cheshire for the past two years.

Annabelle said: “Bootcamp was really good. I learned a lot, everyone helped each other, it wasn’t really a competitive atmosphere and we all really had a good time.

“To hear that you are good from people who know boosts your confidence and gives you a bit more ambition and drive to do something about it.

“I don’t know what the judges were looking for. They said at the beginning it’s all about how much people improve and how much they take out of the challenges. I think I did well but I’m quite shy.”

The winner will be announced on December 5.

THE advice to farmers and others who feel that they can’t take much more is to talk to someone about their problems. How difficult that is to do is indicated by recent suicides, local and national, where people have reached the end of their tether.

These tragedies confirm yet again that no one, no matter how close to the afflicted, can know what is going on in someone else’s head.

But there is increasing evidence from a range of organisations dedicated to offering help and support that the worst summer in a century, a horrible harvest, livestock health and feeding problems and the combined effect of those factors on income and cash flow is pushing some who already had problems over the edge.

It might seem strange in an age of too much information available about too many people, with Twitter, texting, emails, Facebook, iPads, mobile phones glued to ears, and more, with every cough and splutter reported as it happens, that some of us remain reticent and keep troubles to ourselves.

But we do and, according to every organisation that deals with them and tries to help, farmers and rural workers are among those most likely to brood on problems alone.

George Dunn, chairman of Farm Crisis Network, said farming tended to be a lonely business with long hours, potentially dangerous working conditions, daily crises and nature at its worst as well as its best. It is also, he might have added, still a macho culture where strong men don’t talk, never mind cry.

Farm Crisis Network was established in 1995 as a response to, even then – 1995 was a good year for farming – a suicide rate among farmers well above the national average. Support over the phone, or face to face, is offered. Email and texting can be used by those who find talking impossible.

Other organisations offering support are the RSABI/Gatepost, the RABI, the Rural Stress Helpline, the Samaritans and You Are Not Alone – sadly, too often, that is exactly how some people feel. The first step is to believe that you’re not alone and talk to a willing listener.

It is possible to believe that the appalling weather and its knock-on effects have not only increased the number of rural suicides, but contribute to the annual number of farm accidents and fatalities.

I’m not comparing First World War battlefields, mud and trench misery with farming – especially as we approach Remembrance Sunday – but apparently endless rain and mud gradually knocks the stuffing out of the most optimistic. Talk to any farmer near you for confirmation.

The same conditions cause frustration, bursts of anger, and mistakes with machinery and livestock as well as more difficult and potentially dangerous working conditions. Although the number of farm-related deaths during the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) recording year 2011/12 was “average” at 33, there have been three more deaths reported in the past two weeks since the report was published.

One, as noted last week, was a 76-year-old man who fell into a feed mixer, another was a 67-year-old, hit by a vehicle while moving cattle, the third a man of 41 in a quad bike accident.

Of the 2011/12 fatalities, 16 were farmers, seven worked on farms and six were members of the public. The number of major injuries rose on the year from 354 to 362; “over-three-day injuries” rose from 594 to 671. Farming’s five-year average of fatal injuries is 11.3 per 100,000; only mining and quarrying coming close with 10.4.

The HSE, which records in detail, found that 21 per cent of farmer or farm staff deaths over the past five years were caused by moving vehicles, 19 per cent by falling or moving objects, 12 per cent by moving machinery, 10 per cent by falls, eight per cent by animals and five per cent by drowning or asphyxiation.

It’s a grim catalogue no matter how we look at it. Graeme Walker of HSE said: “Too many lives continue to be lost or damaged … We all have a responsibility to reduce workplace risks and make everyone more aware of the dangers of cutting corners.”

Not least of their worries should be a recent finding by St John Ambulance that only one worker in five has the slightest knowledge of first aid. I also suspect that on most farms, emergency first aid equipment or supplies is in short supply. We all think it won’t happen to us.

A final thought in a depressing autumn, for all sorts of reasons including those dealt with above, is that we still have the annual juxtaposition of hill farming hard luck stories and silly prices for rams – and I don’t just mean a £90,000 Blackface.

A few days ago, no sooner had I watched a television item about the serious plight of hill farmers in the north of England – many threatened with going out of business, etc. – than I picked up a farming paper with a report of £47,000 paid for a Swaledale ram and another item about £8,400 paid for a collie.

Even in these parlous times I had to laugh – slightly hysterically, but laugh.

ONE of Scottish agriculture’s key negotiators in CAP reform is in the Borders today to talk about farming and the local economy.

As a member of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, SNP MEP Alyn Smith is one of those making changes to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy post 2013.

He will tell tonight’s meeting in Kelso: “There is no doubt that reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is needed. There are too many anomalies, too much leakage, and too many loopholes. That is unacceptable. We need to encourage, help and protect those who are producing food.

“The fact that we are going through a reform process is a major opportunity. We need to get things right. We must not simply replace one set of administrative complexities with another.

“We don’t need extra costs for food producers, unfair access rules, misguided incentives, or a blunderbuss policy which aims to work for all of Europe but ends up working for no-one. We need to get this right. Scottish farmers need to be winners in this process – and I will work hard to make sure that they are.”

The MEP will be delivering his lecture in the Cross Keys Hotel at the invitation of the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, when he is expected to cover the importance of food production, the CAP and the effect of Scottish independence on the agricultural sector.

He will tell tonight’s gathering: “Food production is critically important to the Borders. This area looks the way it does because of farming – it literally shapes both the landscape and the rural economy.

“Farming is about food production, but it also supports a wider economy. Infrastructure must be developed and maintained and that’s good for the building trades. The natural resources farmers control must be stewarded, which means further jobs and investment. The care and compassion farmers have for their animals, together with the highest welfare standards in the world, support the services of veterinary surgeons. Then there’s feedstuffs, transport, auction marts and much more. It’s not just a business, but an ecosystem.

“That works the other way too, though. If the farmer has less to spend, then that will inevitably impact on the High Street. It’s a vicious circle and one which becomes quite hard to break.”

He will tell farmers he supports attracting new entrants into the industry.

“More can be done to make it attractive to incomers. New blood is vital for our food production and the whole rural economy, but at present, new entrants have to compete for entitlement on a playing field which is far from level. We have to do something about that and look at things like Single Farm Payment eligibility.”

Concerning Scottish independence, he will condemn “rather ridiculous scare stories” that a yes vote would lead to border posts and inconvenience.

“Let me make it absolutely plain right now – this is not going to happen. Scotland’s food producers will be able to transport their animals and themselves without any extra delay or hindrance. Crossing from Scotland to England and back isn’t an issue now, and it won’t be in the future. Suggesting otherwise just makes the people behind the claims look daft.”

The evening starts at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets for non-members of the chamber cost £10.

For more information, please e-mail communications@borderschamber.com.

A MAN who forced a 13-year-old girl to commit a sex act on him at a house in Galashiels has been remanded in custody for background reports.

Andrew Dale, 26, admitted making the youngster touch him in a bedroom on one occasion during the period of 12 months leading up to March 30, 2008.

The court was told how the victim’s mother came into a bedroom when the youngster was leaning over the bed and pulled back the bed sheet to find Dale naked from the waist down with an erection.

Later the girl complained to police that she had been sexually abused.

The case was due to be heard before a jury, but Dale changed his plea to guilty to a charge of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards a 13-year-old girl on one occasion.

Defence QC Susan Duff said alcohol had played a significant part in the commission of the offence, adding: “Mr Dale is very shameful and embarrassed by this behaviour.”

Sheriff Donald Corke deferred sentence until December 20 for the production of background reports and ordered that his name placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Dale, formerly of Galashiels and latterly living at Dovemount Place, Hawick, was remanded in custody.

A GALASHIELS man has been locked up pending his trial next month after being arrested in the town on Sunday.

Robert Gregg pleaded not guilty to threatening behaviour and committing a breach of the peace in the Hawthorn Road area of the Langlee estate when he appeared from custody.

A trial date was fixed for December 11 with an intermediate hearing on December 3.

A motion for bail was refused and 35-year-old Gregg, of Beech Avenue, was remanded in custody.