A woman who threatened staff at one of the Borders’ most prestigious hotels with a knife has been jailed for two years.

Elaine Fox, 45, who was on bail at the time, committed the offence at the Ednam House Hotel in Kelso on December 4. Described as a prisoner in Cornton Vale, she appeared on indictment and admitted brandishing a knife and threatening the staff.

Fox, of Horsemarket, Kelso, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment after she also pleaded guilty to stealing a pint of lager at the Golden Lion pub in High Street, Galashiels, on October 2, and a pint of lager and double whisky and coke at the neighbouring Bridge Inn on the same date.

She received a three-month prison sentence after she admitted assaulting two police constables in Kelso Square on August 6, and later at the town’s police station. Fox was also jailed for four months following a guilty plea to wasting police time by claiming she had a hand gun and was going to shoot herself at Roxburgh Street, Kelso, on January 2, 2012.

All the periods of imprisonment run concurrently – a total of two years.

Her solicitor, Rory Bannerman, told Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Friday: “She is a very sad woman who has got herself into some really bad trouble.”

Mr Bannerman said Fox had little recollection of the Ednam House Hotel offence, but conceded it had been “alarming behaviour”.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre, told Fox: “Having a knife at a hotel and threatening staff is a very serious matter, and you were on bail at the time.”

As well as the jail term, he also imposed a supervised release order.

Kelso High pupils last Thursday celebrated World Book Day with events around the school.

The theme was “favourite childhood books” and all staff were asked to nominate their favourite one to be displayed as a poster on their classroom doors. A competition is currently being run in conjunction with this.

S6 students attended school dressed as fictional characters, turning up in classrooms to read from books to pupils and teachers. Staff also read from their most-loved publications at the beginning of each lesson.

S1 took part in a book quiz during English classes, followed by a grand final in the assembly hall on World Book Day. Tom Murray, Scottish Borders Council’s reader-in-residence, acted as quizmaster. S1 pupils were also asked to judge the S6 fancy dress contest via a cleverly-devised clapometer.

Children are currently voting on their own favourite children’s books for a Kelso High School Top Ten.

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PERSISTENCE paid off for Peebles on Saturday when a dogged display at Recreation Park saw John O’Hara’s men take a much-needed win in the East of Scotland First Division.

Playing with the wind behind them in the first half, the visitors scored after 25 minutes through Frankie Arthur and were 2-0 up at the break thanks to another by Chris Flockhart.

After the break it looked as though the hosts would take similar advantage of the gusty conditions when they pegged a goal back in the 65th, but Peebles dug deep and found exactly what they were looking for.

Scott Sutherland and Donovan Ndiweni added a goal apiece to cement the victory, which saw them leapfrog Duns and take seventh place on the league table.

O’Hara told The Southern: “I’m delighted with what was a really good three points away from home which showed huge effort, desire and workrate in abundance.”

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GALA HOTSPUR’S long wait for their first Waddell Cup win continues after playing for 74 minutes with 10 men, writes Kenny Paterson.

Spurs have yet to win the cup – competed for by all Border Amateur teams – despite it now being in its 41st year.

And their cause in 2014 was not helped after Scott Nightingale was sent off after only 16 minutes against Newtown.

The Spurs striker was enraged that he was denied a penalty for an apparent handball by Newtown defender Paul Scott, and received two bookings within a minute for foul language directed at referee Willie Mack.

With Newtown’s continued problems with their soggy King George V Park, the cup tie was switched to Netherdale’s 3G Arena, and their temporary home appeared to suit Stephen Swanston, who opened the scoring within the first minute after linking up with Scott Leitch.

Nightingale’s red card left the young Spurs side facing a heavy defeat, but instead the B Division side equalised in spectacular fashion when Duncan Kemp’s 30-yard free kick flew past Newtown keeper Douglas Gill in the 22nd minute.`

Newtown were wasteful in the first half, but upped their performance in the second period. Three goals in eight minutes secured victory. Scott Leitch grabbed a double in two minutes and Neil Macvicar tapped in Matt Scott’s cross for the fourth in the 58th minute to seal the tie and send his team into the quarter-finals of the cup and a home tie against Greenlaw.

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DIVISION B outfit Gordon provided a shock on Saturday when ousting A Division leaders Chirnside United from the Waddell Cup.

The visitors opened the scoring when Craig Livingston blocked an attempted clearance by the home keeper and squared to Gavin Brown, who rolled the ball into an empty net.

Gordon doubled their lead just minutes into the second half when Kevin Utterson’s shot found the net, Livingston added a penalty and Craig Gillie sealed the win.

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WAVERLEY began this Waddell Cup tie in fine style by sailing into the lead with just three minutes gone.

Liam Lavery broke down the right before whipping over a cross which Taylor Hope slotted past the Hotspur keeper.

With a swirling wind causing both teams problems, the remainder of the first half brought about few scoring chances.

After the break, Hotspur equalised through Graeme Muirhead before Luke Cooper challenged the Linton keeper for the ball which bounced to Hope, who shot home the winner.

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THERE were six goals in this highly entertaining Lowland League Cup match played at a very windy Yarrow Park last Saturday.

And all six were scored by underdogs Selkirk.

Even the home fans were stunned as Steve Forrest’s side eventually came good and put on a performance very much worthy of their Lowland League status.

For the Selkirk manager himself, however, it was just a matter of time before his “team in progress” found their feet.

“I am over the moon with today’s win,” he told The Southern.

“I’m absolutely delighted for the club and even more so for the players themselves who put on a great display.

“We now have the makings of a team that can compete with anyone in the league.”

Blustery conditions made both sides cautious in the early stages of the game as the ball, at times, took on a life of its own. All things changed, however, in the 35th minute, when a goalmouth scramble resulted in David Battle poking the ball past John Dodds and a bit of self belief began to creep into Selkirk’s play.

Confidence was boosted further when Phil Addison, returning from a foot injury, demonstrated his full recovery by dancing around the Gala defence for a peach of a goal just after the break.

Fairydean did attempt to retaliate, but Dean McColm’s shot was helped over the crossbar by the increasingly strong wind, and Steven Noble’s men, featuring a handful of former Selkirk players, seemed at a loss as to how to cope with the situation.

Addison added another minutes later with a similar flourish and not long after Yanis Lamghari got in on the act when Addison turned provider for the French recruit to notch his first goal for the Souters. All four of Forrest’s Edusport Academy signings took part in the game and all four played key roles in the victory, Benjamin Huteau in particular proving a huge thorn in the side of the visitors.

Now trailing by four goals, a shell shocked Gala tried valiantly to keep themselves in the game and a lengthy spell of pressure saw them grab a goal back, although it was much thanks to Battle on the opposite side, whose attempt at a clearance went drastically wrong and shot past a helpless Gregor Amos in the Selkirk goal.

Lamghari added a fifth to consolidate the win and it was with great celebration that the home team and their supporters greeted the final whistle.

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A great team effort by Kelso United saw the home team defeat table toppers Hibs at a very blustery Woodside Park on Saturday afternoon.

Two goals from Jordan Lauder and one from debutant Declan Hogg earned the points for the Tweedsiders.

Prof Blaikie was a happy manager after the game saying: “All credit to the boys everyone did really well and showed great grit and determination to match Hibs.

“Captain Elliott Turnbull had a tremendous game producing a number of crucial saves.”

United started brightly and went ahead with seven minutes gone. A through ball from midfield saw Shane Bonnington running towards the box where he was challenged by both Hibs central defenders Robert Wilson and Neil Martynuik. In the tangle the ball broke to Lauder who swept a right foot shot past the static Douglas Horne in the visitor’s goal.

Good defensive work by United’s Darren Bowie and Damien McNulty then blocked a goal bound effort by striker Scott Martin the ball looping into the arms of Turnbull.

Hibs equalised in the 25th minute when Gareth McCaffrey found Lewis Allan on the edge of the box and the blond striker swivelled and shot past the diving Turnbull.

The visitors nearly edged ahead with ten minutes of the half left as Ryan Wilson swung in a corner which was met by the head of Wilson but Turnbull was equal to the task palming the ball round the post.

Hibs had another opportunity on the hour when a cross from the left by James Beaton found full back Aaron Dunsmore free at the back post. However the defender put his header wide.

Kelso went ahead again a minute later when a free kick was awarded 30 yards out which Lauder drove towards goal> Visiting keeper Horne seemed to have it covered however he lost the flight and ended up diving with the ball going over him into the net.

United made it three in the 79th minute with a route one goal. A long clearance by Turnbull saw Declan Hogg get ahead of the Hibs defence and the youngster kept a steady head and placed a shot which hit the inside of the post before settling in the net.

Turnbull was in action again saving two shots before he was eventually beaten in the last minute of the match when Allan headed in a cross from Dean Horribine.

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BIGGAR took the lead in the first half of this Amateur B League tie when Legion failed to clear a long free kick and an attacker took advantage in scoring with a shot that went in off the post. Legion equalised when Callum Hope made no mistake with a penalty after Thomas Scott had been brought down in the box. Confidence boosted Legion began to gain the upper hand but it was Biggar who did the scoring with a goal from out of the blue to take the lead once more. Chris Dunne put Legion level late on when turning in a Hope cross with his knee.

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BIDDING to gain revenge for a defeat at the hands of Hawick the previous week, wind assisted Duns dominated the early stages of this East of Scotland encounter, writes John Slorance.

Albert keeper Andy Jack, denied Duns an opener with the first of what was to be a string of excellent first half stops in keeping out a Martin Tait shot.

After Hawick’s Michael Smith had squandered a chance at the other end, Jack denied the Dingers a strike in pushing a net bound Tait shot round the post.

Following another splendid Jack stop from a Shane McGregor free kick, the Albert replied with a sweeping raid that ended in Paul Brown shooting wide when in the clear from a Graeme Young pass.

Within minutes of this the Albert took the lead when Young prodded home an Innes Zenati cross.

Duns came rallying back and after Jack had twice put up the shutters with further saves, got on level terms. Michael Robinson producing the scoring touch from a Michael Stewart pass.

Just off half time, Young polished off a good passing move to regain the Albert’s lead. Minutes into the second half Duns equalised.

Jack who had performed heroics during the first period fumbled a Stewart shot and the lurking Steven Shennan drove the loose ball into the net.

Another bungle by Jack led to Duns edging ahead. The big keeper completely mishit a clearance when attempting to boot clear a Shaun Fallan pass back.

The ball broke to the feet of Tait who struck a pass into the path of Robinson which was tucked away by the Duns striker.

An off the ball flare up then led to Hawick’s Michael McKenzie being given his marching orders for aggressive conduct.

The Albert skipper had to be pulled back by team mates following an incident with Shennan who, it was later claimed, had licked the Albert midfielder’s face.

The referee saw absolutely nothing.

Ten man Hawick duly got on a level pegging when Ronald Fleming found the net with a superbly hit free kick that raged high into the net.

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JED booked their place in the quarter-final of the Forsyth Cup with a relatively comfortable win over Langholm last Saturday.

It was a pretty drab first period as both teams struggled to cope with the strong wind and bobbly pitch conditions.

Playing with the wind in the second half the home side dominated proceedings. Daniel Gillie put Jed in the lead early in the half with a well worked goal involving Daniel Chandler.

The lead was soon doubled, again Gillie applying the finishing touches.

The Jed striker notched his hat-trick soon after prodding home a loose ball in the Langholm box.

Substitute Connor Dickson almost made it four near the end but he was foiled by a fine diving stop from the Langholm keeper.

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SATURDAY’S rearranged RBS National League game between Biggar and Selkirk was as close as any of the players will get to experiencing what it’s like to spend 80 minutes in a wind tunnel.

The force-nine gale which whipped down the Hartreemill pitch throughout the match was of a ferocity even professional players would have struggled to master. Such was Selkirk skipper Andrew Renwick’s confidence in his team-mates, however, that on winning the toss he elected to play into the teeth of the gale.

His faith proved well-founded, with Selkirk’s players turning in one of their most impressive performances of the season against the elements in the first half. A combination of secure handling, tireless support play and textbook recycling resulted in the visitors scoring five tries to lead 29-5 at the break.

“The boys played the conditions really well,” said head coach Ally Dickson, “and the effort put in by every member of the squad was huge. We got the feelgood factor back against Hillhead-Jordanhill last week, and this laid the foundations for another big win.”

With only one RBS National League fixture to play, Selkirk are now guaranteed a top half finish in the division, while victory over Dundee at Mayfield on March 22 would see the Souters end the campaign in fourth place – the same position they finished last season.

Darren Clapperton got the ball rolling in the opening minute with the first of his two tries, Josh Welsh secured a hat trick while Fraser Harkness and Mikey Davies also got on the scoresheet with a try while Rory Banks kicked four conversions.

Biggar’s tries came from Connor Lavery and Craig McDonald with the latter converting his own.

PROMISING young rugby players are being invited to Borders College in Galashiels to get a taste of what life in the pro ranks would be like.

The free Pro Rugby Taster Sessions have been designed for players age 15 and over and will take place on April 7 and 8.

Those signing up will experience the working day of a professional player and be introduced to the commitment and work ethic required to attain this status in real life.

In addition to this insight into pro rugby reality is the chance to fully investigate the Borders College specialist rugby programme - BASE Rugby - designed to give an overall grounding, including skills development and conditioning, in conjunction with a structured education leading to nationally recognised qualifications.

Spearheading the initiative will be Hawick RFC coach Phil Leck .

He’ll be assisted by professional players and coaches over the two days.

Places are available as a two day residential camp staying at the Jean Muir Student Village on campus or as a drop in daily programme.

Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis along with lunch and dinner is available at the venue at reasonable rates.

For further information and to book a place, call the Student Advice Team on 01896 662516 or email enquiries@borderscollege.ac.uk before March 28.

YOUNG athletes in the Borders region have been making their mark at the top of their respective sports during the last few weeks.

Wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn had the golden touch when landing on top of the medal rostrum nine times during her recent trip to Dubai.

The star performer from Gordon has just turned 18, but took some notable senior scalps at two meets in the Middle East, crossing the line ahead of her rivals in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m in the first day, and repeating her success in the second, along with a gold in the 1500m.

Samantha, who holds six Scottish records, went to Dubai feeling confident, but even she never imagined she’d arrive home with so much gold.

“I wanted to go there and set some new personal bests, which I did five times, but I never thought I’d win so many,” she said.

Elsewhere, Selkirk’s Zaynah Aziz, who turns 14 on Monday, has been called up to the Scottish Under-15s Cross Country team at the UK Schools Championships in Bolton this month, while Kelso’s Jason McIntosh has been shortlisted for the Under-17s team.

We are now into spring, but winter was upon us and, indeed, Christmas was yet to come when Peebles Rovers last played at home.

This Saturday, Rovers will be hoping to be on their own turf when they entertain Kelso United at Whitestone Park in an East of Scotland First Division match.

It’s a game that Peebles go into with confidence and manager John O’Hara told The Southern: “It has been a very testing time for us recently as most of our games have been away against Premier Division sides and we haven’t been getting results in the league cup.

“However, we got a very good win in the league last week. We really clicked and I was very pleased with our performance. I have managed to strengthen the squad by getting two players on loan from Spartans. Kelso will have their tails up following their great win over Hibs EoS, so it will be an interesting game.”

United manager Prof Blaikie commented: “There has been a big improvement in our play and attitude in recent weeks. We have pulled off two wins and they have both been good ones, especially last weekend. That makes me a happy man.

“We drew with Peebles at Kelso and it was a close game, and I am expecting this one to be the same. We have signed Declan Hogg from Hawick Royal Albert. He played last week, showed up well and scored a goal. He is a good young player and is a great acquisition for us.”

Kelso have Steven Tait back from his ban.

Hawick Royal Albert face Burntisland Shipyard at Albert Park without Michael McKenzie, Ronald Fleming and Kevin Fettes. Nicky Cairns and Kevin Strathdee return from suspension. Due to the recent departures of Dean Fry and Hogg, the Albert only have one local player left in their squad in Kevin Strathdee.

Selkirk have no fixture this week as the Lowland League gives way to South and King Cup ties, but coach Steve Forrest will not be letting his players rest on their laurels following last weekend’s victory over Gala FDR.

“We now have to keep it up so everyone will be training at Yarrow Park on Saturday,” he said.

Gala travel to play Whitehill Welfare in a King Cup second round clash.

Last week we reported that Ivor and Robert Gaston own Whitsome Hill Farm, near Duns, and, while they own most of it, the farmhouse, fields surrounding the house, shed and farm office, which the Co-operative Group rents, are owned by the farming business and consultancy, J. P. Niven and Co. We apologise for any confusion.

The Co-op announced recently it was pulling out of farming. The group employs six people contract farming nearly 5,000 acres (2,015 hectares) in the region.

EVERY flock can expect the occasional ewe to slip its lambs, but if you are seeing more than two abortions a week, you probably have an infectious cause of abortion in your flock, write SAC Consulting’s veterinary investigation officers at St Boswells.

A prompt diagnosis helps to reduce losses this year and allows you to put in control measures for next year.

Sending aborted material to your disease investigation centre – at SAC Consulting Veterinary Services, Greycrook, St Boswells – gives you the best chance of reaching a diagnosis.

Remember to send in the foetus and placenta. The placenta is particularly important for diagnosis of EAE.

The most commonly diagnosed cause of abortion at the SAC Consulting laboratory in St Boswells last year was Campylobacter.

Other common causes include enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE), Salmonella and Toxoplasmosis.

Infection can be easily spread between ewes and several of these infections can lead to disease in humans.

The most effective ways to prevent spread of infection are:

z Isolate all aborted ewes

z Remove the afterbirth, foetuses and contaminated bedding as soon as possible

z Always wash your hands after dealing with aborted ewes and material

z Wear gloves when lambing ewes and wash hands afterwards

Remember, pregnant women should avoid contact with sheep at lambing time and should not handle dirty overalls and equipment.

With high pressure on the horizon for this week, it looks like spring is at last going to put in appearance.

The nest box in my back garden is having constant “viewings” from the local blue tits and I have my fingers crossed that the one at the front door, which has the camera inside, is getting similar attention.

One evening last week, while giving Treacle, our pup, her final airing in the back garden, I was surprised to find her rooted to the spot, eye-to-eye, with a fully-grown hedgehog.

Luckily, I managed to grab her before her little black nose took on the role of pincushion. I can’t recall having one so early in the garden before. The mild weather must have wakened it from its lengthy slumbers.

On Sunday, we decided that it was time that Treacle was introduced to the sea and the wonders of the beach, so a trip to Berwick was organised.

She is only four months old and I tend to forget just how much there is for a little dog to learn and experience in our complicated life.

It was by far the longest car journey she has yet had and I was delighted that she slept in the luggage area at the back without as much as a whimper or sign of travel sickness for the entire trip.

This bodes well for the future.

On arrival at the beach, it was like a kid’s first trip to Disneyland. Once she got used to walking in the soft sand, there was no stopping her.

With dogs running free everywhere, she didn’t know which ones to chase first, yelping with glee as she hared after them, ears flapping in the wind.

Next, a lump of kelp washed up by the surf took up her attention and she bolted off dragging it behind her.

While all this was going on it gave me time to study the wading birds feeding in the pools left by the receding tide.

All the usual suspects were there, including turnstones, sanderlings, oystercatchers, bar-tailed godwits, dunlins, curlews and redshanks.

Grey wagtails and starlings were catching flies amongst the huge piles of seaweed dumped at the high water mark by the recent storms.

When I looked again for Treacle, there she was doing her ostrich impression, front legs going like pistons, head buried in the sand.

As ever, I really enjoyed my trip to Berwick, but not half as much as our four-legged friend.

As I write this later the same day, she is totally unconscious by the fire.

Remember, you can email me on corbie@homecall.co.uk

Bowhill Estate is kicking off its pre-season activites with a series of guided walks for beginners.

And the Duke of Buccleuch’s staff are encouraging charity fundraisers to go outdoors to raise cash for Sports Relief.

The guided walks began on Sunday when nature-lovers were invited to join the ‘Spring Walk and Talk’ guided walk, highlighting the spring flowers growing within the Bowhill woodlands.

The next two walks in the series will focus on wildlife and fungi.

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile takes place around the grounds on Sunday, March 23, from 11am when there will be one, three and six-mile walks to raise money for the charity which helps people in the UK as well as in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Bowhill house and events manager, Helen Currie said: “The team at Bowhill are thoroughly excited about the start of the new 2014 season in April.

“We’re getting into the swing of things throughout March and are looking forward to seeing the estate get a lot busier in the coming weeks.

“We hope to see plenty of new faces celebrating the start of spring and enjoying the events on offer at Bowhill.”

To book a place on the spring walk and talk, costing £8 per person, phone 01750 22204 or email info@bowhillhouse.co.uk.

Scotland’s biggest one day poultry show at Peebles attracted record entries last month.

The Peebles Poultry Club’s championship show saw 1,426 entries from 154 exhibitors for bird, egg and photograph classes, with Lancashire’s Waterworth and Woods winning the overall championship with a black leghorn female and David McGill, from Ayr, taking reserve with a female white wyandotte bantam.

Peebles enthusiasts Patrick and Dorinda Fontana won the best large soft feather section with a female large black cochin and took best of breed in the brahma, cochin, faverolle and German langshan classes, while Peeblesshire’s Ann Martin won the eggs category with three duck eggs.

Hamburgh specialists E. McClintock and I. Lammie dominated the breed classes, with the former winning best overall hamburgh and reserve overall hamburgh and the latter eventually taking the show’s points trophy.

The junior handling award went to S. Dunbar from Lockerbie at his first show.

There were 39 entries for the new photography section, with P. and M. Bannister, K. Gilbert and S. Wood respectively winning the poultry pet, a show bird and eggs classes.

New trophies for rare breed sabelpouts were won by J Potter (best sabelpout) and S Wood (best shown by a junior).

And the new Allan Challis Memorial Trophy for best heavy breed bantam went to A. Martin’s best australorp bantam.

For more results visit www.peeblepoultryclub.co.uk