Hawick jockey Jamie Hamilton continued his victory trail at Kelso on Monday when riding Moscow Menace to clinch the feature maiden hunter chase.

In a thrilling finish, Hamilton showed the prowess which has earned him three wins in just five days, to get the verdict over Jim Pate’s Barachois Silver by a short head in the Cazenove Capital Management Buccleuch Cup.

After partnering Stuart Coltherd’s Tartan Snow to his tremendous 100-1 Aintree Foxhunters triumph last Thursday (see report on page 81) he added another win to his tally on Saturday to land the Morpeth point-to-point men’s open race with Buckstruther for Hawick farmer Alistair Bell and wife, Rachel.

Monday’s win marked another Borders success for the talented young jockey – Moscow Menace is trained at Galashiels by Katie Scott for Kelso owner Emma Dunkley.

“He is a nice horse,” said Hamilton of the six-year-old, a dual point-to-point victor from his last three starts.

“He jumped and travelled well, and though he stopped a bit in front, he picked up again,” he added.

Runners were led to the start by Aintree champion Tartan Snow, with Jedburgh jockey Gary Rutherford deputising for the injured Grand National hero Ryan Mania – reported to be recovering well after his crashing fall at Hexham the previous afternoon.

Jack the Gent celebrated a wide-margin victory in the afternoon’s most valuable contest – the Princess Royal Trust for Carers handicap chase – under Barry Keniry.

“He loves this good ground,” said winning trainer George Moore. “We’ll keep him going and might go for a novice chase if I can find a suitable one.”

Surprise Vendor, a winner over hurdles at the corresponding fixture last year, finished runner-up for Selkirk handler Stuart Coltherd.

Alan Swinbank’s stable is in great heart, and Phoenix Returns continued the winning run after making all in the opening division of the Duncan Sinclair Memorial novices’ hurdle race.

It was a deserved success for the gelding, having finished in the frame three times in his last five outings, including runner-up on the fibres and at Southwell in a jumper’s bumper last time out.

With cheekpieces and a tongue tie, Veloce opened his account over hurdles at the third time of asking, in division two.

Winning jockey Jason Maguire said the five-year-old had appreciated Monday’s better ground.

Endeavor secured his eighth success over hurdles in the Green Tree Hotel Peebles conditional jockeys handicap hurdle race. The gelding is trained in Cumbria by Dianne Sayer for East Lothian owner Margaret Coppola.

Night in Milan produced a bold jumping display and made every yard of the running to head the Virtuo Wealth Management Ltd novices chase for Saltburn trainer Keith Reveley and his son James.

In first-time blinkers, Pudsey House set the pace in the BG Quick handicap hurdle race to take the spoils by two-and-a-half lengths on his third start in handicap company.

Stuart Coltherd had to settle for the runners-up slot for a second time, when well-backed Overlady was beaten by seven lengths by Overyou in the Lyntoon Private Hire mares’ handicap chase.

Chris Grant’s winner was repeating her 2012 success from an 11lbs higher mark.

Racing returns to Kelso later this month on Monday, April 29.

2.00 – PHOENIX RETURNS (J Colliver) 11-4; 2, Maggio 6-4 fav; 3, Wolf Shield 22-1. 10 ran. A Swinbank, Richmond.

2.30 – ENDEAVOR (T Kelly) 6-1; 2, Lisbon 11-1; 3, Circus Clown 12-1. Nine ran. D Sayer, Cumbria.

3.00 – NIGHT IN MILAN (J Reveley) evs fav; 2, Rudemeister 2-1; 3, Fiddlers Reel 20-1. Six ran. K Reveley, Saltburn.

3.30 – JACK THE GENT (B Keniry) 9-2; 2, Surprise Vendor 9-2; 3, Kai Broon 6-1. Eight ran. G Moore, Middleham.

4.00 – VELOCE (J Maguire) 4-7 fav; 2, Potomac 7-1; 3, Cleve Cottage 4-1. Nine ran. D McCain, Cheshire.

4.30 – MOSCOW MENACE (Mr J Hamilton) 9-2; 2, Barachois Silver 9-2; 3, Temple Green 13-2. 12 ran. Miss K Scott, Galashiels.

5.00 – PUDSEY HOUSE (A Lane) 16-1; 2, Milano Supreme 9-1; 3, Wheyaye 14-1. Nine ran. J Wade, Co Durham

5.30 – OVERYOU (D O’Regan) 13-8 fav; 2, Overlady 12-1; 3, My Flora 11-4. Six ran. C Grant, Co Durham.

After dabbling in rugby and football as a youngster, Ryan Mania soon made up his mind that his sporting ambitions lay with horses.

Success on the point-to-point circuit further endorsed his passion and on leaving Galashiels Academy he went to work with trainer Peter Monteith, which led to rides for Howard Jones and, ultimately, a move to the stables of Sue and Harvey Smith.

A normal day for Ryan consists of him being up at first light and out on the gallops. In the afternoon he works on his fitness, before having his tea and an early night.

Ryan is virtually a recluse during the jumps season and it is this kind of discipline and determination that has brought him the success he deserves.

The summer months are slightly quieter, though not last year, as the popular jockey was given the honour of being Braw Lad and leading the town’s annual celebrations.

Ryan’s career had already taken off before Saturday’s major victory.

He has well over 100 winners to his name and last year was pipped at the post in the Scottish Grand National on none other than Auroras Encore, his winning mount on Saturday at Aintree.

It seems both horse and rider had something to prove!

WHILE winning the John Smith’s Grand National last weekend was just a dream on the horizon for Ryan Mania, Aintree success was already in the bag for the Borders.

Selkirk-trained Tartan Snow was the 100/1 winner of the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase on Thursday.

Stuart Coltherd’s 13-year-old jumped the famous fences really well under Hawick jockey Jamie Hamilton and the pair stayed on gamely to beat Cool Friend (33/1) by a neck. Coltherd, who was up lambing at his farm near Midlem at 2am that same morning, said: “It’s unbelievable. We’ve always believed in him and he’s given the syndicate so much fun.

“I didn’t think they’d let him run as he’s home-bred and it took about a week to decide. He ticked every box apart from his age. The owners always back him hoping that the dream will come true and they did.”

It was fitting his victorious Liverpool debut should come aboard the 13-year-old as the gelding also gave him his first success under Rules at his local Kelso track.

“He jumped perfectly and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride,” said Hamilton, who is based at Malton with trainer Richard Fahey.

“He was outpaced early on, but I knew he’d stay to the line, and things went pretty much to plan,” he added.

Rash Move finished third at 40/1.

Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania was said to have been choked by the welcome he received at Netherdale on his return from Aintree on Saturday.

The 23-year-old took to the pitch with the town’s winning sevens squad, where they were treated to a rousing rendition of Braw BrawLads by the large crowd who had stayed late to celebrate the town’s successful sportsmen.

AFTER all the excitement of Saturday’s National glory, Ryan Mania had headline hunters on the edge of their seats again the following day.

The champion jockey had been due to ride at Kelso on Monday, but instead spent the day in hospital following a serious fall during a race at Hexham on Sunday.

He waited until Tuesday for an MRI scan to assess the extent of an injury he picked up in the fall on Stagecoach Jasper, which saw him being kicked by another horse following behind.

He was wanting to ride at Kelso (on Monday), reported his agent Bruce Jeffrey, who lives near Selkirk. “I had to tell him no. He’s some man. They’re all the same, these jockeys. I wish I was half as tough.”

Mania’s mother, Lesley, did make it to Kelso, where she told reporters: “He’s a wee bit sore and fed up about not being here today.

“His spirits are quite high. I’m more than happy with what I’ve heard. I was watching the race on the telly when he fell off. He’s had a lot of falls and to be caught by a horse behind him, it’s scary.”

Mania was airlifted from Hexham to a Newcastle hospital, where he was released on Tuesday.

A Grand National win is the ambition of every jockey, and on Saturday, 23-year-old Ryan Mania not only realised that dream, but also accomplished it at his first attempt.

His victory aboard 66-1 chance Auroras Encore in the Aintree marathon was particularly poignant, given that the Galashiels jockey briefly quit the sport two years ago, disheartened by the lack of opportunities.

Cheered on by his family, Selkirk agent Bruce Jeffrey, and a number of Borders supporters who had travelled to the Liverpool track, Ryan produced a rousing finish aboard the 11-year-old to secure a resounding nine-length success.

In typically unassuming style, he described the biggest success of his racing career as “a great victory for Scotland.”

Trained in Yorkshire by Sue Smith – also celebrating her first Grand National success – Auroras Encore had previously proved his stamina when finishing runner-up in the Scottish National, and was one of two potential rides for Ryan.

“I’m glad I stayed loyal to him,” admitted the 2012 Braw Lad. “He only made a couple of little mistakes – he was just brilliant,” he enthused.

The victorious jockey gained high praise from the winning trainer, after giving the gelding a patient and composed ride.

“The horse ran a fantastic race, and Ryan gave him a fantastic ride,” said Sue, wife of legendary showjumper, Harvey. “He always had the horse where he wanted to be,” she added

Ryan, who had little time to celebrate, with rides at Hexham the following afternoon, said he couldn’t have asked for a better ride in the 40-runner marathon, which saw all horses and jockeys return safely.

“I couldn’t believe the run I got,” he said. “It was just unbelievable.

“Crossing the Melling Road I thought we could be in the first three or four.

“I couldn’t believe the way the front two stopped in front of me at the last.”

“Everything went right,” he continued.

“Very rarely does a race work out to plan, but he jumped very well, and took the fences brilliantly.”

Ryan also paid tribute to the winning trainer.

“Sue and Harvey have been great, and I’m lucky to have such a fantastic yard behind me,” he added.

Rugby’s loss proved to be racing’s gain – Ryan’s childhood desire to play the sport hampered by his size.

“I was just too small,” he explained. “I tried, but I wasn’t good enough,”

In 2011, Ryan spent the winter in Fife as a hunt whipper-in, before returning to race riding.

The day before his Grand National debut, he had tweeted that the horse was “worth a bet”, adding that he also needed the “luck of the town behind” him.

On Saturday, he confirmed both counts – winning against the odds, and proving the toast of Galashiels and the rest of the Borders.

He won the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday and had what could have been a career-ending accident on Sunday, writes Fiona Scott.

But on Tuesday, hundreds of well-wishers turned out on the streets of Ryan Mania’s native Galashiels to give the 2013 Grand National-winning jockey a hero’s welcome.

Ryan told The Southern: “I don’t think there would be many other jockeys on that Grand National winners list who would come home to a welcome like I did this week.

“The Borders is just different, everything seems to mean so much more to the people here.

“It’s really special and I consider myself really lucky to be part of that kind of community.”

Family (girlfriend Eddy –who is due to have the couple’s first child in September – mum Lesley, dad Kevin and sister Zoe) friends, neighbours, and even his farrier, joined the throng of people who crowded into the town centre.

Not to mention the many lucky punters who had placed a bet on the 66/1 Auroras Encore.

Galashiels grandfather David Millar had plenty of reasons to cheer as he had decided on the spur of the moment to put £5 each way at odds of 80-1 on the local hero.

“I never bet, I haven’t bet for years,” said David who watched the race with his family.

“We didn’t know what Ryan’s colours were, though,” he added. “It was just unbelievable. And it’s a great turnout tonight.”

Standing in the back of a black 4x4, the 23-year-old was piped down Bank Street and along Channel Street by the Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band.

At the time of going to press, Ryan was still waiting to hear whether or not he had the go-ahead to get back into the saddle this weekend, but, if not, will take a few days’ holiday with Eddy.

He admitted that since Saturday’s race, “everything has been a bit crazy”, but also said he wouldn’t have it any other way. “As a jockey you have to make the best out of every situation as you get more bad times than good,” he added.

“You get slagged off more than you get praised and have more fallers than you have winners. At the moment I am just trying to enjoy the whole thing, which isn’t easy because there is so much going on.”

There’s more about Ryan’s week on pages 80 and 81.

Two decades after three large lorries deposited half-a-million daffodil bulbs to create the Borders Field of Hope, the mile-long sea of blooms near Melrose continues to prove a colourful backdrop to one of the region’s biggest annual charity fund-raising events.

And this year’s ‘golden mile’ walk, held on Sunday and which attracted 180 people, plus another 30 who did the accompanying 10km event, also saw a special luncheon to mark the Borders Field of Hope’s 20th anniversary.

Over the intervening years, hundreds of walkers have turned out and raised thousands of pounds for the charity behind the project, Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Five years after the original 90 tons of bulbs were planted for a mile alongside the Melrose bypass, another 250,000 were planted along the footpath from Tweedbank to the old railway station, close to the entrance for the Borders General Hospital.

The main co-ordinator of the project was the charity’s then Borders fund-raising manager, Anne Macintyre, from Kelso.

Anne retired five years ago from the post, but is still involved, still supporting the cause she remains so passionate about.

On Sunday, she addressed the 40 specially-invited guests who attended the luncheon which was held at the BGH.

Anne told the gathering that it was thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers, that the bulbs were planted over a three-month period late in 1993.

Among them were Royal Mail workers, council staff, youngsters from the army cadets and school pupils, as well as representatives of many other organisations and individuals.

The first year of the appeal to raise money to create the Field of Hope saw £135,000 gathered in, and a further £100,000 generated over the 20 years since.

Patron of the appeal was the late, great rugby broadcaster, Bill McLaren, who said at the time: By uniting in another common cause, I believe that together we can help the Borders Branch of Marie Curie Cancer Care to continue to provide the care, comfort and commitment that has meant so much to so many patients, their families and friends.”

And that is exactly what the Field of Hope has managed to achieve.

It remains a constant symbol of hope, as well as standing as a highly visible annual reminder of the charity’s efforts to care for those with this most terrible of conditions.

“It was my great privilege to be involved in the beginning and very humbling to meet and make friends with so many special people who offered their help in so many ways,” Anne told the anniversary luncheon guests.

Speaking to The Southern this week, Anne, who paid tribute to her husband Malcolm for his unstinting support of her charity work over the years, said the Field of Hope remained an inspiration.

“I didn’t think, when we first started the Field of Hope project, that 20 years later it would still be as amazing as it is.

“The level of support from people over that time, for the annual walks and everything else, has been fantastic.”

It was Anne who originally set up the Borders branch of Marie Curie Cancer Care in 1989, after her father died from cancer and she wanted some way to repay the help given by the charity.

“The charity had adopted the daffodil as its sign of the hope that one day there will be a cure for all cancers.

“The Borders Field of Hope is now one of the biggest in the whole of the UK and all those involved over the years should be very proud of themselves,” she told us.

“Marie Curie Nurses mean there is care available to let someone dying from cancer remain at home and that has now been opened out to anyone with a terminal illness.

“The Borders Field of Hope is a symbol that there is always hope and that there is always care and support for those with cancer and their families.

“And it remains a wonderful inspiration even after all these years.”

The highest honour in Scouting, The Silver Wolf Award, is to be given to a Selkirk man, for ‘services of the most exceptional nature’.

Graham Coulson, 60, has been involved with Scouting in the town since the age of eight, and has been an adult leader for 44 years. He is currently a Cub Scout leader and acting group Scout leader at Selkirk.

Over the years, Graham has also represented the UK association at European level and worked for seven years as part of a team modernising Scouting in the UK.

“I was absolutely taken aback when the letter came. I’m really chuffed to get it,” he said.

Isabel McNab, regional commissioner for south east Scotland, said: “Graham has been involved in Scouting since boyhood and his commitment to the highest ideals of the movement continue.

“Graham is a popular and a very highly respected member of the Scout movement and a worthy recipient of the highest award in Scouting, the Silver Wolf.”

However, Graham said the award really recognised a team effort, because without the support of numerous people he would not have been able to fulfil his national roles.

He told us: “I didn’t go into Scouting to be rewarded.

“At the end of the day the best reward is that the young people come back week after week because they are enjoying what they are doing.”

Despite his national positions, Graham said he was always prepared to give them up to concentrate on the local group if he had to.

He explained: “I’ve never been prepared to give up my local commitments because that is the only way I felt confident about what young people wanted – by working with them on a weekly basis.

“I see the award as really nice for me and my family, but it’s about my bigger family, the Scouts in Selkirk.”

Normally, the award would be presented at the Scouts’ St George’s Day event in London, but due to other commitments Graham has asked for it to be presented locally.

This will also enable members of the Selkirk Scout group to become involved in the ceremony.

Scottish Borders Council’s waste manager has defended its recycling figures after claims that Galashiels is drowning in litter.

Ross Sharp-Dent said recycling had increased five-fold since 2005 when the local authority upped its commitment in the face of 
increased landfill taxes and 
pressure from the Scottish 
Government.

But he still heard a number of complaints from residents in the town at last week’s community council meeting.

Among them was Drew Tulley, who said: “I don’t think we do nearly enough recycling. There are bottles and cans lying across the town.

“The council is charged £90 per tonne it takes to the rubbish tip. We need to recycle more and there are areas such as Church Street and Croft Street which are causing concern.”

Mr Sharp-Dent replied: “In 2005 we recycled only eight per cent of waste in the Borders, that now stands at 44 per cent.

“We have made significant improvements but there is always room to make more.”

There was also worries from Gala Park resident Betty Scott, who complained that the area was being ruined by recycling bags lying around the Scottish Borders Housing Association-owned flats. She said: “We are all trying to keep Gala clean and tidy, but if there is no area we can keep our rubbish, we can’t do it. Nothing has been done since 2005.”

Mr Sharp-Dent explained the council were waiting on the social landlord to provide a compound within the Gala Park flats to keep blue-lidded recycling bins.

He added: “We have brought in a new system in 2005. We can’t sort everything overnight and there are financial costs involved for SBHA, who own the land.”

Galashiels councillor John Mitchell added: “We don’t have control with SBHA or any social landlord. We try our best but sometimes it is like batting your head against a brick wall.”

Residents of Hazeldean sheltered housing unit also attended the meeting to complain of no rubbish bags being delivered, which Graham Prentice, SBC’s refuse collection manager, promised would be rectified.

He also said he would look into mirroring a project set up in Clovenfords for Hazeldean’s residents, whereby volunteers pick up unwanted glass from elderly neighbours and delivered it to bottle banks.

The integrated Jedburgh Library Contact Centre opens on Monday, April 22. The current contact centre closes at 4pm on Monday from when enquiries can be made on 0300 100 1800 or through www.scotborders.gov.uk

The council’s integrates centres have opened in Kelso, Duns and Coldstream and work is under way at 
Innerleithen.

STARS of British literature will jostle with famous television faces when they gather for the 10th Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.

Harmony Garden in Melrose is again the setting for the annual literary extravaganza and among this year’s highlights, running from June 13 to 16, will be appearances by actresses Joanna Lumley and Phyllida Law, golf legend Peter Alliss, Scotland Street author Alexander McCall Smith, former spymaster Dame Stella Rimington and legendary Scottish wordsmith, William McIlvanney, making his festival debut.

The ever-popular Tom Conti and festival favourite John Sessions will also be on hand, along with the doyenne of the historical fiction genre, double-Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel.

Lumley will even feature in a unique festival special, when she joins stage luminaries David Robb and Briony McRoberts in a unique performance of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lay of the Last Minstrel.

From the world of fiction, McCall Smith will join by Kate Mosse and A.N. Wilson, while in the non-fiction arena, television history presenter Neil Oliver will speak on the Vikings, while Richard Holloway and scientist Frank Close will debate the relationship between science and faith.

As ever, food and drink are near the top of the 
festival menu, with food ­writer Claire Macdonald and two ­iconic programmes will be ­reincarnated in the form of Melrose Mastermind and Harmony Gardeners’ Question Time.

And younger readers are especially well catered for with Lauren Child and Francesca Simon, Stoneheart author Charlie Fletcher and Astrosaurs author Steve Cole, plus master of horror Darren Shan bringing zombies to Harmony House Gardens.

Excitment is also already building on who will be the fourth winner of the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

Festival director Alistair Moffat says the past decade has mushroomed into a major attraction that pulled in 13,000 people last year.

“Our sponsors help us make it happen. But it is the authors who have made it sing,” said Mr Moffat.

“We couldn’t have hoped for a more diverse, starry and topical cast of stars to help us celebrate the 10 years, than those in this year’s programme.”

The Southern Reporter is media sponsor for the festival.

Angler Bill “Wish” Cockburn hooked this season’s Tweedside Tackle shop trophy for the first salmon caught from the Kelso Angling Association water on the Teviot.

“Wish” took a 7lb fish from the Oakstrip beat on March 29.

A major redevelopment and expansion of a Peebles holiday park is in the pipeline.

A planning application has been lodged with the council seeking to expand and reconfigure the accommodation and visitor facilities at Rosetta Holiday Park.

The plans include turning Rosetta House and stables into nine units, new static caravan pitches, a new on-site restaurant and substantial landscaping work.

A 42-year-old Galashiels man appeared at court in Tain in the Highlands on Monday.

The man, who had been kept in custody, appeared in private in relation to an incident in the High Street, Tain, on Saturday night, in which a minibus was alleged to have been driven at three pedestrians.

LAUDER3

Hawick LEG ROVERS2

Lauder had the better of the first half in this Forsyth Cup clash and Thomas Adamson netted twice.

Following the break Rovers came into the scene a lot more and John Shankie reduced the leeway in scoring from close range.

Lauder however hit back to regain their two goal lead with Adamson’s third.

A strike from Liam Lawrence put Rovers back in the hunt but Lauder held on to gain the honours.

Kelso United 5

Eyemouth United0

CONFIDENCE was high in the home camp and United continued their good run of form with a comprehensive win at Woodside Park, writes George Riley.

It was a five-star display by the Tweedsiders, with the victory making it five wins out of six for Prof Blaikie’s men.

The manager was delighted by the team’s performance.

“Even though we had three first team regulars missing, this was probably our best performance of the season,” he said.

The hosts were one-up with a minute played. Sean Angus put a cross into the box, where Jordan Lauder fired home from six yards.

Ten minutes later, Kelso increased their lead when Graeme Gillie rose above the defence to head past Paul Tansey in the Eyemouth goal.

The visitors had a chance a minute later when Steven Shennon was through on goal, but Kelso keeper Scott Dowie was equal to the challenge.

United kept pressing and the third goal came in the 38th minute when the ball broke to Des Burnett, who swept a left-foot shot into the net.

The same man made it four a minute later with an eight-yard strike.

United started the second half as they left the first, pressing forward, and midway through, Kelso made it five when Burnett again put a shot past Tansey.

United continued to push forward right to the whistle.

Kelso United: S. Dowie, G. Mabon, S. Angus, P. Dumma, C. Black, S. Tait, C. McClure (L. Hill), G. Gillie (D. Bowie), D. Burnett, L. Wallace, J. Lauder.

Easthouses Lily5

Peebles0

Recording their sixth consecutive win Easthouses kept themselves in the promotion race to the cost of Peebles Rovers.

Goals from Graeme Young, Scott Borthwick and John Hunter put Lily three up by half way.

Peebles rallied in the second half but two further goals from Young sealed the deal.

Peebles Rovers: Gordon, Adamson, Hunter, J. Manson, Ford, Noble, Muir, Edgar, Cairns, Nwadze, G. Manson. Subs: Linton, Brodie, McKenzie.

Hawick United 2

Hawick Legion 2

IN A Friday evening encounter that attracted a big crowd to Albert Park, United got off to a perfect start.

The hosts sailed into the lead when Kevin Strathdee found the roof of the net with a perfectly-struck free kick.

With 33 minutes gone, Legion drew level. Andrew McFarlane found Gavin Brady, who swung a cross high into the goalmouth, which was headed home by Callum Hope.

A minute from the interval, United restored their lead.

Teenage keeper Kerr Brown pulled down Ross Scott in the box. A penalty was awarded and Brown red-carded. Sub Richard Snowdon went in between the posts and pulled off a great save, pushing out Kevin Strathdee’s spot kick, but the latter darted in to tuck away the rebound.

In an exciting second half, Legion equalised in the 72nd minute when a Chris Brown shot was deflected into the net.