PEEBLES ROVERS 2

GALA FAIRYDEAN 3

EoS First Division

Don’t let the scoreline fool you – this was far from being a classic Borders derby, writes Kenny Paterson.

Windy conditions and little to play for bar pride meant this game struggled to entertain a shivering crowd at Kerfield on Monday evening, with Rovers’ Whitestone Park pitch out of use again. Both teams had suffered defeats two days earlier – Gala losing 4-0 to Leith Athletic and Peebles falling 2-0 at Duns – so Fairies manager John O’Hara welcomed his side’s victory.

He said: “It is good to get back to winning ways. We played well in the first half, but Peebles put us under a lot of pressure in the second.”

Rovers boss Jason Girdwood added: “We can have no complaints – Duns and Gala both took their chances.”

George Gibson opened the scoring for Gala with a close-range shot which found the net via the underside of the crossbar. Geri Rossi doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time from trialist Frankie Arthur’s corner. Grant Gass finished well on the hour to make it 3-0, but Rovers showed plenty of heart to come back with a fine free kick by Nicky Cairns and a Craig Edgar strike with the last kick of the ball.

Peebles Rovers: S. Gordon, D. Linton, G. Shortreed, A. Williamson, David Muir, J. Adamson, N. Cairns, J. Manson, M. McKenzie, A. Noble, C. Edgar. Subs: Darren Muir, J. Brodie, B. Nwanze.

Gala Fairydean: E. Turnbull, C. McBride, A. Brown, C. Lothian, S. Davidson, G. Gibson, B. Miller, G. Gass, G. Rossi, F. Arthur, J. Hay. Subs: M. Berry, R. Hewitson, C. Jeffrey.

DUNS 2

PEEBLES ROVERS 0

EoS First Division

Peebles suffered defeat in Duns, despite the home team having to field manager Neil Oliver due to injuries.

Teenager Regan Graham opened the scoring on 65 minutes for the hosts and the win was sealed by substitute Chris Falconer 15 minutes from time.

Hawick Leg Rovers 3

Peebles Amateurs 1

BAL Division C

The Teries won this basement battle, despite playing second fiddle to Peebles for most of it.

Liam Lawrence and John Shankie put the hosts ahead before Peebles’ Mark Wilson scored, but Stefan Laidlaw settled the game.

STOW 6

EYEMOUTH AMATEURS 0

BAL Division B

Stow are on the verge of Division A after a handsome win over promotion rivals Eyemouth.

Played on Netherdale’s 3G pitch, Paul Young and Bruce Hunter grabbed a brace each, with Jordan Steele and Martin Gibson also scoring.

HAWICK ROYAL ALBERT 2

ORMISTON 4

EoS First Division

Searching for their first home league win of the season, Hawick Royal Albert came close to breaking the deadlock early when Peter Keenan shot wide after being set up by a Sean Loughlin pass, writes John Slorance.

With 27 minutes gone, Conor Ramage put Ormiston ahead, driving home a cross from the right.

Minutes later, Hawick keeper Steven West denied Ormiston a second, brilliantly tipping a Graham Nisbit free kick round the post at full stretch. But the East Lothian men added to their tally in the 69th minute as Jordan Young found the net after running onto a long ball.

Six minutes later, Albert fell into further arrears as Ronald Fleming brought down Ramage in the box and Craig Fisher scored from the spot.

The Teries looked well out of the scene, but in a five-minute spell got right back into the picture.

First, substitute David Heaver scored from 30 yards – and then added to his tally.

But as Hawick went all-out for an equaliser, Ormiston sealed victory two minutes from time when Brian McEwan raced through the Albert rearguard in a breakaway raid to score.

Two-goal ace Heaver told The Southern: “I was very pleased with my goals, but unfortunately they didn’t matter as we lost.”

Hawick RA: S. West, S. Loughlin, R. Shepherd, A. Reilly, K. Fettes, Raymond Fleming (D. Heaver), Ronald Fleming, B. Mathews, P. Keenan, D. Hogg, I. Zenati.

ANCRUM 4

GALA HOTSPUR 1

Walls Cup final

Ancrum manager Grant Davidson is confident Walls Cup final hat-trick hero Grant Robinson will stay at the club, writes Kenny Paterson.

Davidson and his side also celebrated promotion after Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Gala Hotspur, thanks to Division B title rivals Stow’s 6-0 win over second-placed Eyemouth.

Davidson said: “When we heard via Twitter that we had been promoted it just capped a brilliant day.

“We really played well in the second half and deserved to win. Robbo is the captain of the club and enjoys playing football with us. He has played, and still could play, at a higher level. He showed his class with the goal which made it 3-1 – it deserved to win any cup final. He says he wants to stay next season which is great news.

“But we have a number of other good players, including Daniel Gillie who has scored 27 goals for us this season.

“If ourselves and Stow win our remaining games, we will face each other on the last day for the title. Stow are on a great run, but we have to be confident.”

Played at Innerleithen’s Victoria Park, Ancrum took the lead on 10 minutes as Brian Wilson’s back-post shot found the net via Spurs defender Ian Chalmers’ heel.

Spurs hit back on 23 minutes as Derek Watson’s tackle on Clark Scott allowed Callum Gass to produce the perfect finish with a 20-yard shot past Sean Jack. However, six minutes before the break, a mix-up between Gala defenders David Akrigg and Richard Ramage allowed Robinson to restore Ancrum’s lead.

It could have got worse for Spurs as Lee Brown and Luke Gierus cleared two corners off their own goal-line.

But Robinson’s superb run and finish beyond Glen Murray in the 55th minute and the completion of his trio of goals 10 minutes from time finished the game.

Spurs coach Fred Blackie said: “The objective of this season was to stay up and we have achieved that.

“We had five under-19 players in the squad who are picking up their first medals, and hopefully the team can stay together for next season.”

Ancrum: S. Jack, C. Davies, S. Haddenham, B. Wilson (G. McGovern 86), K. Finlayson, C. Scott (C. Tibbits 88), G. Robinson, K. Chapman, A. Langford (S. Spence 82), D. Gillie (C. Hall 86), S. Thomas.

Gala Hotspur: G. Murray, I. Chalmers, D. Akrigg, R. Ramage (B. Barron 70), R. Young (K. McAulay 89), D. Watson, L. Brown, S. Harkness, C. Gass, D. Kemp (S. Robertson 70), L. Gierus (J. Harkness 70).

Kelso equestrian rider Henrietta Cooper has been hand-picked as a future British Olympian after being chosen to be part of the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes initiative.

The 18-year-old will receive a cash injection of £1,000 towards training and competing and is one of only 82 youngsters selected from across the country.

As part of Bank of Scotland’s London 2012 legacy, Bank of Scotland Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, will provide support and funding to 82 emerging Scottish athletes in 2013.

KELSO hosts its penultimate fixture on Wednesday, with the feature handicap chase run for the Haddington Jubilee Cup.

Course specialist Always Right – bidding for his fifth win at the track – is being targeted for this race by his County Durham connections.

Night In Milan won over course distance at Kelso in early April and Keith Reveley’s charge is likely to be among the entries.

In the three-mile handicap chase, Flying Squad has winning form over a shorter trip at Ayr, and Rose Dobbin intends stepping him back up in trip.

Dancing Art has run just once in the past 12 months, and Keith Reveley is keen to see him in action over this trip.

Alnwick-based Rose Dobbin is likely to enter Shady Sadie in the handicap hurdle race, and Nick Alexander’s Academy, fifth at the Perth Festival, is expected to made his Kelso debut over this slightly longer distance.

Chirnside-based Douglas Pryde, one of the three owners of Grand National victor Auroras Encore, sponsors the concluding bumper and along with Jim Beaumont and David Van der Hoeven, he will be guest of honour at a celebratory dinner at the racecourse on Saturday, May 25.

Irish trainer Stuart Crawford is a regular visitor to Kelso and he plans to have a couple of entries, including Craiganee, who hasn’t raced since a good sixth at Cheltenham on her debut last autumn.

For the conditional jockeys’ race, in-form Harriet Graham plans to run Ballybroe.

Edinburgh financial services company Aver, sponsor the opening novice chase, when director Bill Cleghorn will judge the best turned out horse in the paddock.

Gates open at noon, with the first race under orders at 2.05pm.

A TOTAL of 118 have entered this Sunday’s Lauderdale Point to Point, at Mosshouses, near Galashiels.

Along with the racing, the crowd will get a chance to see Ryan Mania and Jamie Hamilton, who are the pride of the Borders after winning the Grand National and Foxhunters at Aintree respectively.

Local entries in the well-supported pony races include George Crawford, Fallon Clark, Lucy Brown, Zoe Niven, Rebecca Dun and Geordie Denne.

For the Club Members race, Jack Clark’s Paddy Curry, a winner on his penultimate start at Friars Haugh and Anne Rutherford’s Senora Moss, who is returning to the track after a spell as a broodmare, are expected to feature.

Paddy Slacks is likely to make his debut for Heriot farmer Michael Dun in the Open Maiden, alongside Kenny Lynn’s Probably George and Katie Scott is doubly represented with Danebrook Lad and Sarasola.

The NPPA Club Members race looks a hot contest, and runner up in the Buccleuch Cup, Barachois Silver, trained at Westruther by Joan Hollands, looks the pick of the field.

The Ladies contest draws an entry of 16 and Jedburgh’s Alec Dawson is represented by Carters Rest, but others of note are dual winner Pas De Baratin and Putitawayforayear.

The Restricted race sees local interest include Jane Clark’s Lucky Lane, runner up on his last start.

If the going is soft, the Men’s Open will likely feature Clive Storey-trained Gunner Jack.

And in the final race on the card, the Open Maiden, Jock Threadgall’s True Thomas, a promising third on his last start and Tony Hogarth’s Molten Brown, who finished fourth in the same race, are among the entries.

For any budding athletes there is a 1k Fun Run before racing.

Two pony races take place at 1pm before the main races kick off at 2pm.

Grand National winner Ryan Mania made a victorious return to his home track at Kelso on Monday.

The 23-year-old, making his first appearance at Kelso since his Aintree success, received a rousing cheer from the local crowd as he was led into the winner’s enclosure aboard You Know Yourself.

Mania produced a strong finish aboard Sue Smith’s 10-year-old to hold the challenge of Super Ally, in the hands of Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick, and clinch victory in the three-mile handicap chase.

“That was a nice win, and it’s good to get the new season off to a winning start,” said Mania. Scottish National contender Captain Americo, from James Ewart’s Langholm stable, finished just a nose behind in third.

Mania had earlier suffered a close defeat in an exciting finish to the two-mile handicap chase, which saw Jedburgh trainer Harriet Graham saddle both the winner and the third.

Newcastle specialist Prince Tam, whose four wins over fences have all been recorded at that track, landed his first Kelso success with a game performance.

“Although he’s won all his races up to now at Newcastle, he has run well at other tracks including here,” said Graham.

She was deprived of a double half-an-hour later when Scotswell was beaten by a nose in a thrilling finish to the handicap hurdle race.

The gelding made the running, only to be headed in the final strides by Arctic Court, trained by Jim Goldie for East Lothian owners Ray and Anita Anderson Green.

Ivan Boru got the better of James Ewart’s Ueueteotl by one and a quarter lengths in the opening maiden hurdle race. Ewart’s hot favourite Sleep In First, bidding for a five-timer, finished third in the novices handicap chase, headed by 5-1 chance Kykate.

Favourite backers collected in the handicap hurdle race, won by Brian Ellison’s All That Remains, who made every yard of the running.

Sedgefield raider Digg Whitaker saw off prolific winning pointer Buckstruther, owned by Hawick farmer Alistair Bell and his wife Rachel, by seven lengths to land the concluding novices’ hunter chase.

results

2.10 - Ivan Boru (J Reveley) 10-1; 2, Ueueteotl 5-1; 3, Lifetime 11-1. 12 ran. K Reveley, Saltburn.

2.40 - Prince Tam (J England) 9-2; 2, Freddie Brown 9-2; 3, Soul Magic 10-1. Eight ran. Mrs H Graham, Jedburgh.

3.10 - Arctic Court (D O’Regan) 5-2 fav; 2, Scotswell 16-1; 3, Merrydown 10-1. 13 ran. J Goldie, Glasgow.

3.40 - You Know Yourself (R Mania) 100-30; 2, Super Ally 3-1; 3, Captain Americo 10-1. Seven ran. Mrs S Smith, Bingley.

4.10 – Kykate (C Huxley) 5-1; 2, Cocamix 22-1; 3, Sleep In First 4-5 fav. Five ran. W Kinsey, Cheshire.

4.40 – All That Remains (D Cook) 5-2 fav; 2, Lisbon 4-1; 3, Bogside 18-1. 11 ran. B Ellison, Malton.

5.10 – Digg Whittaker (Mr R Smith) 11-1; 2, Buckstruther 4-5 fav; 3, Senor Alco 5-2. Eight ran. J Wade, Sedgefield.

HAWICK LINDEN 88

EARLSTON 21

RBS East League Division Two

Linden stormed to the championship with a breathtaking display of running rugby at Volunteer Park.

The title had actually been sealed the day before, following Gala YM’s disqualification from the league, meaning that, prior to kick-off, Linden could not be caught at the top of the table.

It was Earlston who took the lead through a converted try, but Hawick responded immediately as Steven Bouglas raced over.

And Linden took a 38-7 lead into the break thanks to further scores from a double by Sean Goodfellow, and a try each from Steven Bouglas, Gary Wardle and Stuart Williams.

Ryan Hamilton, Greg Cunningham, Conor Gracie and Wattie Davies came off the bench for the second half, but there was no let-up from the Royal Blues.

Full back Nathan Murray grabbed four second-half tries to take his total for the season to a club record 23, and other scores came from Sean Fairbairn, Wardle and a further two from Steven Bouglas.

Earlston grabbed two consolation tries in the second period.

The league trophy was presented to captain Barry Sutherland and now Linden head off on a high to Ireland on Friday morning for the Carrickfergus Sevens.

Linden: N. Murray, G. Thomson, S. Bouglas, S. Williams, G. Bouglas, S. Renwick, S. Goodfellow, J. Gilchrist, C. Turnbull, R. Beattie, K. Mabon, S. Fairbairn, B. Willison, G. Wardle, G. Colville. Subs: R. Hamilton, C. Gracie, W. Davies, B. Mercer, G. Cunningham, S. Harkness, B. Sutherland.

When we first started the Borders Rugby Rankings five years ago, we were attempting to not just put the spotlight on the achievements of the 17 teams in the Borders playing at East League level and above, but also focus on individual players, writes Stuart Cameron.

That has clearly been achieved by using data from the 18 league matches played each season in the Premiership, National League and Championship competitions.

Four different clubs have won the trophy and this season it’s Peebles who have had their name engraved on the silverware. Under Peter Wright, Peebles have had a clean sweep following their relegation in 2011/12 from the National League. The Gytes men also scored the most tries (106) and had the best defence (283).

The new award for the top East LeagueBorders team, saw Hawick Linden taking the title. The new Fraser James Partnership Ltd trophy will be presented in the next few days.

Results: Top try-scorers - John Coutts (Hawick YM/Hawick) 18; most points - Greg Raeburn (Peebles) 245.

East League Borders teams, most league points - Hawick Linden 72; best attack - Hawick Linden 656; best defence - St Boswells 171.

Full rankings at www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk

Melrose Wasps emerged victorious for the first time this season on the Semi-junior Sevens circuit at Selkirk Youth Club, defeating Jed Thistle 26-21 in the final.

The result sees Melrose move into joint second with Gala Wanderers, with Hawick Wands 18 points clear.

Results: first round - Hawick PSA 24 Kelso Quins 19; Jed Thistle 40 Peebles Colts 7; Selkirk YC A 26 Langholm Colts 5; Berwick Colts 29 Tynedale Colts 19; Melrose Wasps 26 Edinburgh BATS 12; North Berwick Colts 22 Hawick Wands 35; Selkirk YC B 12 Peebles Colts 26; Gala Wands 26 Duns Colts 21.

Quarter finals - Hawick PSA 5 Jed Thistle 38; Selkirk YC A 12 Berwick Colts 19; Melrose Wasps 45 Hawick Wands 7; Biggar Colts 17 Gala Wands 34.

Semi finals - Jed Thistle 36 Berwick Colts 7; Melrose Wasps 35 Gala Wands 21.

Final - Melrose Wasps 26 Jed Thistle 21.

It has been a long time coming but after a gap of 88 years Selkirk again got their hands on the Langholm sevens cup on Saturday.

The Selkirk team, with coach Graham Marshall and manager John Smail to the fore, celebrated the joyous occasion of winning the Edinburgh Woollen Mill-sponsored tournament after defeating a good-looking Edinburgh Accies outfit 36-10 in the final.

To put the icing on the cake, Darren Clapperton, who was playing scrum-half for Selkirk and who had eight tries during the afternoon, was presented with the player of the tournament trophy.

Selkirk started their afternoon by romping to a 50-0 win over English raiders Carlisle.

The Souters then played the abbreviated game at its best to overcome a useful Watsonians side by 24-14, Clapperton grabbing a hat-trick, with Matt Kissick also getting in on the act.

The anticipated close encounter between Selkirk and Jed-Forest in the semi-final did not materialise as Selkirk were comfortable 33-10 winners on a 5-2 try count, with Clapperton (2), Duckett, Rory Banks and Gavin Craig getting the touchdowns and Harkness adding four conversions.

The final was still a contest at half-time, with Selkirk leading 17-5 through tries from Scott Hendrie, Duckett and Callum McColm, plus a Harkness conversion.

Accies were a continuous threat and secured a fine try from Nyle Godsmark. But thereafter it was all Selkirk with another three tries by Harkness, Hendrie and Craig, and a brace of Harkness conversions, before the city side breached the whitewash for a late touchdown by Ryan Godsmark. Edinburgh Accies thumped hosts Langholm in the opening round but thereafter they lived dangerously.

Melrose beat charity guest side Pigbarians, and a late try seemed to have wrapped it up for them against Accies, but Alex Blair broke clear to put the city team through in the last play of the tie by 17-14. 
Gala led Edinburgh Accies 12-5 at half-time in the semi-final but once again Accies grabbed a last second winner to go through 22-19.

Holders Hawick fielded a weakened side due to their vital league play-off match against Dundee and were no match for Hamilton, who in turn were well beaten by Gala.

It was a chilly but mainly dry afternoon at Milntown with a number of closely contested ties and at the end of the day Langholm president Jake Little thanked the sponsors, players, referees and all others who had helped make the tournament a success. 
Milntown chairman and Edinburgh Woollen Mill employee Kenneth Pool presented the Scott Cup to Selkirk captain Craig, and the Archie Smith Memorial Cup for player of the tournament , which was presented by his daughter Avril Grieve.

New Melrose head coach John Dalziel praised his players’ spirit as they overcame eight days of hurt to lift the Peebles Sevens.

The Greenyards men were the stand-out team at The Gytes during an afternoon of rugby affected by gusty showers and tiredness at the end of a long season.

They triumphed 35-10 in a one-sided final over a Selkirk side bidding for their second sevens win in two days, after success at Langholm on Saturday.

The sevens victory was Melrose’s first this season and not only hauled them to within five points of leaders Gala in the Kings of the Sevens table, but eased the pain of the club’s Scottish Cup and Border League final losses.

Dalziel told The Southern: “It has been a tough eight days and the guys are still hurting.

“But they showed great spirit to stand up and play the way they did today.”

Selkirk coach Graham Marshall was not disappointed in his team’s showing, despite being well beaten in the final.

He added: “It is so difficult to play two competitions in two days, so I am pleased with the performance.

“We competed with Melrose for half the game which was a great effort, as they are a really good side.

“Eight ties in two days is a lot of rugby, but we I think we have made people sit up and respect us again after this weekend’s results.”

Callum Anderson produced a sidestep which would have bamboozled Lionel Messi for the first score of the final, but the Souters came roaring back as Darren Clapperton and Gavin Craig crossed the line for a 10-7 lead.

However, just before the break, a loose pass from Scott Hendrie allowed Fraser Thomson to intercept and race in. The try gave Melrose a vital 14-10 half-time lead which they never looked like losing in the second period.

Tiredness was evident among the Selkirk ranks when they lost a scrum against the head, allowing man of the tournament Bruce Colvine to dive over.

Colvine then unselfishly set up Joe Helps to seal the win, before Andrew Skeen hacked the ball on to score under the posts. Skeen added the conversion for a 100 per cent record with the boot in the final.

Melrose’s campaign began with a comfortable 26-0 triumph over Gala, especially sweet after the Border League Cup final defeat five days earlier.

In the second round, the Premiership side brushed away the challenge of Hawick, who still looked to be recovering from Saturday night’s playoff win celebrations.

Reigning Kings of the Sevens champions Jed-Forest fancied their chances of breaking their sevens season’s winless run in the semis, and were well in the tie at half-time, trailing 12-7.

But, once again, scrum-half Colvine played a pivotal role in guiding his team through, scoring a try in the process.

Selkirk edged out Peebles 12-5 in the other semi. A poor tie was settled by two Fraser Harkness scores.

The home side had been impressive in the quarter-finals, knocking out Heriot’s 17-14.

Howe of Fife caused a first-round shock when Steve Wilson’s last minute score knocked out Watsonians, but Selkirk proved too strong for the Cupar squad in the second round.

Action was delayed after Preston Lodge failed to show for the first game of the tournament against Hawick.

The East Lothian club have won the tournament twice in the past, but their no-show means it is unlikely they will be lining up at The Gytes in 2014.

ADMINISTRATORS seeking a rescue deal for Langholm textile firm, Reid & Taylor, have confirmed they have entered exclusive talks with one interested party.

There was shock when the 173-year-old firm went into administration recently with the loss of over 30 jobs.

The company blamed the move on a lack of working capital to purchase supplies. The deadline for expressions of interest in the business closed on Friday and a spokesman for administrators, O’Hara & Co, confirmed to The Southern yesterday that it had entered into a “period of exclusivity” for talks with one particular group. However, rumours the company’s Indian owners, S Kumars, which acquired the firm in 1998, would not sell the brand name, are correct.

O’Hara & Co says the Langholm mill has only been using the Reid & Taylor name under licence from a separate Indian holding company and that the name is not part of the talks.

TWO Polish men were attacked while walking home from a night out in Jedburgh during the early hours of Sunday.

Police said the pair – aged 41 and 35 – were subjected to racial remarks before being “violently assaulted”.

A 21-year-old man has made a private court appearance in connection with the incident. Graham Slorance, from Jedburgh, is charged with assault to severe injury. He made no plea or declaration at Selkirk Sheriff Court and the case was continued for further examination. He was released on conditional bail.

One man sustained a serious face wound while the other had minor injuries, say police.

A Galashiels man has appeared in court accused of police assault following a disturbance in the town on Monday.

Stephen Wallace, 34, of Galabank Street, is charged with kicking a constable on the leg at Gala Water Retail Park in Huddersfield Street and then struggling violently with three of his colleagues. He pleaded not guilty to these allegations and also denied being in possession of a metal bar, diamorphine and cannabis.

A trial date was fixed for June 4 at Selkirk Sheriff Court and after appearing from custody Wallace was released on bail, but placed on a 7pm-7am home curfew.

A teenager punched two males in the face in Galashiels within two months.

Liam McMillan, 17, intervened outside a nightclub on September 16 and struck a youth who sustained a swollen and blocked nose. On November 14 he cornered another male in the doorway of Ladbrokes bookmakers, the attack resulting in a cut eye for the victim.

Sentence was deferred until June 3 for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond warned McMillan, formerly of Galashiels but now living in England: “You are 17 years old and already you have two previous convictions for assault. You are just too ready with your fists. If you can’t stop it then somebody has got to stop it.”

Following last month’s column, reader Lynn McKnight got in touch to remind me of Denholm Antiques and Interiors.

It was a while since I had been down that neck of the woods, so I thought it was a good time to revisit these upper rooms.

The last time we were there we’d bought a set of fruitwood chairs – one captain’s chair and three beautiful dining chairs which now have pride of place round our old kitchen table. Not only do they look beautiful, but they’re really comfy too.

A bonus of visiting Denholm Antiques and Interiors is that you have a fantastic coffee shop/restaurant on hand to ensure you’re in the right frame of mind for browsing – coffee and cake are a key part of any relaxing weekend!

The shop can be found at one corner of the green, inside Denholm Meet, and up the stairs.

There is one main room, with two smaller ones off it. It’s a real mixture of items – as well as a number of antique pieces of smaller furniture and other goods, you will also find upcycled, new and used furniture, curtains, lamps, bedding, kitchenalia, china, and some garden-related attractions.

It is a bit of a hotch-potch, and might put off some of the purists, but for those who enjoy a good rummage, there are some fantastic items to be found and there is no denying the prices are good.

Because of this there is a high turnover of stock, which changes every week, so regulars can find something new every time they visit.

As ever, I didn’t leave empty-handed, although I was very restrained.

I came away with a lovely old cocoa tin, which my husband promptly pinched for keeping nails etc. in.

I have to admit, the tin does look good on the wooden shelf, against the old stone wall!