Hawick Youth FC’s star striker Euan Gray has been invited to a trial at English Conference side Barnet, writes Ronan Alexander.

The Bees were relegated from League Two last year, despite having former Dutch playmaker Edgar Davids in their ranks, who won 74 caps for his country and is now head coach at the English club.

When Gray saw the chance to trial with the club, he took the opportunity with both hands.

He said: “Once I saw the advert I applied straight away because it looked like a good opportunity.”

The Hawick Youth Under-17 player of the year is keen to impress during his week’s stay down England.

“It meant a lot to me when I found out I got in because I really wanted a chance to prove myself in front of scouts,” the 16-year-old, who hopes to fulfill his childhood dream of making football his career, added.

“Since I was young all I have wanted to do is become a professional footballer.

“I will give it my best shot and hope it’s good enough.”

A trio of young Borderers have been picked to represent the Scottish Show jumping Academies at the National Inter Academy Team Event.

Megan Morris, aged nine, Georgia Buchan, 11, and Shannon Purvis, 15, were all selected at a show in July at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, following a series of training sessions with British show jumping coaches.

They will now travel to Weston Lawns equestrian centre in Warwickshire on August 20 and 21.

Georgia from Ancrum and Megan from Lauder are in the same team, jumping in the 80cm class, while Blainslie’s Shannon rides in the 90cm class.

Gala Cycling Club president Dean Halliday gathered members together before last week’s ride to inform them of the sad passing of Margaret Johnston.

Having been ill for some time Margaret remained a hard-working member of the club.

A minute’s silence was held in respect of a fellow member and friend who all agreed would be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

Margaret’s funeral will take place at 1pm today at Melrose Crematorium, where everyone is welcome to attend, and afterwards at the Kingsknowe Hotel for a light refreshment.

A team of Borders horsewomen galloped off with the trophy at last weekend’s British Riding Clubs South Essex Insurance Brokers Senior 100 Trials.

The Ettrick Forest Riders Association (EFRA) qualified for the event in April and travelled south to Swalcliffe Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire to represent Scotland.

Twenty teams came forward from all over Britain to compete at this prestigious competition, one of the few full three-day events still taking place in this country.

The EFRA team of four were Carly Scott (Selkirk)/Zelena, Cindy Fisher (Jedburgh)/Hooky’s Dash, Delia Job (Lilliesleaf)/Player and Carolyn Gospel (Ewes)/Willamy Twinkle.

On Friday, after an initial trot up to check the horses’ fitness, the team performed their dressage tests, where each one of them put on a well controlled and lovely to watch performance to go into the lead with 92 penalties.

Saturday was endurance day with 20 minutes of roads and tracks, six steeplechase fences in two minutes and another 25 minutes of roads and tracks.

There was then another vetting to ensure the horses’ wellbeing before the cross-country. The course beautifully built by an international course builder on very undulating ground and well up to height with some very technical fences towards the end. Fit horses were required. The girls rode brilliantly and were all clear with a few time penalties and all horses sound.

With the EFRA girls still in the lead, Sunday began with another trot up before the final showjumping event.

Although the course looked fairly simple, it had loads of influence with very few clear rounds being witnessed. The EFRA quartet had one clear round and three fences down and suddenly their lead looked threatened. However, after a few minutes deliberation, judges announced that Ettrick Forest were British Champions.

Team Chef d’equip Anne Miller told The Southern: “As a club we have always tried to compete nationally and this win is the icing on the cake.

“We are so fortunate to have such good training and teammanship that helps to gel the members and makes taking teams on very satisfying for both Fiona Busby (dressage trainer) and myself.”

EFRA also won the Laurie Punnet Memorial trophy for the team with the best four scores to count. Carolyn won her section for the second year, Delia was second and also second overall, while Cindy and Carly finished fifth. “A brilliant finish to a great weekend,” added Anne.

BORDERS swimmers have been making a splash at the 2013 British Age Group & Youth Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Kelso ASC trio Kirsty Armstrong, Ryan Brown and Lucy Hope won one bronze medal, broke 13 national and district records and contested 10 British finals between them.

Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) placed 24th on the team points score, a great achievement considering there were hundreds of teams from all over Britain represented at the competition.

BEST was the fourth-placed Scottish team.

Kirsty, 13, won bronze in the 100m butterfly, breaking the Scottish and East District age group record in a time of 1.03.58.

BEST performance coach Alex Jordan said: “While there were some good performances from the trio, and plenty of records were broken, the athletes were too often performing below their potential.

“They know this and, after they enjoy a break now after a long season, I’m sure they’ll be itching to get back to training to make amends.”

Jordan added: “Overall, these three athletes and the performance squad as a whole have had an outstanding season and we’re keen to do even better next season.”

It has been a remarkable year – some of the more outstanding team achievements of this season include: Lucy becoming the first member of the team to win a European junior medal and Scottish Open titles; winning 26 Scottish national gold medals (18 in 2012); breaking 17 Scottish age group records (12 in 2012); and breaking 55 district records (40 in 2012).

BEDRULE

Whist

Whist and dominoes sessions will be held on August 12th at 7.30pm.

CADDONFOOT

Church

The Reverend Marion Dodd conducted the morning service on Sunday in Caddonfoot Church and the lessons were read by Jo Lawson. Members are expected to attend the Melrose and Peebles Presbytery Country Evening Worship in Mertoun Kirk this Sunday at 6.30pm. This is the second of four services to mark the anniversary of the Iona Community. Bible study resumes today (Thursday) in Trinity Church hall.

EARLSTON

Parish church

The August 11 service, which starts at 10.15am, will

be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods with help from the worship team. Refreshments will be served after the service.

Community council

Earlston Community Council will next meet on August 22 at 7pm in the primary school and not the 15th as advertised.

Edgerston

Team Martin

The team is holding a ladies’ lunch with guest speaker on August 24 in Edgerston Hall (12.30-1pm). Proceeds will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Contact Kath, Christine or Linda.

ETTRICKBRIDGE

Show

Kirkhope Horticultural Society will be holding its annual show on August 18 at 2.30pm in Ettrickbridge Village Hall. There are more than 80 classes this year, the 120th Anniversary of the society.

Galashiels

Rotary

As a finale to the school holidays, the Public Park will be bouncing with activity on Rotary’s Family Fun Day – August 18 (11am-4pm). The bouncing will come from two bouncy castles, and other attractions include a Gladiator stand, party slide castle, maze inflatable, 35ft inflatable obstacle course and an adult bungee run. A car boot sale will also be held – no need to book, just turn up (£7 – car, £10 – van or car/trailer). Rotary will have an awareness tent, tombolas, sideshows and princess ‘take a picture’. Inner Wheel will also be there, with chances to win a tombola prize. Local charities’ and crafters’ stalls, live music and emergency services displays are among the other features. For anyone who cannot make it, TD1 Radio are broadcasting live throughout the day with Steve Paterson.

Hawick

Rotary

Members have been outdoors the last two Thursdays for their annual sporting meetings. The first week there was a good turnout of members at the Buccleuch Bowling Club where, after a close contest, the winning rink was Ron Smith, Jock Thorburn and Robin Mason. Jack Swanston, Mairhi Trickett and George Rennie took the runners-up slot. The members then retired to the Buccleuch Hotel for a meal and dispatched of some business. Last Thursday evening, again in glorious summer weather, another good turnout of members descended on Minto Golf Club for the golf tourney. The victorious quartet was Bob Kellett, Tommy Mulvee, David Oliver and Jack Swanston. A dice golf game was then played when George Rennie won the trophy after defeating Iain Smith in the final. The evening was rounded off with a meal, after which Tommy Mulvee thanked the golf club for hosting the evening and providing the meal.

Innerleithen

Flower show

Innerleithen Flower Show will take place on September 1 in the Memorial Hall at 2pm. Items for the event should be handed in to the Memorial Hall on the Saturday evening or before 10am on the Sunday morning.

Community council

The next meeting of Innerleithen and District Community Council will take place on September 2 at 7.15pm in the council chamber, Memorial Hall, Leithen Road. Members of the public welcome.

Service

The service in Innerleithen Church on August 11 starts at 11.30am.

JEDBURGH

Lunch club

The club meets on August 15. It is for pensioners in and around the Jedburgh area. For more information, phone 01835 862565.

Kelso

Rangers fans

The bus for the Brechin game leaves The Square at 8.45am on Saturday. Tickets from Jim (01573 226240).

Bridge club

July 31 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, John and Marian Miller; 2, Alison Ireland and Elinor Green; 3, Alex Jeffrey and Jock Dun. E/W – 1, Dorothy Graham and Nancy Porter; 2 Myra Thomson and Jean Henry; 3, Stuart Graham and Ian Watson. August 1 – aggregate pairs – N/S – 1, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 2, Jim Stone and Annie Mitchell; 3, Ruth Mackay and Sheila Urquhart. E/W – 1, Jean McLaren and Ken Ross; 2, James Duncan and Ged McIvor; 3, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson.

Beach Madness

See Yetholm section.

Langholm

Concert

The annual concert on the Wednesday leading up to the Common Riding was again produced by Alex Pool, with his son, David, compere and mother Marion making the presentations. Margaret Howe was accompanist for the singers. It was a fine sunny evening when the pipe and town bands played through to the Buccleuch Centre for the concert. Common Riding committee chairman Roger Maxwell welcomed everyone, and during the concert the investiture of Cornet Alasdair Cavers was carried out by Marion Pool, who presented him with his sash and riding crop. She also presented an inscribed shepherd’s crook to Semi-Jubilee Cornet Andrew Jeffrey and a painting to Jubilee Cornet George Ellwood. On the Sunday previous the leading principals and some members of the Common Riding committee visited Burnfoot care home in Ecclefechan to make a presentation to Diamond Jubilee Cornet John Paterson. The town band led off the concert and their pipe counterparts took to the stage after the interval. There was music and song from the Borthwick family and Langholm Folk, and singers during the evening were Jackie Beckett, Jackie Henderson, Steven Milligan, David Pool and Walter Steele, with recitations from Bob McLure. The concert ended with a vote of thanks by the chairman and the company sang Bonnie Langholm, then Auld Lang Syne and God Save the Queen.

Coaching

Professional Lawn Tennis Association coach Mike McMillan is to provide coaching each Thursday in the town during the new school term, starting on August 29. He is working in association with charities – local Playcare and the new Gets Active group – to provide the lessons to youngsters from pre-school to P7. The Playcare is the venue for the pre-school/nursery age group from 3.30-4pm for seven weeks at £14, and P1-3 for the same number of weeks from 4-4.45pm at £17.50. The Eskdale Sports Centre will take the P4-P7 age group from 5.15-6pm over seven weeks at a cost of £17.50.

makerstoun

Gardens

Makerstoun Garden Competition was held on Sunday – Vegetables and Cup – 1, Ian the Postie; 2, Lord Biddulph; 3, Mrs Aberdein. Best Cottage Flowers Cup – 1, 2 Woodside; 2, 4 Westermuirdean; 3, Hollybank. Best All Year Round Cup – 1, Mr and Mrs Piercy, Park House; 2, Jane Cox, East Dalcove House; 3, Mrs King, Keeper’s Cottage. Junior Cup – 1, Cameron Pringle; 2, Jodie, 2 Manorhill. Commended – Inger for herbs, 4 Sucklawridge. Best improver – Jamie, 7 Greatridgehall Cottages. Tallest sunflower – Ian the Postie. Blue bowl community prize – Sucklawridge Cottages (for tubs). The presentation of cups and prizes will be made at social night in October.

melrose

Fete

Grange Hall Garden Fete, including its first pet show, is being held on August 17 (2-4pm) at Drygrange. Admission is £3 and entry to the pet show 50p. It will be judged by Iain Gillespie, local vet and councillor, assisted by matron Wendy Smith. The fete is in aid of the social fund which provides concerts and outings for residents.

Church

The fete raised £1,235. August 11 services at Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am).

Trimontium

Almost three dozen Trimontium members and friends took part in the annual outing last Saturday under chairman Dr John Reid. First stop was a walk round the visible outline of the Roman cavalry fort of Risingham. Back at West Woodburn, the party paid a return visit to the Bay Horse Inn where members had sought shelter – and coffee – two years ago when the bus broke down. Then it was on to Hexham and its abbey (a Scots target over the centuries). The last port of call was Vindolanda, to which the trust owed so much at its beginning, with its variety of things to see, small museum – and cafe. Two people from Hexham joined Ian Brown’s Sunday site walk the following day. Today (Thursday) sees the regular Trimontium walk, starting at 1.30pm.

Morebattle

Games Queen

Holly Wyatt, this year’s Games Queen, was sashed at a church service by last year’s incumbent, Susie Thomson, who was presented with a goblet in appreciation for carrying out her duties last year. Holly was then presented with a Bible from the church. Light refreshments were served after the ceremony when photographs with her family and friends were taken.

Festival Week

John and Catherine Mabon, the Festival Week organisers, have been pleased with the turnouts for events and weather so far. Festival Week kicked off on Saturday with the boys’ and girls’ five-a-side football tournaments. There were four teams taking part, ranging in ages from six to over 21. Winners were Liam Burke, Alan Millar, Dale Adams, Simon Wyatt and Charlie Scott, with Richard Cook, Ryan Sudlow, Brad Adams, Michael Moffat and Andrew Wyatt bagging the runners-up slot. Games Queen Holly Wyatt presented the medals and it was a bit of a family affair for her – Holly’s dad was a member of the victorious side, while her brother was in the runners-up team. Family Day (Sunday) was blessed with good weather – a big change from the last two years when torrential rain forced the event’s cancellation. The school playing field hosted races, welly throwing, penalty kicks and boules. Results – penalty kicks – seniors – Liam Burke; juniors – Brad Adams. Welly throwing – gents – Stan Scott; ladies – Grace Cessford; boys – Neil Mallen; girls – Susie Thomson. Boules – Andrew Scott. Tamara Mallen won the number of sweets competition. Holly again presented the prizes. Monday’s coffee evening was held in the hall, raising £185 for Festival Week funds. Holly was on hand to draw the raffle. The quiz was held in the Templehall Lounge after the coffee evening, Grace Cessford, Pauline Watherhead, David Gray and Jim Burke having most of the right answers. Runners-up were Annie Smith, Moira Wight, Andrew Bryce, Ryan Sudlow and Ally Johnston. Prizes were presented by Games Queen Holly Wyatt. The camera club staged an exhibition in the institute on Tuesday, running from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Photographs of members’ work during the past year were on display. A raffle was drawn and teas served. The sum of £227 was raised during the day. Ben Stenhouse came out on top in the pool competition, with second place going to Jordan Chisholm.

Beach Madness

See Yetholm section.

Stichill

Hall committee

There will be a meeting of Stichill Village Hall committee immediately following the EGM at 7pm on August 20. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Whist

A whist evening will be held in Stichill Village Hall (7 for 7.30pm) on August 19.

Stow

Fitness

Galawater Health and Fitness Club classes for the over-50s restart on August 14 in Stow Town Hall (1-2pm).

Traquair

Service

The service in Traquair Kirk on August 11 starts at 10am.

Walkerburn

Rugby club

From 11am on August 10, all experienced and new players are welcome to join in an open training session of exercises and touch rugby at the local club. Young or old, all will receive a friendly welcome. Following the training session, there will be various sporting games in the clubhouse for all to enjoy. Weather permitting, there will also be a barbecue. The rugby club also opens it doors the following day (10am-4pm)to the local community, fans and players in an effort to get odd jobs done ahead of the new season.

Service

The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on Sunday, August 18, starting at 10am.

Yetholm

Phone boxes

For more than two years, village residents have been trying to persuade BT to paint the red telephone boxes in Town and Kirk Yetholm. Community councillors were involved, as was the local Scottish Borders councillor and MSP. But on the day the royal baby arrived, so did the painters. The boxes are shining in their new livery, including golden crowns. One feature remains – like the leaning tower of Pisa, the box in Town Yetholm remains at a jaunty angle.

Flower festival

Yetholm is to remember the Battle of Flodden with a flower festival. The local kirk will be decorated with floral tributes from September 5-8. Opening times are 6-8pm on the first day and subsequently 10am-4pm. Apart from the flowers, there will be display boards and refreshments.

Shepherds’ show

Plans are under way for the 150th Border Shepherds’ Show on the first Saturday in October. As a fundraiser, there is to be a whist drive in the Youth Hall at 7.30pm on August 20.

High Street

There is some surprise in the village at the recent appearance on Town Yetholm Green of a new street sign with the words “High Street”. Most residents think of the road as Main Street, whereas Kirk Yetholm has a High Street. For some time Yetholm Community Council has been asking for signs for Bowmont Terrace and The Crescent – two roads leading from Main Street.

Garden fete

Yetholm manse will be hosting a garden fete on August 31 (11am-3pm).

Festivals

Yetholm is always pleased when principals from other Border towns lend their support. This, in turn, leads to invitations to the Yetholm principals. This year they will be taking part in Coldstream Civic Week and, for the first time, have ridden at Musselburgh. They are also attending a social function at Sanquhar.

Beach Madness

Yetholm Dry Bar has arranged a day of Beach Madness at Coldingham Bay tomorrow (August 9) – sea, surf and games. Phone Ian (01573 420703) to book a place and then turn up at Town Yetholm bus shelter at 8.45am with a packed lunch, swimwear, sun tan lotion and £4 towards transport costs.

Nearly a thousand ex-servicemen and friends of the King’s Own Scottish Borders gathered in Berwick to celebrate Minden Day and bid farewell to the KOSB’s colours.

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, Patron of the KOSB Association, took the final salute under the colours before they were ‘laid up’.

Arriving early on Thursday morning, a 300-strong crowd in specially constructed stands on the barracks parade ground were entertained by the traditional dancing of Nancy Steele’s dancers.

Nancy, who works in the barracks museum and has connections to the KOSB through her father, put her young charges through three choreographed pieces. They ended their performance with the Borderers’ adopted anthem, ‘Blue Bonnets Over the Border’.

Princes Anne arrived by helicopter, landing on Beriwick golf course, before driving the short distance to the barracks entrance.

There she was met by the town’s civic party and other Northumberland dignitaries.

Northumberland County Council’s Civic Chair, councillor Kath Nesbitt, said the princess was keen to praise the diversity and wide appeal of the county, which was a relief after Lord Howell’s comments this week describing the north east as “desolate”.

Her Royal Highness took her seat in front of a specially erected stand, while Captain Edward Swales, secretary of the KOSB Association, gave the Minden Address, retelling the story of the battle in 1759 where the tradition began.

He ended the address: “In memory of our ancestors who earned this great Battle Honour and who plucked roses from the gardens of Minden as they went forward to the battle, we of the Minden Regiments wear roses in our headdress on this proud day.”

In her speech, Princess Anne paid tribute to the men of the KOSB who had given so much in the name of duty over more than 300 years.

She also made a special point of recognising the rivalry between “the Fusiliers and the Borders, who for so many years had been coming here, to the Tweed, mainly to shout at each other.”

Her Royal Highness then took part in the giving out of red roses to the veterans gathered on the parade ground.

She was aided in her task by fourteen local army cadets, under the guidance of 2Lt Debra Jerden. Each cadet bore 40 red roses on a silver platter.

More than 650 veterans and former servicemen pinned their red roses to their Glenngarry caps, bowler hats or their buttonholes.

“This is exceptional,” said Debra, “it’s quite a thing for us every year, but with the royal visit and the colours being retired, this is a fantastic day.”

The crowd and the veterans then stood for the Regimental Collect: “O Lord, without whom our labour is but lost and all our watching is in vain, grant that the King’s Own Scottish Borderers may ever trust in Thy true religion and endure hardness as good soldiers of Him who bore the cross, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Those gathered then marched from the barracks to the town hall, where Princess Anne took their salute.

The parade was led by two jeeps as well as the motorcycles of the Scottish branch of the Royal British Legion Riders.

These bikers, based in Jedburgh, provide support for many fundraising ventures across the east of Scotland, including the Jim Clark Rally and, most recently, the Race for Life event run by ex-servicemen at Birgham.

The colours were then piped into their final laying-up place in the barracks museum to the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

James and Livy Agnew opened their beautiful parkland this weekend for the 10th running of the fundraising Hendersyde Horse Trials.

Over the years the popular event has raised more than £35,000 and supports many local causes. Last year’s awful wet weather saw the cancellation of the second day, but this year the park was bathed in sunshine, with a stiff breeze to keep the temperature down.

The event also hosts the prestigious Scottish Championships for riders who qualified for a place throughout last season. Each of the championship finalists were called in to the arena to the sound of the pipes and were cheered by the enthusiastic crowd of visitors, which was almost a harder test for the horses than the jumping.

The cross-country course is designed by Selkirk-based former Olympic rider Ian Stark, who was also competing and rode Bacon Butty to third place in the Novice section K. Sharing his feelings on what it felt like to ride a course he had designed, Ian told The Southern: “I worry – will I jump the right fence? But it is good to ride round, as I can see how the course flows and if the design works.”

The BE90 and 100 sections attracted lots of entries with riders eager to tackle the new eye-catching fences, carved by internationally-acclaimed course sculptor David Evans and made from estate timber.

Kelso’s own Henny Cooper had a very successful weekend, taking a well-deserved second place in the Belhaven BE90 Scottish Championships on Soprano D L Herbage. They finished on a dressage score of 27, following a double clear round, just a few marks behind class winner Mat Earith and Glayva II. She was also placed 11th in the St James’s Place Novice Scottish Championships, just eight points behind locally-based winner Emily Parker, and 11th in the Mussel and Steak Bar Novice section K.

Melrose business man Cameron Crawford, whose company J S Crawford Estates sponsored the BE90 section D class, claimed third place in the Open Novice class on Master Holla Star. Just one point split first, second and third places.

The pair had the best dressage score of the class, with 29.5, and a clear cross-country, but picked up eight faults in the show jumping, which cost them the top spot.

Hendersyde included classes for the Retraining of Racehorses and Shelly Johnstone from Langholm scored a big win in the Bedmax BE90 RoR Section C.

Shelly works for Ian Stark and grooms for Emily Parker, but she trained racehorses for five seasons, and bought Soneva Gili from a racing syndicate. They have worked really hard over the winter, focussing on flat work with help from Fiona Busby and Carolyn Gospel. Shelly told us: “His show jumping has really clicked, all the flat work has taught him how to engage and helped him to stop kicking out and dropping poles. He is also very brave on the cross-country, never looked at anything, just went straight ahead.”

Local riders did well in the Central Carpets’ BE Intermediate Novice class. Emily Galbraith (Ancrum) and Ginja Ninja II took third place on a score of 32.70, while Berwick’s Olivia Leyland, who won the BE 100 Scottish Championships in 2012 with Blue View, claimed fourth place on Madams Law. Olivia won two trophies as the highest-placed rider under 21 in the Novice section and for the rider closest to the optimum time.

Livy Agnew and her army of sponsors and volunteer helpers put on a top-class show. The venue is fast becoming a jewel in the eventing calendar, attracting world-class riders to the Borders and providing a showcase for talent.

The open athletic season may be coming to an end, but there’s still a lot of running to be done yet.

That’s certainly going to be the case at Morebattle Games on Saturday, as the Tofts track meeting has brought about a good entry of senior, junior and youths’ events.

Top attraction on the card is the eight-heat 110m handicap and Martha Douglas of Jed AC, recent victor of the Langholm Games sprint, competes from 20m.

Another Jed AC athlete bidding for glory is Cameron Grieve, who goes from 8m. Race backmarker is Greg Turnbull TLJT (scratch) while Mhairi Henderson TLJT (23m), Jack Wilson Hawick (13m), Geoff Keen Selkirk (10.5m) and Euan Pettigrew Kelso (9m) are amongst the Border sprinters set to be in action.

The 800m handicap has Kelso’s Colin Welsh (15m) as its backmarker and includes Rory Anderson Hawick (45m) and Andrew Thomson Jed AC (55m).

Another distance race on the programme is the 3,200m handicap, which features Kelso pair Darrell Hastie (60m) and Chris Black (60m) plus Dianne Lauder of Gala Harriers (240m) and Dean Whiteford, Innerleithen (190m).

August should be as easy-going as the ride in Toyota’s growing range of full hybrid models, so this month it’s time to Trybrid and find out exactly what clean vehicle technology has to offer.

Toyota St Boswells is offering test drives in all the latest hybrids, and giving customers’ cars a free wash into the bargain.

Toyota believes those who have never tried hybrid before are in for a pleasant surprise, not least in the quiet, smooth and refined performance that’s a characteristic of its Hybrid Synergy Drive, together with low CO2 emissions that make the majority of the range road tax-exempt, with excellent fuel economy. Low CO2 means low benefit-in-kind tax rates for company car drivers, too.

As full hybrids, these vehicles can be driven for certain distances on their electric power alone, which means near-silent running and zero tailpipe emissions and fuel consumption.

That’s a major benefit in slow-moving urban traffic, where pollution concerns are highest and, typically, fuel can be wasted. Switchable drive modes further enable simple, automatic adjustment of the cars’ performance to favour responsiveness or economy, according to the driver’s preference.

As well as low carbon emissions, Toyota’s hybrids produce almost no NOx and particulate matter – pollutants that have a damaging effect on air quality. The drive system incorporates an automatic stop-start function, and it recovers energy under braking and deceleration, feeding it back as electricity to store in the hybrid battery.

In spite of being technically advanced, Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive has proved robust and reliable. That quality is backed up by a warranty that goes beyond Toyota’s established five years/100,000 miles new car cover to provide eight years peace-of-mind protection for the hybrid battery.

Toyota’s Trybrid promotion will continue throughout August, with further details available at toyota.co.uk/stbowells

A teenager who starred for one of the Borders’ leading semi-junior rugby sides last season has been told he was lucky only to be standing in a sheriff court dock.

Jordan Lunt, pictured, stamped on the head and body of his victim in a pub assault.

At Selkirk on Monday, Sheriff Kevin Drummond said the kind of attack he witnessed on CCTV could easily have resulted in death.

He added: “In particular, the stamping that can kill.”

Lunt, 18, of Sentry Knowe, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching, kicking and stamping on the head and body of David Lewis to his injury at Angus O’Malley’s and The Valley in Selkirk on March 9.

A not-guilty plea to assaulting a woman by kicking her on the head to her injury was accepted by the Crown.

Defending, Robert More said background reports prepared by social workers had recommended a fine be imposed, but even he admitted that was “not appropriate”.

He said: “It was a very, very bad incident. The injuries sustained were surprisingly minor. He is fortunate to be where he is today.”

A previous hearing was told that Lunt had been watching rugby and had been approached by the victim who he did not know and said he had tried to cuddle him.

Passing sentence on Lunt, who played for Selkirk Youth Club last season, Sheriff Drummond said: “We all saw the CCTV of the night of the assault which you carried out.

“Perhaps the most surprising thing arising from that for you and your victim is the relatively-low level of injury which has resulted.

“We have seen in more than one case an assault like that causes death or permanent impairment with that kind of kicking that went on.

“You are in one sense a very fortunate young man.

“I can treat this as a non- custodial matter, although you will bear in mind your over-indulgence in alcohol.”

Lunt was given a community payback order involving 216 hours’ unpaid work.

WHAT is billed as the world’s first contra-circumnavigation trail race has been organised as part of the commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the 1513 Battle of Flodden.

It is being masterminded by the award-winning, Selkirk-based Durty Events company.

Competitors will take to the field representing Scotland and England in a dusk-to-dark obstacle race on Saturday, October 12.

The teams will run in opposite directions round the 15.3m course which includes culverts, tunnels, water courses and mud.

Runners in fancy dress will wear head torches and carry inflatable claymores , swords and pikes and the event has been named Braverunner.

It starts and finishes in the village of Etal with the opposing teams meeting midpoint ion the battlefield at Branxton.

Paul McGreal of Durty Events commented: “This will be a fun and reasonably challenging run on an undulating, rather hilly course, aimed at all fitness levels.

“Runners will encounter music, light effects and projections at various points along the route as well as taking in a number of Flodden 1513 ecomuseum sites.

There will be a campsite and post battle party with live music, a prize giving and other entertainment.

Most of the run will be visible to spectators with fireworks marking the passage of the lead runners from both teams.

Find details about entry fees and more details at www.braverunner.com/

Saturday, August 10: Coldstream Ramblers walk – Lauder to Earlston, 10 miles. Meet at Earlston bus stop for the 9.38am bus to Lauder. To say you will come or for more information, please phone leader, Susan Taylor 01896 820004 (mobile 07929 906781).

Sunday, August 11: Scottish Borders Hillwalking Club – Moffat-Swatte Fell. Meet at West Port Car Park, Selkirk at 8.30am. For further information, please call secretary Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214. Park in Moffat at the boating pond car park.

Sunday, August 11: Berwick and Borders Cyclists ride – Berwick-Kirk Yetholm (53.4 miles). Depart from Bridge Street Car Park at 10am. All cyclists are welcome to join this ride – just turn up at the start point. For further information, call Tony Houghton on 01289 332247 (mobile 07854 426621).

Wednesday, August 14: A National Park in the Scottish Borders (debate) – Yetholm Youth Hall at 7pm . Organised by the Southern Uplands Partnership. Please call for further information, on 01750 725154.

A 21-year-old man appeared in private accused of assault to severe injury in Kelso.

Michael MacPherson, of Kirkfield, Eccles, is alleged to have committed the offence on June 3. He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre granted MacPherson bail.

BENEFITS CHARGE

A KELSO man has been charged with a benefits fraud involving more than £11,000.

Fifty-eight-year-old John Lewis is accused of claiming Disability Living Allowance to which he was not entitled to over a three-year period from his Inch Road home. The charge alleges he failed to notify an improvement in his ability to manage his disability.

The total sum involved is £11,395.

Lewis pleaded not guilty and a trial was fixed for August 29.

TRIAL DATE

A JEDBURGH man will stand trial at the town’s sheriff court on an assault charge.

Neil Broome, 34, of Hartrigge Crescent, denies repeatedly pushing Steven Russell and punching him on the head, causing him to strike a mirror to his severe injury. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour and uttering threats of violence.

The offences are alleged to have been committed in Oxnam village hall on February 10.

A trial was fixed for August 29.

NOT-GUILTY PLEA

DYLAN Scott, 20, of Wellfield Road, Hawick, denies punching a man to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

The offence is alleged to have happened at a house in Howdenbank, Hawick, on Hogmanay.

A trial is scheduled for Jedburgh Sheriff Court on August 29.

YOUTH ACCUSED

A MELROSE teenager has been accused of assaulting two police officers.

Kristopher MacLeod, 17, of Huntlyburn Terrace, is alleged to have kicked one constable on the body and butted another on the head. He is also charged with committing a breach of the peace and struggling violently with two police officers.

The offences are said to have happened at Priors Meadow in Jedburgh on March 23.

MacLeod pleaded not guilty to all four charges and a trial was fixed for August 29 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

DRINK-DRIVER LOCKED UP

A SERIAL drink-driver who clocked up his sixth conviction was jailed for nine months.

Fifty-two-year-old Mark Reay was found guilty of his latest offence of driving while in excess of the legal limit at a trial at Duns Sheriff Court and sentence had been deferred for background reports. He was also on probation at the time of the latest crime.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told the self-employed plumber, who lives in Market Square, Coldstream, he had no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.

In addition to the prison term, Reay was banned from driving for 12 years and a motion from the Crown to forfeit the van he had been driving was granted.

DRUG OFFENDER’S PAYBACK TIME

CANNABIS with a potential value of £3,000 was found growing in a Stow house.

The offence came to light when a letting agent was having a viewing of the Craigend Road property for a new client. A total of 33 plants were found in three separate growing areas.

Gordon McDonald, 36, now living at George Grieve Way in Tranent, pleaded guilty to a charge of producing cannabis.

His lawyer said the internet had given McDonald the idea of growing the cannabis for medicinal purposes to help with headaches he was suffering from.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond said the scale of the operation was significant and it was a serious matter.

However, Sheriff Drummond noted: “You have led a productive life and it is the first time you have been in this kind of trouble.”

A community payback order was imposed involving 100 hours of unpaid work.

BANNED FROM TAKEAWAY

A GALASHIELS man has been banned from a fast-food takeaway until the outcome of his trial.

William Charters, 50, of Forest Place, denies assaulting a woman in Crollas, High Street, Galashiels, on June 30 by slapping her on the face. He also pleaded not guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing and uttering racist remarks towards two shop employees.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond fixed a trial date for November 19 with an intermediate hearing on October 21.

The sheriff granted Charters bail with special conditions ordering him not to enter the shop and not to communicate with the two named employees.

APPEARED FROM CUSTODY

AN Eyemouth accused appeared from custody on an allegation of threatening or abusive behaviour to the mother of his one-year-old child.

David Meek, 21, pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing at her during the disturbance at a house in Acredale Road, Eyemouth, on Sunday evening.

The court heard he became aggressive when the woman – who he has an on-off relationship with – told him to leave the property.

Jobless Meek, of Church Street, was fined £120.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told him: “Whatever problems you are having, the rest of us do not need to share it.”

GALASHIELS PUB ATTACK CASE

A GALASHIELS woman has been charged with assaulting a man in a public house on Braw Lads’ Day.

Susan Gray, of Gala Park, is accused of striking Edward Williams on the head and kicking him on the body in the Golden Lion.

Gray, 41, also faces a second allegation of acting in a threatening or abusive manner and shouting and swearing.

The case against her was continued without plea until August 26.

FINE FOR SOLDIER

A TERRITORIAL Army soldier who has just returned from Afghanistan became upset with his partner over a communication she received from a third party.

It resulted in a dispute between the pair.

James Johnston, 21, of Wellogate Brae, St Boswells, admitted struggling and fighting with Sara Wilson, who also faces a similar charge.

The offence happened at a house in Gala Park, Galashiels, on April 18.

After hearing Johnston was heading for service in Cyprus later this month, Sheriff Kevin Drummond imposed a fine of £120.

INTERMEDIATE TRIAL HEARING

RHUARIDH MacLeod, 21, who lives at Scott Crescent in Selkirk, is alleged to have threatened to stab a police officer at Borders General Hospital on May 31.

MacLeod pleaded not guilty and an intermediate trial hearing was continued until August 19.

A man who seized his partner by the throat during a domestic row has been ordered to be of good behaviour for the next six months.

John Maxwell, 45, of Sandbed, Hawick,admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at a house in Myreslawgreen on June 23.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told him he would be admonished if he had not been in trouble when the case recalls.

A Galashiels man who poured petrol over himself and threatened to set a health centre on fire looks set to avoid a prison term.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond, sitting at Selkirk court on Monday, said his favoured sentence would be to impose a community payback order on John McCarry, with a number of hours of unpaid work involved.

But he has deferred sentence for another three weeks to allow social workers to suggest conditions which should be attached to the payback order in light of the 50-year-old’s mental health problems and the seriousness of the offence.

A previous court hearing was told McCarry was furious when JobCentre officials declared him fit to work and would be getting his benefits stopped.

The 50-year-old poured a litre of petrol over his head and held the rest of a half-full plastic bottle in one hand and a lighter in the other in a doctor’s consulting room at the health centre in Currie Road, Galashiels, on February 28.

Around 30 staff and patients were evacuated from the building after the alarm was raised.

A three-hour stand-off then followed before specially-trained police negotiators finally convinced McCarry to give up the bottle containing petrol and throw the lighter to the ground.

McCarry, of Gorse Lane, who appeared in the dock on crutches due to spinal problems, pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the peace at the health centre. He will be sentenced on August 26.

Lorraine Clapperton, 46, of Bannerfield Drive, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge by failing to see two pedestrians and colliding with the youngsters.

She also admits failing to stop after an accident and not reporting it to the police within 24 hours.

The offences happened in Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, on May 29 and sentence was deferred until August 19 for a personal appearance.

Three men are to stand trial on an assault charge.

Steven Lumsden, 34, of Dean Street, Galashiels, Ross Millar, 23, of Kingsland Avenue, Selkirk, and Michael Hartley, 23, of Meigle Street, Galashiels, pleaded not guilty to repeatedly headbutting Steven Turnbull on the face and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body.

The offence is alleged to have been committed at a house in High Buckholmside, Galashiels, on February 10.

The trial was set for September 3.

Early August, hot and humid, sweat popping, tiny black thunderflies settling on arms, face and hair, black clouds building up in the distance – harvest must have started.

Indeed it has, thunderstorms permitting, and first reports for winter barley are better than my initial pessimistic forecast. Growers say that grain has filled out surprisingly well in the past few weeks with quality better than last year. But in these early stages all are cautious.

There can be many a slip between loads coming off the combine and final returns from the end buyer, or until a farm-dried crop is weighed and fed in animal rations over the winter.

The first reaction to winter barley producing reasonable crops has been a drop in price. Wheat prices have also fallen, partly because of better prospects for the British harvest, mainly because harvests in other parts of the world, especially Russia, are yielding well above last year.

It’s of academic interest to most of us, but in the past decade the average price of farmland in Britain has more than doubled to £6,000 per acre. Those amazingly far-sighted people “Experts say ...” as quoted in the business sections of several newspapers claim that best-quality land could be making more than £20,000 per acre by 2020. In Scotland, land agents Savills say that prime arable land averaged £7,449 in the first half of this year, grade three livestock land averaged £2,733.

So buy now while stocks last? Possibly, but experts also advise that if buying a farm is beyond your means then invest in specialist funds that are helping clients tap in to good returns across “the food and farming spectrum”. That’s because world population, as we have been told frequently, is expected to reach nine billion in the next 40 years. More food of every kind will be needed, while demand for quality food and more meat and dairy products will come from developing and developed countries as incomes rise.

The part that genetically modified (GM) crops and food could play in feeding two billion more mouths by 2050 continues to be argued.

Well over 100million hectares of GM crops are now grown throughout the world, but the EU in general and Britain in particular persists with a ban. Most experimental results have indicated benefits from GM crops, with those for rice with added vitamin A as a means of producing radical improvement in child diets in Asia particularly convincing. GM crops with disease and pest resistance have proved their worth. No single instance of GM food causing illness in animals or humans has been found.

But, we’re told, British consumers refuse to accept GM food so supermarkets won’t accept it so European farmers can’t grow it.

The British government is trying to change that and is keen to see GM science develop in the UK. The devolved Scottish government, however, remains doggedly against GM.

Given that the average Scottish diet that encourages obesity, heart disease and various associated illnesses is still one of the worst in the developed world, it’s hard to see what their objection to GM can be.

A 51-year-old woman who admitted a benefits fraud involving more than £5,000 has been ordered to appear personally in court.

Brenda McMillan pleaded guilty by letter to claiming Disability Living Allowance she was not entitled to from a house in Croft Street, Galashiels,between January 2011 and February 2013. Sentence was deferred until August 19.

McMillan now lives at Hopehill Road, Glasgow.