Ancrum

WRI

Members dined out at Lilliardsedge Caravan Park for their Christmas meal. Competition – best-wrapped present – 1, J. Charles; 2, R. Sinton; 3, D. Canby; 4, J. Butler. The next meeting is on February 12 when Jennifer Smith will give a talk on her visit to Uganda. Competitions – slice of Christmas cake and an artefact from abroad.

Caddonfoot

Church

The second Sunday of Epiphany was celebrated on Sunday when the service was conducted by the Reverend Marion Dodd. Lessons were read by Hamish Tennant. The induction of the new minister of the charge, linked with Trinity in Galashiels, the Revered Elspeth Harley, will take place on January 31 at 7 pm in Trinity Church. The kirk session’s Caddonfoot meeting scheduled for January 22 has been cancelled.

Cogsmill

Dance

The next old-time Scottish country dance will be on January 24 at 8pm, with Gordon Brown playing. Booking advisable – phone Mary (373722) or Christine (372921).

Burns supper

The Burns supper is on February 1 when some of Hawick’s top entertainers will be performing. Only a few tickets left – phone Christine (372921).

WRI

The next WRI meeting takes place on February 12 at 7.30pm with a hair-care demonstration by Lisa Donaldson.

Denholm

Whist

There is a whist drive in the village hall on January 24 (7.30pm) in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Earlston

Camera club

Members entertained each other at the latest meeting, with presentations from Allan and Eleanor Drummond, Peter Moore and Curtis Welsh. These covered subjects from family history photographs to images from a recent holiday and war cemeteries in France. Member Angela Jewell had the difficult task of judging the competition, with images to be inspired by a book, film or poem title. The print category was won by Stephen Morris, with Curtis Welsh second and Allan Drummond third. The best digital entry was judged to be from Eleanor Drummond, with Stephen Morris and Linsey Anderson awarded second and third respectively.

Parish church

The service on January 19 at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods.

edgerston

WRI

An informal meeting was held last Wednesday when the new programme was discussed. Competition – three scones – 1, Rosemary Wilkes; 2, Jackie Dun; 3, Mary Upton. The raffle was won by Evelyn Grierson.

ettrickbridge

Dinner

Tickets are on sale for the annual dinner in aid of village hall funds on March 1 from Linda Elmitt (01750 52257). Speakers will be Ian Landles (Hawick) and Eric Paxton (Kelso), with Tommy Knox, Jimmy Gibb and Darren Knox providing music.

galashiels

Probus

Club member Ian Skinner gave a talk entitled “Knickerbocker Glory” about the natural ice industry on the Hudson River in the USA during the late 19th century. The largest company in the industry was the Knickerbocker Ice Co., from which the ice cream sundae was named. Next meeting – February 13 (10am).

Clef Club

The next meeting is on January 18 at 7.30pm in the Lucy Sanderson Hall, Tweed Terrace. Featuring local artists, the programme includes music for string quartet by Haydn, a baroque trio, solo piano and songs for Burns night, plus music played on a 180-year old harp. For more details, contact Elizabeth Fraser (01896 752375) or go to http://onlineborders.org.uk/community/galaclefclub.

U3A

The next meeting of The Three Brethren U3A will take place on January 20 at 2pm in Lucy Sanderson Hall, Tweed Crescent. The topic will be “Melrose in Bloom” – a brief history of the foundation and development of this award-winning volunteer group – by Vivien Chisholm, a founder member. Prospective U3A members are also welcome.

Glendouglas

Hall

The hall whist drive on the second Monday of every month and the lunch club (second Wednesday) have resumed after a festive break.

WRI

George Wright spoke about his two-year service with King’s Own Scottish Borderers, spending most of it in Malaya. Competition – 1, Catriona Graham; 2, Iris Willacy. The raffle was won by Sandra Jeffrey.

Hawick

Camera Club

Former club member John Peters, winner of several prestigious photographic awards and competitions throughout his career, presented an inspirational talk on digital photography featuring contrast and exposure controls in particular. His lecture was carefully planned to take the audience step by step through the various computer processing stages, including exposure bracketing and dodging/burning techniques. The resulting effects of this work were projected onto the club’s large screen. The vote of thanks was proposed by Bert Lancaster.” The January 23 meeting includes the colour competition, with Suzanne Alderson judging. Members are requested to submit entries for the sequence competition at this time.

Rotary

Thirty Rotarians attended the latest meeting when President Scott Elliot welcomed members from Jedburgh and Langholm clubs – the latter’s traditional first-footing visit to Hawick. After a meal, a domino tournament was held which resulted in victory for Langholm president Tom Stoddart, who defeated Andrew Suddon, from the host club. Semi-finalists were Howard Ashton-Smith and Gus Neilson. The evening was arranged by Kerr Scott and the prizes were provided and presented by President Scott.

Heiton

WRI

Eighteen members attended this month’s meeting which featured games and a quiz. Competition – favourite Christmas card –1, Sandra Craig Littlewood; 2, Elizabeth Nowakoski; 3, Ann Bacon.

AGM

Heiton and District Horticultural Society’s AGM is on February 4 at 7pm in the village hall.

Hownam

Towford WRI

A “taste and try” evening was held on January 7, with everyone bringing an item of food to taste and the recipe so that other members could make the dish at home. Members also tried out crochet, with impressive results from beginners. Competition – slice of Christmas cake – 1, Frances Armstrong; 2, Joanne Douglas. The family evening is the next meeting on February 4 at 7.30pm in Hownam Hall. Supper will be provided followed by musical entertainment. Everyone welcome. Competition – a glass of fruit punch.

innerleithen

Countdown Club

The club meets on January 22 at 10.30am in Innerleithen Parish Church hall.

Service

The service in Innerleithen Church on January 19 will be at 11.30am. There is also a service in St Ronan’s House at 4 pm.

Jedburgh

Bridge club

January 6 – N/S – 1, I. Weir and M. Hardy-Bishop; 2, A. and R. Stewart; 3, D. Cessford and D. Gray; E/W – 1, R. Oates and S. West; 2, P. Harris and M. Forsythe; 3, A. Ireland and M. Weightman.

Kelso

Guild

Kelso North and Ednam parish guild last Thursday held a joint meeting with Women Together in the Bonar Room. Entitled “Let Us Entertain You”, Miss M. Aitken and Mrs V. Bolton led the devotions. Three guild members performed humorous poetry readings. Members of the drama group then entertained with two sketches. After supper, the meeting ended with saying grace. The next meeting will be held on January 23 when the Reverend John Shields is speaker.

Church

With a few late donations, the final total of the Kelso North and Ednam parish collections taken over the Christmas period for the BGH Special Care Baby Unit amounted to £1,817. Last Sunday evening, Abbey Consort gave a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in Kelso North. Earlier in the day, services were held in both churches. The kirk session meets tonight (Thursday) at Kelso North at 7.30pm, and Broomlands Primary School Parent Council has organised a Movie Night in the same venue tomorrow (Friday) when the animated film “Brave” will be showing at 7pm. Tickets will be on sale at the end of the month for the Seder Meal, in Kelso Rugby Club on April 11, followed by Scottish dancing, with music provided by Gordon Brown, and a buffet supper. Short lunchtime services organised by Kelso Churches Together to mark the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity will be held from January 20-24 in Kelso Old Parish Church from 12.45-1pm. A service in the Old Parish Church on January 26 starts at 6.30pm. This Sunday follows the normal pattern, with services being held at Ednam (9.30am) and Kelso North (11am).

Thursday Group

Duncan McCosh will today (Thursday) talk about his visit to Jaipur in India and the Jaipur Limb charity in the Abbey Row Centre at 2pm. Next week, Scottish Borders Council convener Graham Garvie will deliver a talk entitled “Local government – has it a future?” For more information and a syllabus, phone Isabel (01573 224753).

Bridge club

January 8 – BGB Sim. Pairs – N/S – 1, Jean Henry and Myra Thomson; 2, Joyce Thomson and Helenor Pratt; 3, Mary and Nigel Lindsay; E/W – 1, Archie Stewart and Billy Potts; 2, Dominic and Diana Alkin; 3, Stuart Graham and Ian Watson. January 9 – Calchou Cup 7 – N/S – 1, Rena and Archie Stewart; 2,Bob Stevenson and Lee Leeson; 3, Jim Stone and Alison Ireland; E/W – 1, Miles Browne and John Urquhart; 2,Mary Logan and Alison Darling; 3, Nancy Porter and Jock Dun.

Film night

Kelso Youth Project Film Club will be showing Warm Bodies (12A) at the Tait Hall on January 23. Doors open 6pm – film starts 6.25pm. Entrance is free. For details of the remaining films, to shown during the 2013/2014 season, email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com.

Workshop

A few places are left for the mosaic workshop on January 18, part of a group of four at the Abbey Row Community Centre (10am-12.30pm). Email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com to book a place.

The Hobbit

Bookings are being taken for Kelso Youth Project’s visit to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug at The Maltings, Berwick, on February 1 (2.30pm). More information from ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com.

Board plea

Volunteers are wanted to join the board of Cheviot Youth and help make the Kelso Youth Project a central part of the life of the town. No particular experience necessary, just drive, enthusiasm and the willingness to give a few hours a month. Anyone wanting more information should email ireid@yetholmtown.plus.com.

Langholm

New pitch

Despite an application for funding from sportscotland being turned down, a 3G pitch will be laid at the Scholar’s Field. Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education authority has stepped in and agreed to fund the pitch in full from its capital fund. The facility will be adjacent to the primary school which is being built, and due to open around Easter.

Action group

A meeting of the A7 action group will be held tomorrow (Friday) in the Mosspaul Inn. Discussions will include consultation on the proposed 20mph limit in the town. Members will also debate ideas for the route action plan and hear from BEAR Scotland on how it is dealing with community concerns.

Charity sale

A sale in aid of charities will take place in the High Street premises next to Londis from January 21-25 (10am-4.30pm). Donations are welcome at the shop from January 20, and among the items on sale will be bric-a-brac, household goods, antiques and soft furnishings, but no clothes. Among the causes supported will be Alzheimer’s Scotland, Parkinson’s UK, Cancer Research, and Chest Heart and Stroke.

lindean

WRI

The January meeting featured a collection of photograghs of Old Selkirk from the Clapperton Studio. Janet Mitchell and Aileen Wilson brought back many memories and interesting facts which prompted much discussion and great enjoyment. Competition winners for old sepia or black and white photograph – Edith Scott, Margaret Milne and Sheila Lanza. Raffle winners – May Livingston, Marjorie Lawrie and Aileen Wilson.

Maxton

Gaelic and Burns

Gaelic in the Borders is holding a Taste of Burns ceilidh house on January 24 in Maxton Village Hall, starting at 7.45 pm. This is an informal evening of music, song and poetry (in Gaelic and English) with a haggis supper provided.

Melrose

Church

January 19 – services at Bowden (9.30am) and Melrose (11am); January 22 – 11.45am, midweek service and lunch; food bank – dried and tinned foods welcome.

Trimontium

The Archaeology Book of the Year deadline for voting is February 7– which is just as well, for the www.archaeology.co.uk website has been forbidden territory for the past week for anybody even trying to access Current Archaeology. When contacted, the editor was unaware. “It must be down for maintenance – but do keep voting this week,” he said.

Literary society

Members had, on January 7, three speakers on the subject of nature writing. Carol Norris spoke about poet John Clare and read extracts from his work, with particular reference to the nightingale. Michael Braithwaite told about the wildflower studies of the 19th-century Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, while Mary Low discussed the relationship between people and animals, particularly in the Borders. The society meets fortnightly in the Ormiston Institute at 7.30pm and the next one is on January 21, featuring “A Projection of Wonder: The Rise of Contemporary Scottish Poetry”, by Bridget Khursheed.

Opera

Members are starting production rehearsals two nights a week (three for principals) for “Patience” at the end of March.”

MINTO

WRI

Christmas lunch in The Cross Keys, Denholm, was attended by 22 members. Competition – Christmas ornament– 1, Gena Hughes; 2, Liz Johnstone; 3, Dee Baxter; 4, Chris Nicol. Subscriptions have risen to £16, due at last Wednesday’s meeting in the Lesser Village Hall. The 31 members and visitors who turned up were given a talk by Alan Bailey who described the setting up and running of Ruberslaw Wild Woods camping site in the grounds of Spittal Tower, near Denholm. Designed as part of agricultural diversification, it is for tents only, excluding camper vans and caravans. Even cars are only allowed at the base part of the site. Competition – insect jewellery (dominated by butterflies) – 1, Dot McLennan; 2, Gena Hughes; 3, Pat Jardine; 4, Pat Welsh.

morebattle

Board plea

See Kelso section.

The Hobbit

See Kelso section.

Film night

See Kelso section.

Workshop

See Kelso section.

Turn to page 28

From page 27

Peebles

Blood donors

At a blood-donor session on January 2, 183 volunteers offered to give blood and 
163 donations were made. There were 18 new donors.

smailholm

Crafty

On February 2 (10am-3pm) there will be a craft desatsh fair in Smailholm Village Hall, giving an opportunity for anyone who wishes to try their hand at a new skill and add to current stock. About 20 local crafters are having a clearout of goods which will include jewellery and card-making items, fabrics, buttons and ribbons. The village hall is also to host – on the first Sunday of each month from March and at the same time – a craft market featuring local handmade items. Homemade cakes and cuppas will also be on offer.

STOW

Church

Stow and Heriot Church’s Christmas fair raised £822. The collections from the Fountainhall Christmas Eve and Stow watchnight services, totalling £367, including Gift Aid, are being sent to the partner church in Zomba, Malawi, to help alleviate food shortages. At Sunday’s services, the Reverend Linford reminded everyone that food bank donations are welcome at any time via collection boxes in both churches.

Traquair

Service

The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on January 26 at 10am.

Walkerburn

Service

The service in Walkerburn Public Hall on January 19 starts at 10am.

Gardening project

The village hall is to stage, at 4.30pm on January 22, a public meeting to discuss a proposal for a community gardening project. It is hoped this will involve the local allotment and vegetable societies, plus the primary school. The project’s aim is to get all of Walkerburn’s green spaces working for the local community in terms of keeping them well groomed, growing good-quality food and keeping people healthy and in touch with their neighbours – particularly those who may not get out and about as much as they once did. The plan is to share or ‘adopt’ any unused or overgrown gardens or plots of land, encourage people to take up one of the new allotment sites, and get older and younger folks working together and sharing gardening skills. Further details 
are available from Steve 
Bonner at the Walkerburn Watch by calling 07502 303898.

YETHOLM

Retiral

Ron Breeze, treasurer of Yetholm Festival Committee, announced his retiral at the January meeting. As well as finances, he excelled in dealing with officialdom regarding to the committee’s parades and rideouts, and insurance matters.

Lunch date

A village lunch will be held today (Thursday) in the Wauchope Hall from noon until 2pm. Any profits go to the Youth Hall.

Burns supper

The Border Worthies Burns supper is in the Border Hotel on February 1. Susan Stewart, The Yett, Kirk Yetholm, has more information and wants to hear from anyone wishing to take part in the entertainment.

Souper Sunday

The second January church gathering took the form of a service followed by a soup and sandwich lunch in Morebattle institute and was well supported by Yetholm residents.

Dry bar

Yethlom Dry Bar is open tonight (Thursday) at 6.30pm in the Youth Hall, featuring a craft session with Ailsa and the Borders Darts Cup first round.

Board plea

See Kelso section.

The Hobbit

See Kelso section.

Film night

See Kelso section.

Workshop

See Kelso section.

One of many recent TV reports on bad weather was instructive. Interviewing victims of flooding in Britain produced a string of complaints about failure by government, councils, environment agency, police and quite probably Old Uncle Tom Cobley to do something.

Interviewing Americans about heavy snow, massive traffic and business disruption and temperatures down to minus 30 produced shrugs, grins, advice to wear as many clothes as possible and “Let’s get on with it, man. Weather happens.”

From a lifetime experience of occasional severe weather I’d say that most of us in rural areas, as during the arctic blasts and heavy snow of 2010, are quite good at getting on and dealing with it. History also suggests that the British have been phlegmatic about dealing with problems of every kind, not just weather, by using their own initiative.

But the tendency seems to be increasing to moan and blame anyone and everyone for problems rather than try to solve them ourselves. As far as weather disasters are concerned I’d exempt most farmers. More than 4,000 claims for weather damage estimated so far at more than £40 million over the past few weeks, have already been made to NFU Mutual, but that’s business. Farmers have got on and coped with flooding and gales at the time they happened.

I can’t help thinking it would be welcome, and a good if belated New Year resolution, for them to take the same attitude to farming subsidies. If the same effort went into innovation, development, organisation and better management and finance control as goes into arguing about European Union farm subsidies we would have a more efficient industry.

I know that stricture does not apply to many farmers, especially and obviously in the unsubsidised sectors such as pigs, poultry, potatoes and vegetables. Examples of innovation, new technology, precision methods, better marketing and enthusiasm always make better reading or viewing than never ending moans about EU subsidies and how the latest complicated slicing of common agricultural policy (CAP) money will apply.

But too many farmers still hang on to the idea that the CAP is their only salvation as a glance at any farming magazine any week will show. The small-p political thrust from farmers’ unions is inevitably “What is the CAP doing for us? And why isn’t it doing more?”

A lot of effort and money goes into the unions making that case. Couldn’t it be better spent elsewhere? I know that farmers get lots of advice, much of it from advisers and consultants on big salaries in jobs with pensions. But the latest advice that “farmers who are willing to adapt and innovate will prosper” is only common sense. Those already ahead of the game know that. Too many who think that CAP subsidies will last for ever in some form obviously don’t.

Replacing your home’s kitchen can seem a costly, lengthy and disruptive process, writes DIY guru Julia Gray.

You must remember though, a nice kitchen will add value to your property, make your home instantly more sellable and – perhaps most importantly - become the room you spend most of your time in. Surely that’s an investment worth making?

Gutting the room and starting from scratch is a great way to create your dream kitchen, but only if you have the cash and are prepared to put up with upheaval. If this isn’t an option, there are easier and less expensive ways to update your kitchen.

The obvious starting point is repainting the walls, ceiling and woodwork. A new colour can make a big difference, especially if the existing paintwork is tatty – filler, sandpaper and paint work small wonders. For the walls and ceiling, use a kitchen and bathroom emulsion because they are specially designed to resist steam, mould and stains.

If repainting alone isn’t enough to make a difference, then new tiles, flooring and worktops can also transform the kitchen without breaking the bank. Providing the units are in reasonable condition, you can keep them and just change the doors for different ones (or paint the existing ones). With any luck, they’ll be a standard size, so it’s simply a case of swapping them in. If they’re not a standard size, you can make new doors yourself – MDF works well – or get them made by a joiner or online kitchen and wardrobe door company.

Sometimes you have no choice but to replace the units, especially if you want a different layout. Takeaway kitchen units, which are available off-the-shelf in DIY stores, tend to be the cheapest. Some come complete with doors and handles, while others are just the base or wall unit – you buy the extras separately, giving you more flexibility. Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, takeaway units may not be ideal because they’re a standard size and so may not fit the space, but bespoke units obviously cost an awful lot more. Look out for offers - the Christmas/January sales in most stores aren’t too far away, and B&Q has regular 20 per cent off kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms (with a minimum spend).

One way to get kitchen units (and worktops, tiles, appliances, and so on) for a fraction of the usual price is to look on eBay. This is a good place to find ex-display kitchens and kitchens being sold off by homeowners.

You may also, of course, be able to find ex-display bargains in your local DIY store or kitchen retailer, but the problem with any pre-fitted kitchen is that the units are unlikely to fit the space you have exactly, so you’ll probably have to make compromises.

For the best bargains, try give-away websites, such as Freecycle (www.uk.freecycle.org) and Freegle (www.ilovefreegle.org), where, as the names suggest, everything is free.

Product of the week

The right lighting can make or break a room, but it’s often overlooked. The Hue LED range from Philips (www.meethue.com) takes lighting to another level, letting you wirelessly control lights from your smartphone or tablet and personalise them in ways you wouldn’t even think possible.

The Philips Hue Connected Bulb - Starter Pack (£179.95, Apple Store UK) has everything you need to get started – three screw-fit light bulbs, which use 80% less energy than conventional bulbs, and a ‘bridge’ controller. The bridge plugs in to your home’s internet router, so you can wirelessly control the bulbs from your smartphone or tablet. Each bulb can display around 16 million colours, including different tones of white.

Hue is more than just light bulbs, though. To illuminate features, shelves and furniture, use Philips Friends of Hue LightStrips (£79.95, Apple Store UK), or the Philips Hue LivingColors Bloom Colour-Changing Lamp (£79.95, Apple Store UK). This small, round light can be used to wash a wall with colour or, again, highlight a feature. Both the LightStrips and Bloom work like the bulbs, giving you hours of fun finding and switching between colours.

How-to tip

If you’re painting inside a built-in cupboard or wardrobe, with both walls and wood to cover, don’t use separate special paints for each surface. It’s much quicker and easier to use a paint that can be applied to both, such as Colours Everywhere Matt Emulsion (from £13.98 for 2.5ltr, B&Q).

AN industry body is to seek reassurance from the Scottish Government that gamekeeper, ghillie, ranger and wildlife manager’s jobs are safe in light of land reform.

Peeblesshire gamekeeper Alex Hogg chairs the Scottish Gamekeepers Association which represents 5,300 skilled workers.

He said: “Rural workers will be deeply worried at what the Scottish Government’s land reform drive, as indicated by the environment minister Paul Wheelhouse, will mean for their livelihoods.

“It seems that the voice and the jobs of keepers, who are at the sharp end of the skilled management of Scotland’s countryside, are being forgotten in this debate.

“We will be seeking clarification from the minister on what the Scottish Government and the SNP administration’s intentions are when it comes to safeguarding the jobs of those drawn into what seems to be an ideological issue.”

His comments come after a BBC documentary, The Men Who Own Scotland, on landowners and reform, screened last Wednesday.

The government’s land reform group, due to report back in April, is tasked with identifying how land reform would enable more people in Scotland to have a stake in the ownership, governance, management and use of land; and help with the acquisition and management of land by communities, and how land reform would generate, support, promote, and deliver new relationships.

VOLUNTEERS to survey Borders long distance routes for horse riders and cyclists are invited to a training meeting in St Boswells tonight (Thursday January 16).

The British Horse Society Scotland has received funding from Scottish Natural Heritage to help riders determine which of the eight most popular Scotland’s Great Trails, or which sections of them, are suitable for horses, and then make this information available.

Trainer Vyv Wood-Gee said: “People just need to be willing to walk at least a mile and photograph stiles and anything that might restrict access for horses or people on bikes and describe it on a form.”

Routes being surveyed in the Borders are the Southern Upland Way, across the region to Cockburnspath, and the St Cuthbert’s Way, from Melrose to Holy Island.

Others being looked at across Scotland include the Speyside Way, Cateran Trail, Forth and Clyde Canal, Dava Way, Moray Coastal Trail and the West Highland Way.

No experience is necessary as full training will be provided, and tonight’s session at the Buccleuch Arms will run from 7-9pm.

For further information, or if riders would like to volunteer, but can’t get to a training session, contact Vyv Wood-Gee on 01576 300485, 07711 307980 or email vyv.wood-gee@virgin.net.

And anyone unable to attend tonight, but who wants to help should contact Vyv on the same numbers or by email.

After all the upheaval of the festive season and the acquisition of our new puppy Treacle, it was good to get out and about again to catch up with all that is happening in the wonderful world of wildlife.

I was doing a bit of tidying up in the garden and went to get the wheelbarrow, which has been standing in a corner of the shed unused since the autumn.

Once outside into the daylight, I immediately noticed three brown objects stuck to the inside, looking like dead leaves.

A closer look revealed that they were actually a trio of small tortoiseshell butterflies, sound asleep in mid-hibernation.

I retraced my steps into the shed, gently removed them and placed them in a dark corner where I hope they will be undisturbed until the warmth of spring brings them round.

They are one of the few butterfly species to overwinter in the adult stage.

Similarly, it is relatively rare in the world of moths for this to occur, but I heard from my moth mentor Malcolm (try saying that after a few shandies) that he had recently encountered such a phenomenon.

He was visiting a ruined Borders peel tower when he discovered a colony of sleeping herald moths, in an alcove in the dungeon.

Like the aforementioned butterflies, they seek out cool dark places where the temperature is likely to remain stable throughout the winter months.

At the start of last December, I wrote about an abortive visit to my local patch of river to see a rare glaucous gull, after a tip-off from a local birder.

Around New Year time, I got another phone call from him, but once again I drew a blank.

Last Sunday, I was out for a stroll down the riverside path in the middle of Selkirk, when I noticed a trio of gulls, which had been attracted by a dead fish.

The one eating it was undoubtedly a lesser black-backed gull and one of the watchers was a much smaller black-headed gull, but without its black head, as it was in winter plumage.

The third one was the same size as the fish eater, but totally lacking any black plumage and was speckled brown all over.

Could this possibly be the one?

I managed a couple of distant pictures from the footbridge and couldn’t wait to get home to look up the books.

Everything looked right, so I emailed a couple of the photos to some local bird experts for confirmation.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the result hasn’t come back, so you will have to wait until next week for the verdict.

This very rare Arctic visitor could certainly get my 2014 bird list off to a cracking start!

Email me at corbie@homecall.co.uk

Works began in Cornmill Square last week to create a new civic space for the community, as part of the Galashiels Inner Relief Road improvements.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “It has taken a lot of work to reshape Galashiels to change the priority of the town centre towards local residents, shoppers and businesses.

“The safer and improved infrastructure will complement the surroundings but more importantly provide the community with opportunities to attract more footfall into the town centre.

“I would also like to 
remind people that 
although works are under way at Cornmill Square, 
pedestrian access has and will be maintained to all local businesses until the works are complete in April.”

WHEN George Hutchinson decided to take his wife, Violet, to the Horse of the Year Show last year he never imagined they would have the added delight of watching their granddaughter competing there.

The family-run business, Hutchinson Environmental Solutions, which provides off-main sewage solutions and services across Scotland and Northern England from its offices in Galashiels and Wark, was set-up by George in 1973.

George, who lives near Bellingham, explained: “Our daughters were keen riders in their youth and my wife and I have always shared a love of horses.

“We took the decision early last year to go to the Horse of the Year Show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the business.”

Eighteen-year-old Charlotte Dun, from Gilston near Heriot, qualified for the show with her own horse Barralands Boy and competed in the Working Hunter Pony of the Year class. Although she didn’t win her class it was a fantastic achievement and great experience for the young rider.

George continued: “When we found out Charlotte was competing at the show it was a huge bonus. We are so proud of her.

“We believe the experience will be a strong foundation for her wherever her riding career takes her.”

Charlotte and her mum Jane aren’t the only relatives the Hutchinson’s have in the Borders. Jane’s sister Kathy has also been living here for the past 13 years and is married to former Scotland international forward Doddie Weir who has been working for the family business since he stopped playing 10 years ago.

Six months after a bad fall, Borders jockey Gary Rutherford is back in the saddle, hoping to race again next month.

The 25-year-old conditional from Jedburgh dislocated and fractured his right hip in the fall at Cartmel in July.

Surgeons carried out two operations, putting the hip back and using eight screws to plate the socket, before Gary spent two months on crutches.

Physio, a couple of stints at The Injured Jockey’s Fund’s rehabilitation centre, Oaksey House in Lambourn, and his own hard work saw the 5lb claimer, now based near Selkirk, riding work just before Christmas.

Gary told us: “The doctors are pretty pleased with the way it’s healed. Oaksey House have been brilliant: I spent three weeks there at the end of October, just getting back on my feet and walking. I did another two in December and started riding out the following week.”

Gary rode ponies and did Common Ridings when he was a child before going to jockey school in Newmarket aged 16 and gaining a placement at renowned trainer Nicky Henderson’s yard in Lambourn for a season.

He moved to 2013 Grand National-winning trainers Sue and Harvey Smith in Yorkshire when he was 18 for four years where he had five winners. He’s been back in the Borders for more than three years, riding mostly for Selkirk trainer Stuart Coltherd and Jedburgh’s Harriet Graham.

His first race was when he was 18 and he’s had 33 winners from about 420 rides since.

“I’ve always liked horses, “ said Gary. “Being a jockey is a lot of hard work, riding out in bad weather – we were riding out this morning (late December) and it’s chucking it down with snow – and, obviously, the injuries are a hard part.

“I’m quite lucky with my weight, I just eat healthily, I ride out most days and do other bits of exercise.”

His first win was for the Smiths on Willie The Fish at Hexham in 2007 and his career highlight so far is his first double, at Hexham, on Kalanisi Kid and Hernando’s Boy one June afternoon in 2011.

He’s broken his left collarbone twice, pulled a ligament in left shoulder and had a few concussions, and, recovering this time, he said boredom was the main challenge. And the highlight? “Riding out again for the first time, it was good.

“I don’t think about the danger or falls – it’s a bit like getting into a car; if you felt you were going to have a crash you probably wouldn’t get into the car. My main ambition is to get back racing – and to ride as many winners as possible.”

Name: Jenny Hudson

Age: 17

Home Town: Peebles

Sport: Netball

Position/Discipline: Goal Attack

Club/Team(s): Peebles Netball/ Glasgow South Saltires/Scotland U19s

Coach(es): Linda Nicholson/Sharyn Lyon/Lesley MacDonald

Your own best moment in sport so far?: Putting on and playing in the Scotland netball dress for the first time this year in Malta.

Aims for the next 12 months: To compete in Northern Ireland for Scotland at the U19 European Champs and eventually reach level 12 in the dreaded bleep test!

Who in your sport has inspired you most and why?: Maria Tuta’ia, the New Zealand Silver Ferns Goal Attack. Her shot is extremely accurate and her play is effortless but so skilful.

Fav TV sporting moment of all time: When Andy Murray won Wimbledon this year. It was a long time coming but it was worth the wait to see him win the title.

Best thing about your sport: Working and training with a close-knit team and constantly pushing myself beyond my limits.

Fav piece of kit/equipment: My skins (compression tights) – they mean I don’t need an ice bath as often. And my little card my national coach gave me last year. It says all my strengths and personal qualities. I carry it in my kit bag to every training session and every match.

If you had the chance to change one thing in your sport, what?: The way people view netball – it’s not the primary school playground game that everyone imagines it to be.

Venue at which you most aspire to compete: The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia, the venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games netball.

If not in this sport, would like to compete in: Beach Volleyball.

Current most played song or track on your i-pod or MP3: The Fear – Ben Howard

…but can’t stand: Anything by The Wanted

Competition superstition or “must do” personal routine: Re-tie my shoe laces twice before I take to court. It’s not really a superstition, more a habit.

When not competing or training I like to: Sleep, eat and socialise. In that order.

The Borders Athlete Support Programme (ASP) is funded through Borders Sports and Leisure Trust and provides support services to promising athletes from the Borders who are recommended by their National Governing Body. For more information see www.sportborders.org.uk/asp

A Borders-wide change to a four-and-a-half day school week will have a knock-on effect on various aspects of people’s lives.

That is the view of the council’s director of education, Glenn Rodger.

Mr Rodger told Tuesday’s meeting of the education committee: “This impacts on so many facets of Borders life, including businesses.”

He added: “My professional judgement is that it is something we absolutely have to embrace.”

However, some members of the committee expressed scepticism about the move, and the benefits of it, as well as the consultation process.

Councillor Michelle Ballantyne commented: “We do need to be really clear on what we are consulting on here.

“When you cut to the chase we are saying there is a very strong business case for moving to an asymmetric week, and are we really going to step away from it if a lot of people say they are against it?”

However, committee chairman, Councillor Sandy Aitchison, said: “We need everybody to say what they think, yes or no, otherwise it is an unbalanced consultation, but at the end of the day it is a political decision.”

Mr Rodger added: “I hope we have considerable input from parents, employers, other stakeholders and staff on the impact of this.

“There are issues, we cannot pretend there is not.”

The first of a series of consultation events in the region’s ‘learning communities’ – some of which cover more than one high school area – took place on Tuesday night in Peebles.

The event attracted more than 200 people.

The next consultation meeting will take place at Howdenburn Primary School in Jedburgh on Tuesday, January 21, from 6.30 pm.

Comments from all the meetings will be collated and presented to councillors at their March meeting, when a decision will be taken on the matter.

People can also have their say on the impact of the proposal by going to {www.scotborders.gov.uk/schoolweek|the SBC website page.|click to enter}

The Church of England is not an energy firm.

Its revenue does not have to come from energy schemes, unlike renewables firm, RES, the church commissioners’ partner in plans for a giant wind farm south of Hawick.

Therefore, strong local community opposition – if the good people of southern Roxburgh so choose to go down that route – should be enough to kill the scheme stone dead, with no prospect of a Lazarus-type resurrection through a long-drawn out appeal process.

But only if the church practices what it preaches when it comes to its own ethical investment policies.

Justin Welby was only in the church’s top job of Archbishop of Canterbury a matter of months when, last year, the ethical investments policy derailed slightly with the revelation that the church actually had an £80k stake in payday lender, Wonga, not long after Welby announced his intention to try and force the firm out of business by promoting credit unions instead.

This week we report on a plea direct to the archbishop and other commissioners about concerns over plans for the proposed wind farm.

But Lambeth Palace take heed – the people of south Roxburgh will want answers, not patronising sermons waffling on about community engagement within the national planning process.

Tweedmouth Amateurs5

Hawick Legion Rovs1

ALTHOUGH ending up rather whipped, a young Legion Rovers side emerged from this Division C fixture with a lot of credit.

With goalkeeper Graeme Marshall their top performer, pulling off a string of fine saves, Rovers showed no shortage of effort and commitment throughout.

The home side started the game brightly and kept the ball well from back to front, and they created numerous chances, forcing the Hawick keeper into making several excellent saves to keep the score level.

But Marshall couldn’t stop a piece of sublime skill and finish from Grant Sharp, who chipped over him from 20 yards to find the back of the net.

The second goal followed soon from Grieg Sharp and the third came from a well-worked corner, with centre half Martin Gibb rising above the rest to finish with a header from five yards.

In the second half, Rovers had a good 10-minute spell and came close to scoring on three occasions before Tweedmouth continued their attack, Nicky Clark scoring a brace to put the game out of reach for the Teries.

After the homesters had made it a nap hand, Rovers pulled a goal back when John Shankie lobbed a shot over the head of the Amateurs keeper following good play by Darren McElrath.

Tweedmouth stopper Graeme Cain and his defenders gave a solid account of themselves in the closing stages to prevent the Hawick side causing any further damage.

vALE OF lEITHEN4

sELKIRK1

Results aside, the future looks brighter for Selkirk FC following the announcement of a longed-for signing and a £50,000 floodlighting plan at Yarrow Park.

The mid-season boost is part of the club’s long-term proposals to improve both their playing squad and the facilities at the club – and for manager Steve Forrest both additions are more than welcome.

Commenting on the signing of former Berwick Rangers midfielder Phil Addison, whose contract stretches to June 2015, Forrest said: “I am absolutely delighted that Phil is staying with us.

“He is the type of quality player we want at the club and we hope to be bringing in several more players of that calibre for next season.”

The club announced the signing of the 20-year-old from Earlston after their 4-1 League Cup defeat at the hands of Vale of Leithen at Victoria Park last week.

Daryl Johnston scored Selkirk’s only goal of the game from the penalty spot on 23 minutes.

Work has also been going on behind the scenes at Yarrow Park and another welcome boost came at the end of last week when the club announced ambitious plans to erect four 45ft poles, complete with state-of-the art cluster lighting. If planning permission is approved the club will apply for funding from the Football Partnership, SFA and various Lottery grants and have the lighting in place by the time the dark nights draw in again.

Selkirk FC committee member Ross Anderson told The Southern: “We have been working on this project since November and are confident that everything will go through.

“We have done our homework and are working with a company called Musco Lighting which has drawn up plans for us and has been advising us along the way. The lights we will be using are the most advanced and economical available. They will point direct light onto the main pitch with minimum leakage, so we won’t be lighting up Bannerfield in the process.”

The plans also include providing lighting for the training and Vic’s pitches.

“It’s all down to some great work from the guys behind the scenes,” said Forrest, who recently voiced concerns about the lack of training facilities at Yarrow Park.

“Selkirk FC is one of the most forward-thinking clubs I have ever worked with,” he added.

Burntisland Shipy’d3

Hawick Royal Albert1

ROYAL ALBERT coach David Aitken praised his team’s performance this week despite them suffering defeat at Recreation Park on Saturday.

In a game that had been switched from Hawick to Burntisland, due to Albert Park being unplayable, there were few scoring chances and it was the home side that made the most of theirs.

Aitken told The Southern: “Apart from conceding three goals, we did little wrong.

“There was nothing between the two teams and we could well have got a result, but it just wasn’t to be.”

The Shipyard men took the lead through a headed goal from a corner kick.

After Burntisland had added a second, Paul Brown put the Albert back in the picture, shooting home during a goalmouth scramble.

But the Fifers scored again and not long after Hawick were reduced to 10 men when Sean Loughlin was red-carded for retaliation.

Preston Athletic7

Gala FDR0

DESPITE suffering their heaviest defeat of the season at Prestonpans last weekend, Gala Fairydean Rovers are still finding reasons to be cheerful.

For one, the Netherdale outfit are still sitting at the top of their Lowland League Cup group. And for another, they have managed to sign full back Lee Stephen from local rivals Selkirk FC.

Manager Steven Noble was said to have been delighted to announce the signing and urged his club to give the new recruit “a warm welcome”.

Selkirk Victoria0

Hawick United5

SELKIRK VICS gave as good as they got until having their goalkeeper red-carded for bringing down United’s Grant Ferguson in full flight.

Ten-man Victoria were up against it after this and the flow of the game changed completely.

United went on to open the scoring through a Matthew Shepherd goal which gave the visitors confidence and saw them begin to gain the upper hand when Robbie Kelly slotted away a second.

Andrew McFarlane then netted twice and David Slight grabbed a fifth.

A drunken teenager who threatened to kill his mother has been sentenced to a community payback order (CPO) with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Jonathan Barnes, 18, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house at Primrose Bank, Galashiels , on October 20.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, told how Barnes arrived at his mother’s home around 1.30am and asked if he could stay overnight, adding: “He was drunk and agitated, and his mother went to her bedroom, where she could hear him shouting in the living room.”

Mr Fraser said the woman tried to ignore her son, but heard him shout: “I’m going to stab you and I’m going to kill you.”

When his mother threatened to call the police, Barnes retorted: “Aye, go and do it, ‘cos I could do with spending a couple of nights in the polis station.”

Barnes tried to push the bedroom door open, shouting: “Who have you got in the bedroom, you slag?”

She told him there was no-one there and opened the door, but Barnes began to struggle with her.

Police arrived and found the accused’s mother with a swollen cheek and bloodshot eye.

Barnes, who had left the house, later told police he suffered from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and “got angry ‘cos she had a beast in the house”.

Barnes was sentenced to a community payback order with 60 hours of unpaid work, and received 50 hours after he admitted recklessly damaging a window at Ozkans Grill, Market Street, Galashiels, on November 23 while on three bail orders.

He was sentenced to a CPO with 80 hours of unpaid work following a guilty plea to damaging a car at Talisman Avenue, Galashiels, on August 20, 2012, and breaking a window at Tweed Road, also Galashiels, on the same date.

Barnes was sentenced to an 18-month CPO and 100 hours of unpaid work after he admitted causing £500 damage by repeatedly punching and kicking a vehicle at Roxburgh Street, Galashiels, on July 21 last year, and £80 damage by removing a taxi sign from a vehicle.

All the sentences run concurrently – a total of 100 hours of unpaid work.

BARMAN BROKE WINDOWS

Breaking five windows at his home resulted in Connor Weatherly being sentenced to an 18-month community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.

The 20-year-old, of Muthag Street, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to committing the offence on November 18.

Defending, Mat Patrick said alcohol had played a major part in his client’s offending, adding Weatherly, who works as a barman, was taking steps to address his “alcohol issues”.

Weatherly also admitted breaking into RDAS Gym, Weavers Court, Selkirk, and stealing protein supplement powder, mixers and sachets, on November 16.

Co-accused Pedro Correia, a 17-year-old first offender of Montrose Place, Selkirk, was sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid work for the crime.

TEXTING TRIAL DATE

A 47-YEAR-OLD Selkirk woman accused of repeatedly texting a man and blocking him in a field with a car at a farm will stand trial on June 25, with an intermediate hearing on May 28.

Karen Anderson, of Shawmount Farmhouse, appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court last Friday charged with repeatedly sending unwanted texts to David Gray on various occasions between January 1, 2008, and December 12, 2010.

She pleaded not guilty to repeatedly telephoning David Gray, blocking him a field at Sunnycroft Farm, Lindean, with a car, and repeatedly attending the home address of his partner at Mill Street, Selkirk, on various occasions between December 13, 2010, and January 8 this year.

Anderson also denied repeatedly scratching and damaging a car at Mill Street on December 14/15 last year.

Her admission to breaching a court undertaking by repeatedly sending text messages to David Gray on various occasions between December 24, 2013, and January 8 this year was not accepted by the Crown.

HAWICK MAN’S NOT-GUILTY PLEA

A Hawick man who denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in the town will stand trial on June 25.

Thirty-eight-year-old Scott Stewart, of Queens Drive, appeared from custody, pleading not guilty to shouting, swearing and breaking a table at house in Queens Drive last Thursday.

An intermediate hearing was set for May 28 and Stewart was released on bail with special conditions.

ROBBERY ALLEGATION

A Galashiels man appeared in private charged on petition with assault and robbery in the town.

Kevin Wilkinson, 37, of Balmoral Avenue, made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody.

SHOPLIFTER BAILED

A woman who stole from a Hawick supermarket will be sentenced at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on March 21.

Christine Tweedie, 48, of Maxton Court, Hawick, appeared from custody and admitted stealing goods worth £49.19 from Morrisons in Mart Street last Thursday.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said there had been full recovery of the stolen items which included food and cosmetics.

Tweedie was released on bail.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A teenager who used sectarian and offensive language had sentence deferred until February 3 to appear personally.

Nineteen-year-old Sean Anderson, of Byrewalls Farm Cottage, Gordon, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Channel Street, Galashiels, on November 10.

BENEFITS FIDDLER

A LILLIESLEAF woman who falsely claimed more than £5,000 in benefits had sentence deferred for six months to allow her to make voluntary repayments.

Samara Thomson, 28, of Hislop’s Row, admitted obtaining £2,583 income support and £2,666 housing and council tax benefit to which she was not entitled between October 2012 and June 2013.

Defending, Mat Patrick said Thomson – a first offender – had initially made valid claims,but failed to advise the authorities of a change in circumstances.

He added that “pressure” and family circumstances, including a bereavement, had contributed to the “crime of omission”.

APPEARED IN PRIVATE

A man appeared in private charged on petition with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The allegation is believed to relate to an incident on the A68 at Soutra last August.

David Agnew, 54, of Victoria Terrace, Musselburgh, made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

AIR RIFLE CHARGE

A woman accused of having a knife and air rifle in West Linton was detained in custody overnight, pending further consideration of bail.

Forty-six-year-old Jacqueline Woods, of Deanfoot Road, West Linton, appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon, charged on petition with breach of the peace, vandalism and possession of a knife and an air rifle in the village on Friday.

She made no plea or declaration and the case was continued.

On Tuesday, Woods was released on bail.

TRIO TO FACE JURY

Three accused, charged with stabbing a man in the back with a knife, will stand trial by jury on January 27.

John McDevitt, 35, of Viewbank Avenue, Airdrie; Sean Mercer, 29, of Torwoodlee Road, Galashiels; and 35-year-old John Chambers, of Vickers Street, Motherwell, appeared on indictment and denied assaulting a man at a house in Montomery Street, Innerleithen, on December 28, 2012, and restraining a woman there.

With the Cheltenham bandwagon well and truly rolling, the big race trials are coming thick and fast.

There’s little doubt that were it not for a certain Sprinter Sacre showing that he is prone to the same frailties as the rest of the thoroughbred population then this weekend’s Clarence House Chase, and indeed the Champion Chase itself, would still look to be formalities for the Henderson ace.

As it is, with that cloud over Sprinter Sacre, several ‘wannabes’ are now sensing that the crown may be up for grabs, with Gary Moore’s classy Sire De Grugy first to stake a claim when landing the Tingle Creek and Desert Orchid Chase just last month.

These victories have elevated Sire De Grugy’s status and given him a deservedly lofty reputation, with many now considering him the best 2 mile chaser in training with the exception of Sprinter Sacre.

Saturday, however, is a new day and is time to extinguish any of the naysayers’ niggling doubts that this fella is in fact the real deal. My view is that he’s proved plenty in his recent starts, although Cheltenham in March will clearly provide the acid test. Saturday’s race is at Ascot, a track not too dissimilar to Sandown, which he clearly relishes. Conditions should suit also.

But he faces some decent rivals and Ascot, this race in particular, habitually seems to bring out the best out in Somersby.

The former Henrietta Knight trained stalwart, now under the supervision of Mick Channon, has participated in the last three renewals of this, with his form in the race reading 213. Although far from disgraced in the race last year, it was run at Cheltenham on that occasion after a postponement so it can pay to focus on the first two efforts. Both of those runs were deemed career best efforts by the handicapper, with Somersby having initially run the great Master Minded to a short head on his first attempt, and then following up with a hard fought victory over subsequent Champion Chase scorer Finian’s Rainbow in 2012.

He’s recently turned ten, which could be seen as a negative, but his two runs this season haven’t indicated that the years are catching up with him. He just touched off Module in a Haldon Gold Cup, with Cue Card back in third when attempting to give away lumps of weight. He then went on to finish second to Sire De Grugy in the Tingle Creek last month. He has four lengths to make up on his rival from that day but, given the tenacity we’ve seen of him time and time again on the Berkshire track, I’d take the chance that’s he’s got it in him to do so.

Our next delve into the best of the weekend’s action takes us to Haydock for the Peter Marsh Chase, a race that’s struggled to beat the weather in recent years, with only three renewals since 2008. Things look hopeful at this stage that one of the grittiest staying chases on the calendar will get the green light this year, and will more than likely see Donald McCain’s course and distance winner Sydney Paget sent off a warm order.

This won’t be for the faint-hearted, with the going already described as heavy with more rain expected. These aren’t conditions that should inconvenience McCain’s seven year old though, with wins to his name in pretty deep stuff already tallying up on his CV. A brief look at his race record will tell you what sort of regard this horse is held in. He’s been sent off at odds-on on numerous occasions, including when going off 1/7 last March at Chepstow, giving sheds of weight away and driving through the mud unchallenged to score in impressive fashion.

My one concern with him would be how quickly he threw in the towel when well fancied for the Roland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He seemed to have plenty in his favour that day but was highly disappointing, possibly due to inexperience in proper handicap company. On those grounds I’d say he may be better watched, although I’d certainly see it as no great surprise if he took advantage of his 3lb fall in the weights.

The relatively unheralded yard of Dr. Richard Newland has been performing minor miracles this season, operating at an incredible 25% strike rate with his chasers doing most of the damage going along at a spectacular 37%. Right at the bottom of the weights he saddles the highly progressive Night Alliance, who has himself been one of the reasons behind the roaring success of the yard.

His most recent run came at this course, a race in which he obliterated a decent field and had the useful Loch Ba eleven lengths back in second, despite being heavily eased down towards the line. His 30lb rise this season may have gone under the radar to many, but should he follow it up on Saturday he could be right in place for a tilt at a big festival handicap. The trainer’s also got him engaged in the SkyBet Chase in a week’s time at Doncaster, but has been quoted as saying that this is very much ‘plan A’.

There are certainly some ‘sexier’ horses towards the top end of the handicap. The likes of Katenko, who I don’t believe has looked the same horse since his bout of colic last season, carries a high weight but will surely love conditions. Paul Nicholls saddles The Minack after a hefty absence who, although he does go well fresh, may just find this one a bit hot on his return. Not a bad place to start back though with a stab at the Scottish National a possibility down the line.

Finally there’s Kim Bailey’s stable star Harry Topper who, in my humble opinion, was poorly placed last time. For a horse who can’t jump to be thrown into a decent chase at Sandown, as tough a place to jump a fence as you’ll find across the land, did seem somewhat unusual, and so it was proven when trailing home last of three. In effect that’s given him a chance off a mark of 153, but I personally couldn’t trust his jumping so wouldn’t back him with anyone’s money.

Aside from having the form in the book, hailing from a so-called ‘smaller stable’ could add a bit of value to the price of Night Alliance and he’ll be carrying my money, especially if there’s enough juice in there to get on each-way.

My final selection takes us back to Ascot and to a horse that seemingly gets targeted at this particular race year upon year, twice resulting in success. We’ve seen recently that there’s still enough life in the old dog that was once upon a time an Arkle favourite, Tatenen, to suggest that a hat trick bid isn’t out of the question. After returning a ready winner of a decent Newbury handicap in November, his mark has gone back up to 140 but is still 3lb lower than when taking this very same race in 2012. There is no real reason to suppose that a return to the race that he annually excels in won’t see him at his best, although it must be said that every drop of rain that falls will be making his trainer, Richard Rowe, wince. Even allowing for that he looks capable enough and even if it ends up softer than ideal he is another that could carry a bit of each-way value this weekend.

SATURDAY SELECTIONS

3.00 (ASC) Tatenen

3.15 (HAY) Night Alliance

3.35 (ASC) Somersby

Coldstream AMateurs4

Hawick Legion6

A SCOTT DUNCAN hat trick helped steer Hawick Legion to full points in this free scoring BAL Division B encounter.

Coldstream however, drew first blood by sailing into the lead in the 14th minute when Aarron McGregor found the net with a well struck free kick.

Five minutes later Legion drew level when, after latching onto a Thomas Scott pass, Callum Hope broke down the right and with Coldstream all at sea, fired home a high angled shot.

With 23 minutes gone Legion edged ahead. In a sweeping raid Hope was pulled down by Coldstream keeper Luke Glaspar when attempting to round the home number one in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Hope drilled away the penalty.

Legion’s lead was short lived though for Ross Allan soon notched an equaliser in scoring with a header on meeting a McGregor free kick.

The action continued to flow and with six minutes of the first period remaining, Legion went ahead for the second time. Following a Darrel Johnstone throw in, Scott Duncan skipped his way out of two challenges before tucking a shot past Glaspar.

Legion began the second half firing on all cylinders and with six minutes gone Johnstone polished off a mazy run with a spot- on finish for an excellent solo goal. They kept their foot on the gas and duly added to their tally. A thundering Chris Brown drive was tipped onto the upright by Glaspar and Duncan was on hand to put away the rebound.

Coldstream heads refused to drop though and on the hour mark Andrew Guthrie reduced the leeway with a glorious 35 yard effort. In the 78th minute the ‘Streamers’ did it all again. Steve Waugh making no mistake with a penalty after Michael Ledgerwood had been brought down by Jamie Amos.

Legion sealed victory in the 82nd minute when Duncan stole in to net a sixth and his hat trick.