Visitor numbers at Bowhill House and Country Estate, near Selkirk, rocketed in 2013 thanks to a fun-packed events schedule inspired by the Year of Natural Scotland.

During the Scottish Government campaign celebrating the country’s natural beauty, the 46,000-acre estate saw numbers rise from 13,000 to 20,000 – an increase of more than 50 per cent.

The initiative inspired Bowhill’s team to create a programme of ranger-led activity covering an array of themes, from pond dipping and mini-beast safaris, to recycling and bird feeding. Other attractions included Bowhill House’s Victorian kitchen, architecture and house tours, waymarked walks and an adventure playground.

Helen Currie, house and events manager, said: “We applaud the Year of Natural Scotland for really putting the spotlight on the spectacular natural beauty our country has to offer – and this estate is the perfect example. We felt a real sense of responsibility to help promote this message and showcase the amazing landscape, history and natural beauty of Bowhill.”

It’s a big year for TweedLove as the young cycling festival hosts the first and only UK leg of the World Enduro mountain biking series this summer.

The man behind the event, co-founder Neil Dalgleish, said: “We have the opportunity to give a great welcome to the world’s best mountain bike riders, and if we get it right, we can really put the place on the map as a significant international destination for years to come.”

A few years ago, the 50-year-old social sciences graduate and mountain biker Emma Guy from the “still-missed” Hub cafe at Glentress staged a few events, including a film night alongside other organised local bike rides.

“It worked really well. and it just felt like it was the right thing to be doing,” said Neil. From that evolved the first volunteer-supported TweedLove in 2010.

“There’s just such an amazing group of positive people who love their biking living here,” said Neil.

The dad-of-three has lived in the Borders or Edinburgh area for most of his life, apart from two years in North America – one as a teenager in Vancouver, which he describes as “an inspiration”.

His career started early when he became involved in the student newspaper and student politics: “It was fantastic fun and I developed a big interest in communications and how to get messages across.

“I paid rent for my flat at uni by working in Pennel’s bike shop in Peebles two days a week. Cycling had a great scene about it then (early 1980s) and it still does now. Back then I never thought the Tweed Valley could become such an amazing destination for riding bikes – it’s fantastic.”

He’s worked in graphics, on music magazines and in design, creating album covers for Scottish bands in the late 80s and 90s. He was with EventScotland for several years on the brand and positioning of the likes of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Mountain Bike World Cup.

“I learned a fair bit about how events work and how to communicate with customers. I’d long had ideas about events I’d like to do and how I would do them, so moving into organising them was a fairly natural transition.”

He now runs his own design and communications company, Hillside Agency, and Hillside Outside, an events organising business and “pretty much where the buck stops for TweedLove”.

Neil bought his first mountain bike in the mid-80s, but remained more interested in skiing, skateboarding and climbing before becoming smitten.

He told us: “Above all it’s fun. When you get it right it just feels so good, and when I’ve managed to ride a lot I love the feeling of fitness. Going downhill fast on a bike puts a smile on your face and the constant challenge in raising your skill level is undeniably addictive.”

Asked what he was most proud of in his life, he said: “My children, because they’re great.”

What does he still want to achieve?: “Get faster and fitter, which is getting harder all the time and requires getting that tricky old work/life balance sorted, and spend lots of time with my family, hopefully having great adventures. I’ve got a big bucket list which gets bigger all the time.”

This week, we have been mostly celebrating the re-appearance of eggs. Yes, eggs. The chooks are starting to come back into lay at loooong last!

You would think that with 30-odd hens we would be coming down with eggs. We would need one of those big wicker baskets that your posh folk carry aboot toon to collect them all in, so many would there be.

And we would be tired of all egg-related fodder. Oh no, don’t force another boiled/fried/poached/scrambled egg down my gullet! I can’t face another omelette/tortilla/pancake.

Since our chooks went into an untimely moult waaaaay before they should have, and took it in turns to go bald, eggs have been in very short supply at Shoogly Towers. From all those hens, we have been lucky to get a couple of eggs a day for the last couple of months.

This distresses me greatly. I have moaned and wailed and gnashed my teeth in this column (well, not that you can actually see the gnashing of teeth bit, but believe me I have been grinding them as I have been writing).

It distresses me because this has seriously affected the all-important Farm Gate Sales, those very egg sales that pay for the chooks’ feed and therefore are a key component of my ‘this-is-a-business-not-a-hobby’ speech.

I do know, in my heart of hearts, that it’s a hobby that kind of pays for itself. Occasionally.

I know, in my heart of hearts, that it’s not a business in the sense of other, real, proper businesses that have profit margins, turnover, petty cash, tax returns and all that malarkey.

But will I ever admit that to Mr E? Never. Every time I ask for his help in the chicken run, topping up feed or with the weekly mucking out, he says: “Yes, I’ll help you with your... (and he pauses for effect and stresses the next word) hobby”.

My reply? “It’s not a hobby, it’s a business.”

Says he, snorting: “If it was a business, it would pay for itself all-year-round. You have to subsidise it in the winter.”

Hmmmm. I have the perfect retort. As a Kung Fu wife, I know where to punch where it hurts most, so to speak. Mr E moans, wails and gnashes his teeth over the fact that in the Borders, Zumba/pilates/fitness teachers often run multiple classes all week to cope with demand, and wonders why, then, folk are not flocking to his Kung Fu sessions. At the moment he’s down to two students. Hardly business of the year.

The magic words: “And how about the Kung Fu, then?” are usually enough to silence him.

A Black Belt Kung Fu master cut down to size by some chooks.

There are serious doubts as to whether the saga of the mystery noxious pong blamed on Kelso Sewage Works will ever be totally solved.

On Monday, there were seven complaints about bad smells logged by residents of Riverside Drive.

Local Scottish Borders councillor Alec Nicol had gone to the works and met with Scottish Water officials.

The bad odour has been going on for a considerable number of years, despite several surveys and upgrading of the facilities.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Kelso Community Council, Mr Nicol said when he checked those tanks on the site which are open, there was no bad smell.

“Yet there were seven separate complaints about the smell – to be honest, I’m now at my wits’ end and they [Scottish Water officials] are also at their wits’ end over this,” he said.

“The only thing I can think of is the three ‘settling’ tanks and two ‘bubbling’ tanks must give off something because the rest of the tanks are all enclosed.”

Fellow councillor, Tom Weatherston, said it might be like living near a chip shop or chutney works – sometimes there will be a smell.

“I think it could just be the nature of the beast in this case,” he said.

“In the long term, the aim must be to get a new sewage works away from Kelso because I don’t think you’ll ever totally cure the problem, given the location of the works.”

The H-word, the concept of confidence crime and the introduction of beautiful women implies another angle on the Oceans 11 franchise.

In other words, this is a caper movie, high on entertainment and low on credibility.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

American Hustle is a quality thriller with rock-your-socks performances and a keep-up-dumbnuts script which, like the best of modern art, does not require 20/20 vision in the comprehension department. Even if you don’t understand who’s fooling who the characters keep you breathing pure oxygen.

Using a similar narrative device as Goodfellas, this is Irving Rosenfeld’s (Christian Bale) story. He tells you what he’s up to, how he’s feeling and why scamming off the idle rich and business flakes is a game of thieves. A passing encounter with Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) ignites his flagging libido. Not only does she flirt like a teenage dancer, she works with the dedication of a charm school post grad terrorist. And she’s in his field of expertise which is why a partnership makes economic sense.

But hold the phone! That’s only the start. What about the wife (Jennifer Lawrence) and kid he keeps under wraps? What about the FBI, represented by an obsessive compulsive lunatic (Bradley Cooper) who wants to use their skills to trap the Mob.

David O. Russell (Three Kings, Silver Linings Playbook) is not a filmmaker you pull off the peg. He’s a bespoke prankster with a unique line in originality.

American Hustle blows the cobwebs off every cliche in the crime section of contemporary film.

With writing this good and a seedy story enriched by eccentric goings on the actors give it large and the actresses give it.

A con trick is just a trick, but a con artist is a creative creature.

Witness Sydney. Admire her moves.

There’s nothing funny about an ethical meltdown in the financial sector. Bankers are the new rustlers, except they don’t ride horses; they ride you.

Martin Scorsese, aided superbly once again by Leonardo DiCaprio, has made an outrageous, scintillating satire on Wall Street’s excesses, which, like its subject matter, becomes intoxicated by the ease and splendour of what it can get away with before imploding drastically two thirds of the way through.

Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) is a hick from the sticks who decides that he wants to be a billionaire before he’s lost the ability to burn candles at all ends, with high-class hookers in attendance and pure-as-driven snow up his nose.

He makes contact with a Wall Street shaker (Matthew McConaughey) who gives him a hilarious introduction to the workings of investment brokerage. The once proud objectives of financial patronage, such as looking after the client, has changed to looking after No 1.

Belfort takes to it like a duck to muck. Between a threesome in the master bedroom and a snort of angel dust in the study, he uses his skills as a salesman to start his own business and from there it’s hello Forbes 100 and bring on fame, fortune and fraud.

The rise and rise, involving drugs on tap, weird sex that would give Aunt Aggie a coronary and a vocab that seldom advances beyond four letters, is an anarchist’s wet dream.

What could be more damning to the belief in market forces when the market is a bear pit and the forces are self serving?

The pity is threefold – length, repetition and nastiness. Eventually the satirical high becomes greed porn and the humour gags on its own excrement.

Northern grit. Boys breaking away, rejecting school. And the rest. Home, thieving.

Teachers know this type only too well. Expelling them would be irresponsible. Excluding them for limited periods might force parents to get a grip. Or let them loose onto the forsaken streets like slaves of the underclass.

Arbor (Connor Chapman) and Swifty (Shaun Thomas) are still pre-teens. Arbor feeds off adrenaline and not much else. Swifty is slower, more gentle (“I’m thick like everyone says”), not a leader. He has a feel for horses, which comes in handy when they take a nag and cart, nicking electrical cable for Kitten (Sean Gilder), the local scrappy.

It would be easy to label this as a Loach-a-like, swapping the kestrel for a pony as the emotional hook. But it’s so much more. Writer/director Clio Barnard’s work with these children matches her skill in empathising with the surviving nature of these once thriving industrial heartlands.

The story has tragic elements and yet its search for a life less scunnered fuels the fire. Arbor’s energy is wasted on challenging authority. He’s smart, brave and ingenious in the craft of getting by. Swifty is a follower, a disciple, fascinated by the pony trap races Kitten enters for in the early dawn light along deserted duel carriageways.

Something is happening to British cinema. The Girls Are Coming! Already you have Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher) and Andrea Arnold (Red Road). Now Barnard joins them.

It is a wonderful thing to see – such talent, such confidence, such honesty.

Celebrity chef Nick Nairn thinks it “barking” if pupils like those at Selkirk High School do not get to eat vegetables they grow in school gardens.

Nairn was taking part in a discussion on school meals during a BBC Radio Scotland last week.

He was asked to comment on claims by former Selkirkshire councillor, Kenneth Gunn, who had phoned in to highlight what he said was a ridiculous situation at Selkirk High School.

Mr Gunn said, although pupils grew vegetables in the school garden, these were not regularly consumed in daily school meals as it could possibly affect the contract Scottish Borders Council had with the company supplying school food.

Mr Nairn, a long-time campaigner on school meals, responded: “It’s barking mad if the kids are growing veg which they are not then allowed to eat.

“We have to look at what is going on in school dining rooms, because we’re missing a major opportunity.”

But SBC said the “modest amount” of veg grown at the school is used in home economics classes or taken home by pupils.

A spokesman said: “In general, if any veg grown at a school was used as part of a school meal it would be for specially promoted dishes or seasonal items, and would have minimal impact upon food supplied into schools.”

But Mr Gunn believes it is a wasted opportunity, telling us: “What incentive is there for youngsters to eat more vegetables when they see most of the stuff they grow at the school not being used by the school in its own daily meals?”

THERE have been changes over the last year regarding the administration of charities, and there are some significant areas to note.

Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme:

Charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASC) may be able to claim top-up payments from HMRC on small cash donations of £20 or less under the scheme.

The scheme may allow the charity to recover tax although no Gift Aid declaration has been made.

The new scheme only applies to donations made in cash, making it particularly pertinent to those who operate collection boxes or bucket collections. Cheques and bank transfers are not eligible.

Various qualifying criteria must be satisfied by the organisation for the top-ups to be claimed.

Charity shops - new guidance released:

HMRC has introduced new rules and guidance for charity shops obtaining Gift Aid on the sale of donated goods. In an effort to simplify the rules, individuals donating goods to charity shops can now make a one-off Gift Aid declaration covering sales of items worth up to £1,000 a year.

Previously, a charity needed to write to a donor to inform them regarding the proceeds from each sale.

Where the goods are sold by a charity operating the shop directly, up to £100 of sale proceeds can be authorised for Gift Aid.

Charities Online:

Charities Online is a new service, introduced by HMRC, which allows Gift Aid repayments to be claimed online.

It is hoped that the system will speed up and simplify the process of making a repayment claim, saving valuable time for charities and CASCs.

There are many complex accounting and reporting requirements governing charities and not-for-profit organisations. Contact Gill Adamson for more information.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES hopefuls Sammi Kinghorn and Jo Pettitt turned out at the Queens Centre in Galashiels on Friday to inspire primary school children from all over the Borders.

Taking part in the launch of Border Sport and Leisure’s 2014 Commonwealth Passport scheme Sammi, from Gordon, and Jo, from Peebles, encouraged the local kids to participate in all kinds of sporting events from now until August and earn themselves Gold, Silver or Bronze medals in the process.

A total of 34 children from nine local cluster schools took part in the launch of the scheme which offers 13 sporting opportunities to primary 4-7’s and seven to primary 1-3’s.

The scheme proved highly popular with both the children and local clubs, many of who benefitted from new members, in the run up to last year’s Olympics and Active Schools manager Graeme Murdoch hopes that even more primary school pupils will get on board for the Glasgow event.

“We had over 1000 kids, from primary 4-7, taking part in the Olympic Passport scheme last year and we hope to be upwards of 2000 this time around,” he told TheSouthern.

Local clubs can still get involved by contacting Graeme at graeme.murdoch@bslt.org.uk

Sammi Kinghorn has already been selected for Glasgow and will compete in the 1500 metres wheelchair race while netball star Jo, a member of the Scottish Commonwealth Games long squad, will find out if she has been selected for the final 12 member team in May.

Read more about this story and see pictures from the launch in this Thursday’s great value Southern Reporter.

Structural work started in St Boswells Village Hall last week which will result in improved facilities in the hall.

This includes fully accessible toilets and the creation of a separate access for the upstairs meeting room.

Fundraising is ongoing to enable further work to be carried out in the well-used community facility.

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.

Land use, cultural strategy and water resources are up for discussion at Working the Tweed’s last riverside meeting at Coldstream on Tuesday (January 21).

Working the Tweed is a collaboration between Borders visual artist Kate Foster, writer Jules Horne, choreographer Claire Pençak and composer James Wyness, and environmental organisations Tweed Forum and Southern Uplands Partnership.

Project organisers say online: “This session focuses on mapping the future Scottish Borders through the current Land Use Strategy pilot and the Scottish Borders Cultural Strategy.”

Speakers at the meeting will be Tweed Forum’s senior project officer Derek Robeson, Creative Arts Business Network’s (CABN) director Mary Morrison and historian Dr David Welsh.

Mr Robeson will talk about the Scottish Government’s Land Use Strategy (plans to get the best use out of the countryside) in relation to the River Tweed and its tributaries

Working the Tweed notes: ”The Borders is one of only two regions in Scotland taking part in a ground-breaking Scottish government pilot exploring holistic approaches to land use through the frames of environment, culture and economy. Mapping is one of the methods the pilot is concentrating on.”

Ms Morrison, who leads CABN, an informal network and information-sharing project which also offers training and support, will talk about the cultural strategy.

Working the Tweed notes: “The Borders is also developing a unique cultural strategy to bring the creative, tourism, business and voluntary sectors together to enhance future prospects for the region.”

Mr Welsh will introduce an historical perspective and discuss the line the border takes, including individual trees, fields and burns.

The group held five meetings along the famous salmon river last year, covering topics such as habitat and species, restoration and flood management, tourism, hydro-electricity and the last one in November included a tour around Megget Dam.

There are limited spaces for the public to attend the Coldstream meeting, which runs from 10am to 2pm, in the fishing shiel at the Lees. For more information visit workingthetweed.co.uk

Borders livestock farmer, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller says 2014 is going to be ‘pivotal’ for the industry as CAP reform shakes down.

Farmers and union officials hope to play central roles in setting out a new rural development programme (SRDP), pushing for an LFASS re-base, contributing to the Agricultural Holdings review and re-designing the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)

Writing in the union’s annual report, Mr Miller said: “The next 12 months are a pivotal point in defining Scotland’s future farmed landscape and productive potential. There is a considerable amount of work to be done.”

Basics concerning CAP include the regionalising of the country and transition from historic support, greening details for the arable sector and seizing what coupled option there is, he said.

“There is a determination both in government and the farming community that the new CAP will bring new and developing businesses into full support from day one.”

LFA support remains the core priority for discussions on Pillar 2 he said. The new SRDP, hopefully “stripped out” of complex application procedures, would be “coloured” by climate change, he said: “Designing win-wins can deliver for all stakeholders: the union will be at the centre of this development process.”

“The independence referendum will dominate the political skyline in Scotland but there are other major decisions to be taken in 2014 that will be fundamental to the future of many members,” he said.

Plans by a care home firm for a wind turbine over 300ft high at Hawick are drawing flak, with one local councillor calling the scheme ridiculous.

Measuring 102m from base to blade tip, the site is just 400m from the northern edge of the town.

The application has been lodged with Scottish Borders Council on behalf of St Andrews Nursing Home – owned by Park Homes.

Consultants stated residents in the town’s Guthrie Drive, less than half-a-kilometre away, would be able to see the bulk of the turbine.

And it would have a “major” impact on the views of walkers on local sections of the nearby Borders Abbeys Way.

Local Scottish Borders councillors Stuart Marshall and Zandra Elliot are unhappy with the proposals.

Mr Marshall says he has already received a number of calls from concerned residents living near the site.

“The area surrounding the convent itself is within a beautiful part of my ward and, to be honest, to erect a 300ft-plus turbine anywhere near this spot just sounds ridiculous,” he said.

And Mrs Elliot added: “I am not particularly in favour of wind turbines, especially 102m high.

“I believe this planning application, if successful, would open the doors to many applications within the outer limits of the town.

“There are enough scars on our beautiful Borderland and this epidemic must be controlled.”

Kelso 13 Hawick 23

BOOKER BORDER LEAGUE

Kelso played their fifth home game in a row and recorded their fourth defeat in that time but for long periods of the game they were well in contention and competed vigorously against their higher ranked visitors.

Each side missed early penalties before Neil McColm won the race to a kick and chase to nail the first try for Hawick.

Kelso scored next after Matt Douglas popped a penalty into the corner after a dangerous tackle. The Kelso line out drove to the line and, when held up, they fed the ball to Matt Douglas who was well supported by Frankie Robson who, in turn, sent Dom Buckley in at the posts. Douglas slotted the conversion to take Kelso ahead.

A break by Murray Hastie took play up into the Hawick 22 where they infringed to allow Douglas to extend the Kelso lead.

McColm reduced the leeway to 10-8 shortly afterwards but, despite both sides playing with real passion, there was no further scoring in the half.

Kelso, perhaps, would have thought they had done enough to be further ahead at half time but these thoughts turned to nought after the restart when slack defending allowed the visiting backs space and Kieran Willison scampered in from 20 metres to touch down with Lee Armstrong converting. They increased their lead when a Kelso handling move broke down and led to all sorts of trouble for their defence and persistent Hawick pressure won them a penalty which Neil Renwick converted.

Hawick had been warned by the referee about the number of penalties in the contact area which they were conceding but Rory Hutton, who came on as a replacement, found himself at the bottom of a ruck and took one for the team as he was shown a yellow card. Douglas chipped over the penalty to keep Kelso within distance but, after a Renwick break and offload to Keith Davies, a Hawick scrum move worked as clean as a whistle with a number 8 pick-up fed to Greg Cottrell and on to Renwick for him to burst over the Kelso line.

The conversion was missed but there was still time for more chances Hawick finishing very strongly as pounded the Kelso line. Solid defence was needed and Kelso held out just.

ENTRIES are now open for TweedLove’s latest event, Skinny Tweed, a relaxed sportive taking in the quiet back roads of the beautiful Scottish Borders.

The flagship road event of the TweedLove festival has been given an upgrade for 2014, with the former self-guided ride being promoted to full sportive status thanks to popular demand.

Entrants to the event will enjoy a 45-50 mile route designed to accommodate all levels of road cyclists. TweedLove organisers are in the process of finalising the course, and more details will be released soon.

TweedLove, the UK’s biggest cycling festival, is part of the 2014 Homecoming Scotland programme, a year long showcase of events designed to promote Scotland to an international audience.

Although a non competitive event, entrants to Skinny Tweed will get their own personalised number board and timing, and there will also be marshals and a free feed station along the way.

TweedLove’s Director Neil Dalgleish said: “This year’s Skinny Tweed will be in the form of a sportive and features a completely new course.

“Over the last couple of years I’ve had lots of requests for TweedLove to put on a sportive, and as we’re in included in the 2014 Homecoming Scotland programme, it seemed the natural time to give Skinny Tweed a makeover.

“Skinny Tweed will be a relaxed event, with a friendly vibe and a course that suits all levels of riders. If you’ve never done a sportive before, this is the perfect opportunity to have a go in a good-humoured atmosphere.

“If you’re training for a bigger event such as the Endura Tour O’ The Borders, it’s a good way to see how the legs are doing. Either way, Skinny Tweed is about a fine road ride in good company through some stunning scenery.”

Skinny Tweed takes place on Saturday, June 7 and will start in Peebles. Entry to the event costs £15 and is available through www.tweedlove.com where you will also find the event’s terms and conditions.

Langholm 14 Hawick Harlequins 7

RBS EAST LEAGUE ONE

It was a dour battle for supremacy in the soft underfoot conditions at Milntown and it was Langholm who eventually edged the win.

Hawick Harlequins, however, must be kicking themselves for not going for goal on at least two occasions, with one virtually in front of the posts, when they were 7-0 in front.

The visiting supporters just could not believe it, especially with the chance near the posts as the forwards scrummed down with the shouting from the sidelines being of no avail. As it turned out the penalties would not have been enough to give Quins the match.

Quins made a superb start when with only two minutes played they quickly fed along the threequarters and winger Adam Hall outpaced the defence to dash 60 metres for a great try which flyhalf Scott Peffers converted.

Much of the play involved short surges by both packs, kicking for position, and the odd feed out.

Langholm looked dangerous with a three-quarter attack, but what looked like a deliberate visitors knock-on stopped the move and a penalty was awarded. The home team attacked from the lineout and eventually the danger was cleared, but another penalty chance came which Niall Cubbon sent wide of the uprights for Langholm and it was still 0-7 at half time.

Langholm had threatened on a few occasions, and after 52 minutes a superb break by scrum half Jack Pool took play to ten metres from the line, and he fed off to the eagerly supporting Andrew Bell who went over to score and Niall Cubbon converted to make it 7-7.

Quins ignored the chances of going for goal as they pressed in the Langholm 22, and the home side cleared the danger on each occasion.

With eight minutes left the Langholm forwards pressed near the corner and piled over with No8 Steven Nicol getting the try and Cubbon superbly converted from out wide.

Quins flanker Ali Pretswell had to be stretchered off in the closing minutes.

Preston Lodge 129 Linden 0

RBS EAST DIVISION ONE

PRESTON LODGE clinched the RBS East League Division One title in style as they subjected the Linden to a record 129-0 defeat at Pennypit Park.

The Linden had given the East Lothian side a real run for their money at the Volunteer earlier in the season but injuries and unavailability meant it was a vastly different Linden team for the return fixture, particularly up front.

This was where the visitor’s found it difficult to obtain possession of any note. With all three of their front row starting the game carrying injuries, the Linden scrum was under constant pressure and the soft pitch did not suit their lightweight pack.

It took the home team 21 minutes to secure the four try bonus point and by half time they stretched their lead to 49-0 with seven converted tries. Mid-way through the second half the tally was 75 points when the Royal Blues were a little unlucky to be penalised at the breakdown which was compounded when the bemused Andrew Ford was yellow carded for a comment which appeared to have come from the crowd.

This wasn’t the only time the Linden felt harshly treated as they were strictly refereed from 1st to the 80th minute and, even when over 100 points down, were forced to kick-off when a player was receiving treatment. Admittedly not front row, so technically correct, but somehow it just didn’t sit comfortably with the state of the game.

League reconstruction in recent years has held Preston Lodge back from playing at a higher level and they can now deservedly move on to where their power, pace and the intensity they play the game will challenge any side. They played quality rugby and scored some thrilling tries for their large support.

For those not in attendance at the game, most will view the result from a Linden perspective with astonishment but no-one should criticise the predominantly young side who pulled on the jerseys and never threw in the towel. The front row all played through the pain barrier whilst the back row, led by skipper Shaun Fairbairn were immense, flankers Aaron Hume, making his debut, and Graham Blacklock tackling like demons throughout.

Police are not treating as suspicious the death of a 69-year-old East Lothian man who was found at the eastern end of Earlston High Street at 5.25pm last Thursday.

The road was closed for a time.