wooler

At their fortnightly sale last week John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 357 store cattle.

The annual show for the Robin Scott Trophy was also held which was kindly sponsored by Minsups, represented by Nikki Gilbertson and expertly judged by David Carins, Gardeners Houses, who awarded the championship to Messrs RW and K Telford, Branton East Side for a Lim.x Steer weighing 410kg and selling at £1150 to the Judge. Reserve Champion went to Messrs E Carse and Son, South Ord for a Lim.x Steer weighing 430kg and selling at £1080 to Messrs S and J Allen, Longnewton.

Buyers turned up in numbers all looking for cattle resulting in returns greater than expectations. More cattle could easily be sold at this centre to advantage.

At their weekly primestock sale John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 767 hoggs and 134 ewes.

Hoggs forward in greater numbers. Quality types the dearest trade of the year, tail ends appearing.

Leading prices per head:- Sfx:- £103.50p Ford Westfield, £100 Ford Westfield, Howtel, £98.50p Craigs House, £97.50p Brandon, £95 Ford Westfield. Tex:- £102 Hartside A Hutcheon), £99, £98 Ford Westfield, £94 South Charlton. CM:- £88 South Charlton. Suf:- £98 Mindrum Farming Co. Bla:- £85 Linhope Farming (Hartside), Mules:- £93.50p Ladykirk, Ford Westfield, £89 Craigs House, £87 West Longridge, Ladykirk, £85 West Longridge. BF:- £85 Ladykirk, £84 South Charlton (M Hall). Zwa:- £94.50p Mindrum (TP Fairfax). Cha:- £90 Craigs House. Bel:- £86 Ladykirk.

Leading prices per kilo:- Tex:-221.3p Ladykirk, 220.5p Yetlington lane, 220.3p Moorlaws, 218.9p Mindrum Farming Co, 218.8p Kimmerston, Greystonnes. Sfx:- 217.5p Greystonnes, 215.9p Mindrum Farming Co, 213.4p Moorlaws. Bla:- 202.4p Linhope Farming (Hartside). Mules:- 205.1p Shotton, 205p West Longridge, 202.6p Moorlaws, 202.4p, 202.3p West Longridge, 202.3p Craigs House. Chv:- 218.8p South Charlton (M Hall), 215p South Charlton, 214.3p Greystonnes, 213.5p Shotton. Chx:- 208.1p Mindrum Farming (TP Fairfax), 202.4p Linhope Farming (Hartside) Bel:- 220.5p, 215.8p Ladykirk.

st boswells

At their weekly primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 93 clean cattle, 44 OTM cattle, 1,496 old season hoggs and 472 ewes.

Bullocks (34) averaged 218.7p per kg and sold to 255p (+4.8p on week), heifers (55) averaged 213.4p per kg and sold to 250p (-4.6p on week), four young bulls averaged 180.8p per kg and sold to 185p (+9.8p on the week) and 44 beef type OTM cattle averaged 131.3p per kg and sold to 164p (n/c on the week).

Old season SQQ hoggs averaged 218.5p per kg +9.1p on week) and sold to £114 and averaged £92.40 per head while ewes averaged £65.64, and sold to £115. Heavy ewes £78, light ewes £56.15.

Principal prices per head: Shidlaw £1583.30; Bee Edge £1542.75, £1476, £1475; Upper Nisbet £1488.50; Longnewton and Inland Pastures £1445.40.

Principal Prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.55 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.50 Robert Wilson Butcher Edinburgh, 2.49 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd, 2.48 W Taylor (Lockerbie), 2.40 M/s Cropper; Upper Hundalee 2.41 M/s TA Shaw, 2.31 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd, 2.29 Malone of Edinburgh; Grahamslaw 2.39 Malone of Edinburgh; Longnewton 2.38 Malone of Edinburgh; Lennoxlove 2.38 Denholm Meat Supplies; Upper Nisbet 2.37 M/s WTS Forsyth an Sons, 2.29 M/s Cropper; Caverton Mill 2.36 Malone of Edinburgh; Shidlaw 2.35 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Outerston 2.29 Gosford Bothy Shop.

Cows per head: Thrunton £1288, £1057; Stagehall £1110.90; Woodhouse. J £1099.80, £1098.80; Grahamslaw £1080.40, £1014.70; Halidean Mill £1037.40, £1011.36; Phantassie £1035, £954.60; Aikeyside £997.50; Branton East Side £1028.10, £986.90, £944.70; West Mains £952.50.

Cows per kg: Woodhouse. J 1.64, 1.56; Hyndlee £1.51; Phantassie 1.50, 1.48, 1.44; Aikeyside 1.50; Branton East Side 1.49 (2), 1.41; Grahamslaw 1.48, 1.39; Corsbie(Fullerton) 1.43, 1.41; Thrunton 1.40 (2).

Hoggs per head: Suff.x;- £114, £113 Clochnahill, £110 Lurdenlaw and Berryhill, Tex.x;- £110 West Mains. L, £108 Lurdenlaw and West Mains. L, Char;- £110 Clochnahill, Chev;- £104 The Whitehouse, Swinside, £103, £100 Lurdenlaw, Rye;- £96 Clochnahill, HB;- £95 Gillahill, Chev.x;- £93 Gillahill and Saughtree, GF;- £92.50 Westwood, Zwa;- £91 Billiemains, CM;- £90 Wester Ulston, BFL;- £90 Hartside, BF;- £86 Hutlerburn.

Hoggs per kg: Tex.x;- 236.3 Housebyres, 235.7 Gillahill, 233.8 Swinnie, Suff.x;- £232.1 The Knock, 229.7 Threepwood, 229.3 Gillahill, Chev;- 227.9 Saughtree, 227.4 Thorlieshope, 225 Wester Ulston, Char;- 219.4 Woodhouse. J, GF;- 215.1 Westwood, 211.9 Thistle Doo, EC;- 211.1 Bedrule, CM;- 209.3 Wester Ulston, BF;- 200 Bedrule and Larriston.

border livestock

During last week Border Livestock Exchange Ltd to week sold 172 prime cattle including 70 cast cows, 1,467 prime sheep, 348 cast ewes, 245 store and breeding cattle.

Charolais cross heifers sold to 387p per kg and £1,277 from New Smailholm Farm, Kelso. Aberdeen Angus cross heifers sold to 390per kg to Well Hung and Tender, Berwick.

Cast cows continue to reach satisfactory levels with numbers well up for this time of year. Leading prices:- Simmental crosses to 275p per kg and £1,259. Dairy cows from Kelloe Mains, Duns, hit the high spot at £1,208. Other dairy cows to £1,136 per head from Edinburgh University Farm, Roslin. Pure Limousin cows to £1,427 per head. Major consignment of 29 Continental Ccrosses average £1,051 per head to a top of £1,194.

The Sheep trade finally livened up as numbers begin to dry up. Export lambs from Great Tosson, Rothbury, sold to 440p per kg while light weight lambs from Barnsley sold to 430p per kg for Pure Swales. Store cattle continue to sell extremely well with many lots 40 kgs heavier than the previous year’s cattle. Quality lots were also dearer per kg in many cases. Luing cows to £2,000 for calvers.

A MAN who banged on the door and windows of his estranged wife’s home was admonished.

First offender Norman Scott, of Synton Parkhead Farm Cottages, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to refusing to leave and demanding entry to a flat at Bourtree Place, Hawick, on February 16.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said Scott had been separated from his wife for three years, adding: “He is a motor engineer and his wife still does his book-keeping.”

Text messages had been exchanged shortly after midnight and the woman was woken at about 8.20am by Scott banging at the door.

“She told him to go away, but he told her, ‘Let me in through the door, or I will come through the window’,” continued Mr Fraser.

“He told police he had gone there to discuss texts and didn’t mean to frighten anybody,” added Mr Fraser.

Defending, Alison Marshall said her 53-year-old client and his wife were in new relationships, adding: “The relationship with his wife is still very amicable. This all stemmed from innocent text messages.”

Sentence is deferred

A husband sent his wife abusive text messages, including one hoping she crashed while on a car journey.

Michael Clark, 29, of McLaren Court, Hawick, admitted sending offensive text messages to his wife on various occasions on December 13 and December 14 last year.

At a previous hearing, procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the couple had been in a relationship for 11 years, marrying in 2010, but they broke up last year.

“The break-up did not go well,” he explained.

Clark sent his wife 24 abusive and distasteful texts, calling her names. He also sent one saying: “Hope you crash”.

Defending, Ross Dow said: “He and his wife broke up and he struggled to come to terms with it, and this was the consequence.”

Last Friday at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, Mat Patrick, representing the accused, described the offence as a one-off incident. He said Clark was working as a taxi driver.

Sentence was deferred for six months.

£60,000 THEFT TRIAL

A Jedburgh woman who denies stealing £60,000 from a 68-year-old man will stand trial by jury at Selkirk Sheriff Court on March 24.

Teresa Brown, 44, of Howden Road, appeared on indictment and pleaded not guilty to repeatedly using bank cards and PIN numbers without authority to pay for goods and services totalling £60,000 while employed as a cleaner at a house in Kirk Yetholm between October 2011 and August 2012.

FIVE MONTHS FOR THIEF

A thief was jailed for five months.

Andrew Atkinson, 26, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, admitted stealing a television from Asda in the town’s Currie Road on November 20 last year, while on an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) and bail.

He was fined £200 – with the alternative period of imprisonment imposed – after he pleaded guilty to possession of heroin at Paton Street, Galashiels, on September 8 last year.

JURY DATE FOR HAWICK MAN

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who denies attacking a woman in Peebles and threatening to kill her will stand trial by jury on March 24.

Christopher Robertson, of Ramsay Road, Hawick, appeared on indictment facing an allegation that he assaulted a woman at North Street on May 5 last year, rendering her unconscious, and presenting a knife at her. He also denies assaulting the same woman on May 19 last year, restricting her breathing, threatening to kill her, removing her inhaler and repeatedly refusing to return it.

MUST APPEAR IN PERSON

A GALASHIELS drug offender had sentence deferred until April 7 to appear personally.

Kirsty Lawrence, 30, of Croft Street, admitted possession of heroin at Church Street, Galashiels, on January 7.

BAILED WITH CONDITION

A Melrose man will stand trial on June 24.

Daniel Whigham, 25, of Eildon Crecent, pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at his home on February 21, and sending messages to a woman threatening to post pictures of her of a sexual nature on the internet.

An intermediate hearing was set for May 27. Whigham was bailed with a condition not to contact the woman.

FRAUD ALLEGATION

A MAN alleged to have committed a benefits fraud totalling more than £28,000 has had his trial adjourned until July 1.

William Howie, 50, of King Street, Galashiels, denies obtaining £13,629 income support, £12,357 housing benefit and £1,779 council tax benefit to which he was not entitled between August 2007 and September 2011. He also denies obtaining £897 income support to which he was not entitled between August 2012 and October 2012.

An intermediate hearing was set for June 2.

CASE IS CONTINUED

A STICHILL man appeared in private, facing two charges of fraud.

Desmond Lindsay, 50, of Stichill Craigend, appeared on petition and made no plea or declaration. The case was continued and Lindsay released on bail.

REPORTS WANTED

A carer who ill-treated a 90-year-old patient at a nursing home had sentence deferred until April 11 for reports.

First offender Linda McLardie, 49, of Howdenbank, Hawick, admitted shouting at the elderly man, who has since died, and repeatedly striking him on the nose. The offence happened on various occasions between June 2012 and August 2013 at Knowesouth Nursing Home, Jedburgh.

FINED £100

A Hawick man who behaved in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in the town was fined £100.

Stephen Norman, of Wellington Court, admitted shouting and swearing at Sandbed on May 17.

The court heard 49-year-old Norman had been of good behaviour during a six-month period of deferred sentence.

CANNABIS CHARGE

Four Hawick men appeared in private, charged on petition with being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Mark Middleton, 25; Darrell Shearman, 21; Robert Walker, 23; and Gavin Rae, 22, were released on bail after making no plea or declaration.

The offence is alleged to have taken place in Galashiels on March 15.

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A 23-year-old Selkirk woman was remanded in custody.

Zoe Forsyth appeared in private on petition, charged with committing an offence under the Emergency Workers Act at an address in Selkirk, and threatening or abusive behaviour at Borders General Hospital.

She made no plea or declaration.

TEXT-MESSAGE OFFENDER

A man who sent a friend late-night text messages saying he was aroused by a naked two-year-old girl and wanted to touch her has had sentence deferred for six months.

Lee McDowall, 25, of Tweedbank, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register when he originally appeared from custody in December.

The “vulnerable” adult who received the messages was so concerned about the content of the messages he showed them to his support worker the following morning and police were called.

McDowall admitted sending offensive or obscene text messages from his home in Jura Drive on December 27/28.

At a previous hearing defence lawyer Iain Burke said McDowall’s comments had been entirely fictional and that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

TREATMENT ORDER

A Galashiels man has been placed on a two-year Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO).

William Kennedy, 29, of Croft Street, admitted stealing boxed sets from Boots in Gala Water Retail Park, Galashiels, on December 5 last year, and also stealing tobacco from Tweedbank Late shop on December 8.

MUST DO UNPAID WORK

Failing to comply with a bail curfew resulted in Daniel Stewart being sentenced to 130 hours of unpaid work.

Stewart, 23, of Lovell Court, Hawick, was ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work after he admitted breaching a bail curfew at his then home in High Tweed Mill, Galashiels, on May 31 last year. He was sentenced to a further 70 hours after he admitted a similar offence on May 10, 2013.

Eoin Fairgrieve has come a long way since he started as a young 19-year-old ghillie on the River Tweed around Kelso back in 1988.

Nowadays, you’re just as likely to find him piloting a remote helicopter along stretches of the famous river, capturing video footage for his latest angling-related venture, as you are finding him with a rod in his hand.

Eoin worked as a ghillie for 13 years before opening his own fishing school from a cabin at the Teviot Smokery.

However, in recent years he has based himself and the fast-growing school at the Roxburghe Hotel, just outside Heiton.

As well as running the school as part of his company, Eoin Fairgrieve Fly-Fishing, and introducing thousands of youngsters to the myriad delights of angling; making videos and taking clients on exclusive trips to exotic fishing destinations such as Norway and Russia, Eoin also makes time to work on his own range of fishing tackle and to pen articles, complete with his own photographs, for some of the world’s leading angling publications.

His latest venture, set up towards the end of last year, sees the business take off in a new direction, however.

He has christened it Speycast Media – speycast because that is the main casting technique that Eoin teaches to salmon fishing clients.

“A few years ago I started writing articles for angling publications and eventually I was asked if I could supply photographs to go with these,” Eoin explained.

“So I got myself a decent camera and started learning about basic photography.

One thing led to another and last year I acquired a remote-controlled quadcopter helicopter, which has a gimbal underneath from which is slung a GoPro camera.

“Its four propellers make the Phantom highly manoeuverable, so it’s great for getting a panning effect when filming, as well as being a very economic method of doing aerial filming compared to the traditional method of hiring a full-size chopper and pilot.

“It brings a third dimension to what I can offer, and I can now make videos, not only for people as a reminder of their fishing experience, but also for magazines, broadcast companies and others who need stock video footage of angling and the Tweed.

“I currently have a major project in the planning for a tackle company, so the video side of things is certainly gathering momentum.

“The GoPro camera has been great because I can wear it on my head or shoulder when I am teaching, or when I have someone out fishing, and it means I am shooting masses of footage just while doing what I call my normal ‘day job’.

“It means I can be standing beside someone in the water as they reel in a fish and can capture that magical moment when it breaks the surface in front of them.”

Although Eoin admits the times he gets just to pick up his own rod for a few hours’ quiet fishing are few and far between these days, he doesn’t feel he can complain.

“I have a huge amount of passion for my job and get an immense amount of joy from it – from all aspects of it. “I get equal enjoyment from taking people out on the water and getting them enthused; or teaching kids on the loch at the Roxburghe and it’s fantastic when you see them thrilled by the experience.”

Visit www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk to see Eoin’s video.

Football

saturday, mArch 15

SPFL league Two

Clyde 1 Stirling Albion 0

Elgin City 2 Annan Athletic 3

Montrose 2 East Stirling 0

Peterhead 3 Berwick Rangers 0

Queen’s Park 4 Albion Rovers 0

P W D L F A Pts

Peterhead 29 18 7 4 61 31 61

Annan Athletic 28 15 5 8 56 41 50

Clyde 29 14 6 9 39 34 48

Stirling Albion 29 11 8 10 42 43 41

East Stirling 29 11 8 10 38 40 41

Montrose 29 10 8 11 37 42 38

Berwick Rangers 29 10 7 12 48 42 37

Albion Rovers 28 9 8 11 32 38 35

Elgin City 29 7 7 15 48 60 28

Queen’s Park 29 4 6 19 28 58 18

South Challenge Cup 1st Round

Lothian Thistle H Vale 2 Threave Rovers 1

Preston Athletic 0 Dalbeattie Star 5

Nithsdale Wanderers 1 Spartans 7

East Kilbride 2 University of Stirling 1

The King Cup 2nd Round

Whitehill Welfare 5 Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

Vale of Leithen 0 Edinburgh University 2

Gretna 2008 3 Coldstream 3
(Gretna won 5-4 on pens)

East of Scotland First Division

Ormiston 2 Hibernian 4

Berwick Rangers 2 Easthouses Lily MW 0

Hawick RA 4 Burntisland Shipyard 0

Peebles Rovers 4 Kelso United 0

P W D L F A Pts

Hibernian 15 12 1 2 63 15 37

Easthouses Lily 15 11 3 1 51 19 36

Berwick Rangers 15 8 0 7 31 25 24

Kelso United 14 5 4 5 25 32 19

Peebles Rovers 13 4 3 6 25 32 15

Ormiston 14 5 0 9 24 39 15

Eyemouth United 13 4 2 7 26 37 14

Hawick RA 12 4 1 7 22 32 13

Duns 14 3 3 8 24 38 12

Burntisland Ship 13 3 3 7 16 38 12

East of Scotland Qualifying League

section a

Tynecastle 2 Eyemouth United 0

P W D L F A Pts

Lothian Th H Vale 7 6 1 0 24 4 19

Tynecastle 7 5 1 1 23 8 16

Kelso United 7 2 1 4 10 16 7

Eyemouth United 8 1 2 5 12 26 5

CS Strollers 7 1 1 5 6 21 4

section b

Stirling University 1 Duns 3

P W D L F A Pts

Edinburgh Univ 8 6 0 2 21 8 18

Stirling Univ 8 5 1 2 16 7 16

Hawick RA 8 4 1 3 15 16 13

Duns 8 2 0 6 14 21 6

Ormiston 8 2 0 6 8 22 6

section c

Leith Athletic 1 Craigroyston 2

Beveridge Cup Quarter-Finals

Hearts of Liddesdale 0 Tweeddale Rovers 9

Newtown P Chirnside Utd P

Walls Cup Quarter-Final

Eyemouth Ams 0 Jed Legion 3

border amateur league division a

Ancrum 4 West Barns Star 3

Leithen Rovers 1 Hawick Waverley 0

P W D L F A Pts

Chirnside Utd 18 11 4 3 54 34 37

West Barns Star 16 9 2 5 59 44 29

Newtown 18 8 4 6 40 32 28

Hawick Waverley 16 8 4 4 37 29 28

Gala Fairydean 18 7 2 9 50 50 23

Leithen Rovers 12 7 1 4 28 21 22

Greenlaw 15 6 2 7 34 42 20

Ancrum 15 5 4 6 36 47 19

Tweeddale Rovers 18 5 3 10 32 41 18

Stow 12 5 2 5 30 20 17

*Hearts of L’dale 16 1 2 13 24 64 -1

*points deducted

border amateur league division b

Gala Hotspur v Coldstream Ams w/o

Gordon 0 Langholm Legion 0

Selkirk Victoria 4 Biggar 3

P W D L F A Pts

Jed Legion 17 14 0 3 57 17 42

Hawick Utd 17 10 2 5 55 54 32

Gordon 13 10 1 2 76 17 31

Hawick Legion 18 9 3 6 66 45 30

Eyemouth Ams 19 8 4 7 68 50 28

Langholm Legion 17 8 3 6 57 38 27

Coldstream Ams 16 7 2 7 37 28 23

Gala Hotspur 16 6 3 7 47 41 21

Linton Hotspur 14 4 1 9 26 39 13

*Biggar 15 1 1 13 20 60 -2

*Selkirk Victoria 14 1 0 13 5 125 -3

*points deducted

border amateur league division c

Kelso Thistle 3 CFC Bowholm 0

Lauder 5 Hawick Legion Rovers 3

St Boswells 0 Earlston Rhymers 1

P W D L F A Pts

Chirnside UC 15 10 2 3 52 30 32

Kelso Thistle 16 10 2 4 40 25 32

Earlston Rhymers 14 8 3 3 36 22 27

St Boswells 16 6 4 6 37 36 22

Melrose 15 6 2 7 42 37 20

Tweedmouth Ams 16 6 3 7 33 40 18 *

Lauder 14 4 5 5 31 34 17

CFC Bowholm 14 4 2 8 25 35 14

*Hawick LR 16 2 1 13 28 65 4

*points deducted

North Northumberland Division 1

North Sunderland 1 Shilbottle 5

Red Row Welfare 3 Springhill 0

Rothbury 2 Bamburgh Castle 3

Tweedmouth Rangers 3 Highfields United 4

P W D L F A Pts

Shilbottle CW 12 11 1 0 65 21 34

Bamburgh Castle 12 8 1 3 37 34 25

Tweedmouth R 11 7 2 2 44 19 23

Red Row Welfare 11 6 2 3 35 23 20

North Sunderland 12 4 2 6 22 37 14

Rothbury 11 4 1 6 28 37 13

Highfields United 13 4 0 9 30 44 12

Tweedmouth H 13 3 0 10 26 54 9

*Springhill 15 3 1 11 19 37 7

*points deducted

North Northumberland Division 2

Alnmouth Utd 3 Hedgeley Rovers 1

Duns 2 CrasterRovers 3

Embleton 1 Amble St Cuthbert 7

Lowick Utd 8 Lynemouth Anglers 0

P W D L F A Pts

Wansbeck Juns 18 15 2 1 102 24 47

Lowick United 17 12 2 3 83 29 38

Craster Rovers 17 8 7 2 47 25 31

Amble St Cuthbert 16 8 2 6 40 45 26

Duns 15 8 1 6 51 28 25

Alnmouth Utd 17 8 1 8 34 58 25

Embleton WR 15 6 1 8 46 48 19

*Wooler Res 15 3 2 10 21 68 8

*Lynemouth Ang 14 1 1 12 23 53 1

Hedgeley Rovers 14 0 1 13 11 80 1

*points deducted

northern alliance division 1

Wooler 2 North Shields Athletic 2

P W D L F A Pts

Cramlington T 21 14 3 4 54 34 45

Newcastle Chem 16 10 3 3 44 21 33

*Gateshead Red 17 11 1 5 63 33 31

Wooler 23 8 7 8 42 44 31

*Newcastle Univ 19 9 5 5 59 38 29

North Shields Ath 15 9 2 4 43 30 29

Ponteland Utd 18 7 7 4 34 33 28

Gosforth Boh 19 8 4 7 36 38 28

Birtley St J 20 7 6 7 48 44 27

Cullercoats 19 6 4 9 36 40 22

New Fordley 19 6 4 9 42 57 22

Bedlington T Res 19 6 3 10 38 41 21

Hexham 19 6 1 12 30 49 19

*Heddon 23 7 1 15 37 79 19

Willington Quay 21 3 3 15 29 54 1

*points deducted

FIXTURES

saturday, mArch 22

SPFL League two (3pm)

Albion Rovers v Elgin City

Annan Athletic v Peterhead

Berwick Rangers v Clyde

East Stirling v Queen’s Park

Stirling Albion v Montrose

Lowland League (3pm)

Threave Rovers v University of Stirling

Lowland League Cup Section A (3pm)

Preston Athletic v Selkirk

Vale of Leithen v Gala Fairydean Rovers

Lowland League Cup Section c (3pm)

Dalbeattie Star v Gretna 2008

The King Cup 2nd Round (3pm)

Edinburgh City v Berwick Rangers

East of Scotland premier Division (2.30)

Stirling University v Craigroyston

Coldstream v Spartans

Leith Athletic v Heriot-Watt University

East of Scotland first Division (2.30)

Duns v Burntisland Shipyard

Eyemouth United v Hibernian

Hawick Royal Albert v Peebles Rovers

East of Scotland Qualifying league

section a (2.30)

CS Strollers v Tynecastle

Kelso United v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Waddell Cup Quarter-Final (2pm)

Newtown v Greenlaw

Forsyth Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)

Jed Legion v Chirnside Utd Colts

St Boswells v Earlston Rhymers

Beveridge Cup 1st Round (2pm)

Hawick Waverley v Stow

Beveridge Cup Quarter-Final (2pm)

Gala Fairydean Rovers v Ancrum

Walls Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)

Biggar v Coldstream Ams

Linton Hotspur v Gordon

Sanderson Cup Quarter-Final (2pm)

Melrose v CFC Bowholm

border amateur league division a (2.30)

Leithen Rovers v Chirnside Utd

border amateur league division b (2.30)

Hawick Utd v Selkirk Victoria

Langholm Legion v Gala Hotspur

Bilclough Cup Quarter-finals (2pm)

Craster Rovers v Tweedmouth Harrow

Lowick Utd v North Sunderland

Red Row Welfare v Amble St Cuthbert

Wooler Reserves v Tweedmouth Rangers

Laidler/ Lancaster Cup

Quarter-finals (2pm)

Embleton WR v Shilbottle CW

Highfields Utd v Alnmouth Utd

Lynemouth Anglers v Bamburgh Castle

Springhill v Duns

northern alliance division 1 (2.30)

Newcastle Chemfica (Ind) v Wooler

Sunday, March 23

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup FINAL (2.30)

Whitehill Welfare v Spartans (St Mark’s Park, Edinburgh)

tuesday, mArch 25

SPFL League two (7.45)

Albion Rovers v Annan Athletic

wednesday, mArch 26

Lowland League (7.45)

Threave Rovers v Spartans

rugby

thursday, mArch 13

border league pool B

Peebles 5 Melrose 40

P W l d F A B Pts

Melrose 2 2 0 0 65 21 1 9

Selkirk 1 0 1 0 16 25 0 0

Peebles 1 0 1 0 5 40 0 0

friday, mArch 14

Premiership

Ayr 32 Glasgow Hawks 7

border league pool a

Gala 33 Hawick 13

P W l d F A B Pts

Hawick 3 2 1 0 67 63 5 9

Gala 1 1 0 0 33 13 1 5

Jed-Forest 2 1 1 0 46 56 1 5

Kelso 2 0 2 0 40 54 1 1

saturday, mArch 15

Premiership

Edinburgh Academical 14 Heriot’s 26

P W l d F A B Pts

Gala 17 13 3 1 448 281 13 67

Melrose 17 14 3 0 468 302 9 65

Heriot’s 17 12 4 1 382 316 8 58

Ayr 16 11 5 0 401 246 12 56

Currie 17 7 9 1 347 438 4 34

Glasgow Hawks 17 5 10 2 372 398 9 33

Edinburgh Accies 17 6 11 0 322 462 6 30

Stirling County 17 5 12 0 255 341 9 29

Hawick 16 5 10 1 308 407 6 28

Aberdeen Gram 17 3 14 0 320 432 10 22

east Division 1

Langholm P Portobello FP P

east Division 2

Inverleith 19 Forrester 24

P W l d F A B Pts

Dalkeith 18 17 1 0 1067 208 16 84

Berwick 18 16 2 0 1007 163 13 77

Forrester 18 14 4 0 673 249 13 69

*Trinity Acads 17 10 7 0 488 282 11 49

Edinburgh N 18 8 10 0 290 587 3 35

Inverleith 18 7 11 0 220 560 6 34

Earlston 17 6 11 0 316 462 9 33

Leith 18 6 12 0 270 621 6 30

Penicuik 18 3 15 0 202 553 6 18

*Lismore 18 2 16 0 107 955 2 8

east Division 3

RDVC 19 St Boswells 65

Queensferry P Gala YM P

P W l d F A B Pts

St Boswells 14 14 0 0 800 89 14 70

Ross High 14 9 5 0 343 226 5 41

*Gala YM 12 10 2 0 406 147 8 40

Liberton FP 12 7 5 0 253 224 5 33

*Broughton 14 7 7 0 268 385 3 29

*RDVC 14 2 11 1 190 391 3 11

Queensferry 13 2 11 0 119 467 2 10

*Walkerburn 13 1 11 1 128 578 3 1

*points deducted

northumberland senior plate semi-final

Whitley Bay Rockcliffe 17 Berwick 62

FIXTURES

saturday, mArch 22

Premiership (3pm)

Edinburgh Acad v Stirling County

Gala v Ayr

Glasgow Hawks v Aberdeen Grammar

Hawick v Heriot’s

Melrose v Currie

national league (3pm)

Boroughmuir v GHA

Dundee HSFP v Selkirk

Kelso v Peebles

Hillhead/Jordanhill v Biggar

Watsonians v Stewart’s-Melville FP

championship b (3pm)

Aberdeenshire v Livingston

Hawick YM v Musselburgh

Jed-Forest v Lasswade

Kirkcaldy v Howe of Fife

Murrayfield Wands v Haddington

border regional cup (3pm)

Peebles v Kelso

border regional shield (3pm)

Berwick v Earlston

Duns v Hawick Harlequins

Langholm v Hawick Linden

edinburgh regional shield final (3pm)

RHC v Preston Lodge

east Division 1 (3pm)

Linlithgow v Dunbar

east Division 3 (3pm)

Liberton FP v Walkerburn (2pm)

Queensferry v Gala YM

Sunday, March 23

border u16 league (3pm)

Duns v Selkirk

Hawick Albion v Kelso

Jed-Forest v Langholm

Melrose v Peebles

At the Past Captains’ Dinner held recently at Minto Golf Club (main picture), immediate Past Captain, Ron Elliott, presented a cheque for £132 to Bill Glennie of the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team (inset), which was Ron’s chosen charity for his year in office. The money was raised mostly from donations by players whose route to the eighth green was via the Captain’s bunker.

The rest came from donations at the dinner.

The dinner provided Minto golfers with a delicious taste of what is to come as the catering was provided by the club’s new caterers, the Juicy Meat Company of Kincraig Farm, Hume, near Kelso.

Sporting digest

Archery

Ettrick Forest Archers

The club’s clout season got off to a windy start, which is refelcted in the scores, but somehow Alan Lindsay and Elaine Pearson both managed a clout – the latter described as a jammy toucher.

Results: Gents – 1, Alan Lindsay 23 hits, 55 score, 1 clout; 2, Jimmy Stillie 25, 52, 0 ; 3, Wullie Good 18, 42, 0; 4, Colin Cairney 12, 24, 0; 5, Doug Anderson 11, 23, 0; 6, Mike Pearson 6, 13, 0; 7, Jamie Kelly 0, 0, 0. Ladies – Elaine Pearson 38, 88, 1. Juniors – Kyle Fairbairn 21, 44, 0.

The next scoring round will be on April 12, as the club hosts the 10th BLBS Scottish Target Round – a York for the gentlemen and a Double National for the ladies, with a 10am start.

DARTS

Borders team

Border Area pool of players to play East Renfrewshire at home on Saturday, March 29 – Men: Adam Ballantyne, Graeme Bell, Tommy Crossett, Callum Donaldson, Norrie Forsyth, Kevin Green, Darren Grey, Paul Hannaway, Kevin Inglis, Kenny Lattimer, Craig Martin, Jimmy McGuigan, Steven J Patterson, Gordon Peters, Callum Stewart, Mike Vietch, Chris Waddell, Kevin Wright. Reserves: Darren Bohme, Peter Craig, Ryan Hogarth & Kevin Richardson.

Women: Alison Burnett, Karen Darling, Irene Hogarth, Nicola Hogarth, Helen Knight, Moira Middlemas, Janice Mitchell, Jackie Robertson, Lyn Scott, Laura Virtue.

Any call-offs or queries, contact Robert on 07504 493676.

Golf

Best National

In Scotland’s historic Ryder Cup year, the nation’s golf club members are being encouraged to be their ‘Best’, with two of the country’s most popular national championships soon set to again tee off.

And the Borders is set to host two of the events – including the Grand Final.

The Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship, Scotland’s largest participation national handicap tournament, is back for another year, with around 25,000 golfers expected to take part.

Equally, the Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship for club officials, first staged in 2006, returns to the handicap calendar. The title of ‘national champion’ awaits the winners of each competition.

Part of the Scottish Golf Union’s portfolio of national championships for golfers at all levels, the high-profile Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship is staged exclusively for members of Scotland’s 576 clubs.

Now in its 15th year, the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship gives ordinary club golfers the rare chance of competing on the big stage in front of the SGU TV cameras – with this year’s grand final taking place in the Borders.

The leading 40 club pairings will qualify for a sought-after place in the showpiece final at the stunning Roxburghe course near Kelso on Friday, September 19 – a week before the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

Also, Peebles Golf Club will host a qualifier event, on August 27, where players will be looking for a place in the regional final.

Ross Duncan, SGU marketing and sponsorship manager, said: “Thanks to Belhaven’s continued sponsorship, we’re delighted to again be staging both popular handicap events as part of our support to clubs and golfers at the grass roots level.

“We’d encourage as many clubs as possible to take part and give their members a chance of claiming the title of national champions.”

Visit www.scottishgolf.org/events/ for all event information.

Galashiels

Seniors Section, sponsored by John Scott ( Plumbing & Heating ) – Winter League: winner, A. Redhead nett 35.

ELDC Cup result: 1, K. W. Simpson and A. Simpson 60; 2, W. Morrison and A. Hitchcock 61.

Lauder

Winter League: A very healthy westerly wind greeted the golfers for the penultimate week of the Winter League. Considering the conditions, the scoring was above average.

Mr Consistency Harry Moffat has been knocking at the door all winter, but he has finally walked through with a two-under par score of 68.

Result: 1, H. Moffat 85 (17) 68; 2, S. Thomson 88 (19) 69; 3, G. Cessford 91 (21) 70.

With none of the leaders able to improve their March score, Thomson’s 344 still leads the Winter League Aggregate by 1 shot from Louis Scott, with Tom Hogarth a further shot back.

Winter Eclectic: Dougie Bain managed to record two birdies at the 9th and 16th , unfortunately he had already recorded eclectic birdies at both holes. Tom Hogarth recorded a two at the sixth to increase his lead in the overall score.

Eclectic: Tom Hogarth 51.75; 2, Dougie Bain 53; 3, Ron Dick 53.75.

Sunday, March 23 is the final round of the Winter League and Winter Eclectic. With such close aggregate scores, an exciting final round is expected.

Melrose

Belhaven Winter League: 1, I. Ramsey 3 up; 2, D.Page 2 up.

Torwoodlee

Weekend March Medal result, March 15: 1, Scott Nightingale 71 (4) 67 (bih & lowest gross); 2, George Meiklem 74 (7) 67; 3, Graham Macdonald 75 (8) 67; 4, Ian Durham 76 (7) 69; 5, George Bertram 79 (10) 69. 14 twos, 55 played.

This weekend’s competition – Millenium Pairs Trophy: two-man Texas scramble, 6 drives per player. Pick your own partners. Players can play in two balls or four balls. Enter via Psi terminal as you would a Tuesday stroke. Play Saturday or Sunday from yellow tees. £6 per team.

Orienteering

Border Reivers

The 2014 Scottish Orienteering League got under way at Devilla Forest, near Kincardine, on Sunday.

Unfortunately what was once prime forest is now getting fairly rough underfoot, but some members of Roxburgh Reivers revel in such conditions and the club had three winners on the day.

John Tullie started off where he left it in 2013 with a convincing win on M55 and later in the day collected his trophy for winning the 2013 league.

Robin Sloan followed up his win last weekend with another win in M65, and Pauline McAdam took top spot on W55 despite having ran in the British Masters Cross Country Championships in Glasgow the previous day.

Ian Maxwell was the only other podium place, taking third on M50.

Faisal Khursheed M16 and Marc Heger M14, both from Melrose, had their first competitive runs on a really technical course, and although finishing outwith the medals acquitted themselves well and gained valuable experience.

The next local event is at Bowhill on Saturday, March 29.

Pool

KO Cup

Ship A fought back to clinch the KO Cup in a one-frame shootout after winning the second leg 5-4 and losing the first leg by the same score.

In a match that seesawed both ways, the game fittingly went to the final black, with Craig Reid taking the cup for the Ship after Kieran Riddell gave Reivers A high hopes with two great pots, only to jaw his attempt at the black .

The Quaich final went to High Level B, who edged Reivers B 5-4 in a tremendous game played at the neutral Fleece.

Their win was fully deserved as they turned up with only five players and started two frames down, but bounced back in great fashion, winning four on the trot before Reivers squared it at four-all, leaving Level supremo Jim Hume to seal victory in the final tense frame .

Snooker

Snooker League

Tommy Douglas Storage Borders Snooker League – tonight’s games: Innerleithen v Hawick Con A; Kelso Legion v Hawick Burns B; Selkirk A v Selkirk B; Hawick Con B v Jedburgh Legion; Hawick Burns A v St Boswells.

This weekend’s big event – the J. J. Xpress Borders Singles Competition, Sunday, March 23: semi-finals , final and presentation day. Hawick Conservative Club, noon for a 12.30 start. J. Nicol v P. Crolla; F. Kelly v R. Scott.

Jean Yule Cup results – Semi-finals: Hawick Burns A 4 Selkirk A 3; Kelso Legion 2 Jedburgh Legion 4; Jean Yule Plate semi-final: Hawick Con A P Innerleithen P; Hawick Con B 4 Selkirk B 2.

Squash

Galashiels

League Three: Luis Molero 3 Ruaridh Kohler 0.

Club night friendlies: A. Rocha 1 M. Sillies 1; D. Sharratt 3 L. Molero 0; A. Rocha 2 I. Yousef 0; D. Sharratt 2 M. Sillies 0; L. Molero 2 S. Walker 0; D. Sharratt 2 S. Walker 0; I. Yousef 2 A. Rocha 0; I. Yousef 2 S. Walker 0; A. Rocha 2 R. Kohler 0; D. Sharratt2 A. Rocha 0.

The Tesco Bank 4 Abbeys Challenge 2014 was launched last week with a brand new website – www.tescobankfourabbeyschallenge.com – to support Scotland’s newest cycling event.

And this year, it will be open to the general public for the first time.

This event – which takes in the beautiful surroundings of four ruined abbeys in the Borders (Kelso, Jedburgh, Melrose and Dryburgh) –takes place on Saturday, June 7.

Participants are chalenged to take on routes covering a 10km steep hike or cycling 46km or 91km.

Registration is open, but places are limited.

Adele Mills, community investment manager at Tesco Bank, said: “The Tesco Bank 4 Abbeys Challenge has steadily grown over the past three years – we are delighted to open it to the public as a sportive this year.

“There is sure to be plenty of interest in the route which is well known to keen cyclists. We strive to provide opportunities to promote health and wellbeing, supporting local charities and good causes in the areas where we operate.”

Colin Higgins, building manager at Tesco Bank, and a participant last year, added: “The event is extremely well-managed, with participants’ safety and enjoyment at the forefront of mind throughout the day. I am looking forward to taking part again this year.”

Fjordhus Ladies 1sts 6

Granite City Wands 0

In the final game of the season, Reivers produced a fitting farewell to the departing youngsters Emily Newlands and Zoe Higgins, who are moving on to higher education outwith the area.

After a period of building play, Reivers took charge of the game, with swift transition across the pitch resulting in a penalty corner.

The corner team were clinical in their execution and with the pace of injection from Pippa Bell and precision stick stop from Jack, Newlands hammered the ball home from top circle off the foot of an unlucky defender.

This gave the home team confidence and from another well-worked corner routine, they doubled their lead.

After Jack’s dummy at the top of the circle, she fired the ball to the far post where Bell was waiting to deflect the ball into the roof of the net.

Shortly afterwards the home team were 3-0 up when after the breakdown of another short corner, Denise Fairbairn did well to collect the ball, creating a 2v1 against the sole defender, before slipping it to Bell, who was waiting on the penalty spot.

Reivers continued to dominate the game after the break and created several more chances.

The next goal came from a sweeping move created by Morven Cawthorn, across the pitch to Jack, and on to Laura Mclean who had made a great lateral run to the left. She picked out Lucy Inglis, who chose her spot with a reverse-stick shot into the far corner.

The pressure continued with Granite City unable to get out of their own half as a result of great closing-down play, in particular from Elena Lunn and Leia Mackinnon.

The fifth goal came when Higgins found herself in space at the top of the circle, and although the initial shot was blocked, Lunn was on hand at the far post to slot the ball into the goal.

Reivers didn’t take their foot off the pedal and scored again before the final whistle.

Once more, decisive play from the attacking line resulted in a further penalty corner. This time, Jack withstood the on-rushing defenders and coolly picked her spot at the far post.

This was an excellent team performance and a fitting end to the season where Reivers finished in the top five of National Division 2.

Saturday was a busy day in the athletics calendar for many Gala Harriers – juniors, masters and those who just enjoy running up hills, through burns and tackling assault courses in the dark.

Jamie Logan travelled to Riccarton and the Heriot-Watt University campus for the Scottish Athletics Junior Road Race Championships.

In the Under-13 boys’ category, he finished a most creditable 17th out of 68, while his older counterparts in the mature categories of the club were on their way to Tollcross Park in Glasgow for the British Masters Athletics Federation annual cross-country championships.

The senior women have been competing very strongly over the winter season and quite justifiably had high hopes of some good results.

Over the 6km parkland course, alongside a field of 103 women, Jenny Forbes (11th in 24 minutes and 5 seconds), Fiona Dalgleish (15th in 24.18) and Rachel Fagan (35th in 25.44) combined beautifully to come home as the third team overall, but nevertheless took the silver medal in their category. Forbes, with her excellent time and placing, also picked up an individual silver medal – two spectacular results for the local club in a field of teams from right across the UK.

Not to be outdone, Graeme Murdoch sprinted home in the men’s 8km course in a magnificent eighth place in 27.25.

He was joined by Colin McCall (45th in 29.36) Paul Daly (86th in 31.53) Derrick Brydon (99th in 33.22) and Alastair Laurie (120th in 36.42), scooping seventh-placed team out of 15 and 129 runners in total.

And some folk think running round a park just isn’t tough enough, so they get dressed up in tweed, tartan and headtorches and head for Traquair and the challenge that is the Deerstalker.

In daylight, an (allegedly) 5km course includes hill climbs, knee-deep mud, waist-high water and military-style elements, but Jason Grainger (1 hour 8 minutes and 2 seconds) wriggled home as the first Harrier, with Matthew Purves (1.17.39) Kelly Doogan (1.27.06) Ally McGilvray (1.34.17) Anne Purves (1.40.45 – 11 minutes faster than last year) and Jill Grainger (1.41.20) all loving their extreme afternoon out.

The Mighty Deerstalker starts in daylight, but ends in darkness and purports to be 10km with all of the above and more; Gillian Duncan and Tony Lunn made it over the finish line as the first Harriers in 1 hour 50 minutes and 32 seconds, while Graham Pogson (1.52.56) and Anja Campbell and Anne Weir (both 1.58.10) weren’t far behind in the row of bobbing head torches.

Fjordhus Reivers U14 A and B travelled up to Meggetland for the final time this season.

Having began the league tentatively against some well-established Edinburgh sides, Reivers A and B have grown in confidence and performance with every game. Fjordhus A played Inverleith in their first match and after going 2-0 down, fought back with better one-touch passing to close the game at 2-2.

They finished their season well and even though beaten 3-1 in their final game by a very skilful Grange team, the workrate and effort shown by the whole team was extremely impressive.

Fjordhus B started slowly against a strong Fidra A and for the first 15minutes were held in their own half. Trailing 1-0, Reivers began to link and found an equaliser late into the match, making the final score 1-1.

In their last game, they again went a goal down, but proved more determined.

With consistent running on and off the ball, two goals shortly followed and they enjoyed their 2-1 victory over Grange Development.

Euan Thorburn is hoping for his second win of the season in Saturday’s Brick and Steel Construction Border Counties Rally, writes Sandy Brydon.

Following his victory in the opening round of this year’s Scottish Rally Championship in Inverness, the Ford Focus WRC driver from Duns has a two-point lead in the ARR Craib-backed series over Aberdeenshire’s Quintin Milne, who battled snow and ice on the Kielder Forest stages to take the win in Jedburgh 12 months ago.

Once again, he will be co-driven by Paul Beaton from Inverness.

Defending champions David Bogie and Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae had to settle for fourth on the opening round in their Focus WRC – a puncture putting paid to any hopes of victory. However, Bogie is in confident mood: “We were fastest through four of the five stages, so the pace was certainly there – and that bodes well for the rest of the season. If we can go into the Border Counties with the same pace, then I see no reason why we can’t take the win.”

Dale Robertson from Duns, co-driven by Tranent’s Paul McGuire, currently sits fourth in the Group N category, 18 overall, in his new-for-2014 EVO 9. The pair lost time on the Snowman, when a brake pipe broke on the third stage, with six miles still to go.

Another Duns-based crew, father and daughter team Garry and Hollie Wilson, will aim to build on their top 20 finish on the Snowman, in a Mitsubishi EVO 5.

Jedburgh’s Tommy Heard, driving a Subaru Impreza at his local event has Amanda Burney from Kirkcudbright on the notes.

Other Borderers competing include Malton’s Steve Bannister, co-driven by Hawick’s Louise Sutherland; Colin Aitchison, co-driven by fellow Duns man Garry Pearson and Lauder’s Callum Atkinson, co-driven by Keith Riddick.

The first of nearly 100 cars will leave Abbey Place in Jedburgh at 8.30am on Saturday morning, with the leading competitors returning at around 2.30pm in the afternoon.

Full event details, including a seeded entry list, can be found at www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk. For news and updates of all SRC events, go to www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk

Juliet Smith and Lisa Campbell of Peebles LTC, pictured, won the ladies’ over-35s doubles at the ITF Scottish Seniors Open Championships held at Scotstoun, Glasgow, recently.

They beat Kent couple Karen Bays and Sue Depledge 6-1 6-0 to win the title for a fourth year in a row.

BEST (Borders Elite Swimming Team) performance squad members Ryan Brown and Kirsty Armstrong represented the Scottish youth team against their Irish counterparts at the Youth Dual Nations meet in Bangor.

The competition between the two national teams took the form of a dual meet where the quickest qualifier into the finals for each team was the only swimmer eligible to score points against the other team, meaning swimmers were encouraged to perform at their best in both heats and finals.

Brown scored maximum points for Scotland in both the 15/16 years 100m and 200m butterfly events with a superb, full-second PB in the former.

Armstrong also scored top points for Scotland in the 13/14 years 200m butterfly and was narrowly beaten in her other events.

Lead Coach for the Scottish Youth Team, Steve Tigg, said: “I couldn’t fault Ryan and Kirsty’s attitude and commitment one little bit.

“Both were extremely resilient under tough conditions with a lot of travel and long days, and they coped with the situation better than most”.

Brown was at it again just a few days later when BEST Performance Squad members competed at the Scottish Schools Championships in East Kilbride. Brown first won gold in the Open 400m individual medley. He then went on to win the 15/16 years 200m butterfly in Scottish Schools record time.

Squad up-and-comer Thomas Nicoll won his first Scottish Schools national title in the 12-and-under 50m freestyle, while Amy Richardson won bronze in the 13 years 200m butterfly with a massive 12-second personal best, achieving a British Age Group Championship qualifying time in the process.

Maili Brown and Jodie Pyman (both 12 and under) also did well to qualify for the championships, with both narrowly missing finals on the day. BSLT provided team t-shirts for the event.

BEST performance coach, Alex Jordan, told The Southern: “Our team members have been racing at numerous events recently and have been swimming fast.

“We also had six swimmers at the East District Challenge Meet, who recorded 26 substantial PBs from 27 swims.

“Lucy Hope also continued her preparations for next month’s Commonwealth Games Trials at a large competition in Berlin earlier this month.

“I’ve said in the past that the squad’s hard work would be rewarded in the long term and that has been proven true.”

Name: Leia Mackinnon.

Age: 15.

Hometown: Earlston.

Sport: Hockey.

Position: Forward/striker.

Teams: Earlston High, South Schools Under-16s, Fjordhus Reivers, Scotland Under-16s.

Coaches: Janet Jack, Pippa Bell and Bill Robson.

Your own best moment in sport so far?: Scoring a goal for Scotland at the UK School Games against Wales. We won 7-0.

Aims for the next 12 months?: To be selected for Under-18 Scotland squad.

Who in your sport has inspired you most and why? Kate Walsh, because she is always determined, such as when she got her jaw broken playing at the Olympics, she carried on.

Favourite TV sporting moment of all time: Definitely Andy Murray winning Wimbledon. It took determination and hard work and it obviously paid off!

Best thing about your sport?: Working together as a team and making friends within the squad.

Fav piece of kit/equipment? My hockey stick. I couldn’t score goals without it!

If you had the chance to change one thing in your sport, what would it be?: People thinking it is a girls’ sport.

Venue at which you most aspire to compete: The Olympic Hockey Centre in Sydney, Australia.

If not in this sport, would like to compete in: Athletics (sprinting). I love the close competition.

Current most played song or track on your i-pod or MP3 player: Addicted to you by Avicii.

... but can’t stand: Anything by Cheryl Cole.

Competition superstition or “must-do” personal routine: Turning my stick in my hands before the game starts.

When not competing or training I like to: Meet up with my friends, spend time with my family, play the guitar and sleep.

n 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

SO MANY permutations for Saturday’s results at Netherdale and The Greenyards are possible as to make predictions over the outcome a pretty thankless task, writes Laing Speirs.

But one thing is clear – if Gala win the Premiership it will have been over a very different set of opponents than in their last triumph in 1982-3.

Of the 14 sides in that much-recalled success for the Maroons, no fewer than 10 are now playing in lower divisions.

Only Hawick, Heriot’s and Melrose are still with Gala in this year’s competition, the first two of them taking second and third places 31 years ago.

And at Hawick, some folk are still recalling that the Greens didn’t finish their programme, being unable to settle on a date to play West of Scotland.

But it would have needed a win for Hawick by at least 109 points to snatch the title away from Netherdale.

The Gala side added the 1982-3 win to their two previous successes in the Schweppes National League in 1979-80 and 1980-1.

Netherdale was the home of a high-scoring outfit, Peter Dods being the top scorer in the first division with 141 points.

Don Ledingham and Jim Maitland led the try scorers in all the divisions, but it was scrum half Dave Bryson who took the headlines when he scored 34 points – then a club record – against Gordonians.

The only blemish on the Gala record was the early game against Hawick at Mansfield Park, when despite three penalties from Peter Dods, they went down 13-9 to the Greens.

But Gala finished their programme in style, three victories with more than 50 points each, setting up the final flurry that Hawick couldn’t match.

David Leslie led Gala in the last of their Scottish successes, but it was a team of all the talents.

Other internationalists wearing the Maroon jersey that year were Dods, Tom Smith, Derek White, Kenny Lawrie, Jim Aitken and Bobby Cunningham.

It will be no surprise to find a few of these names around the ropes on Saturday.

Gala 33

Hawick 13

Having had to work hard for their win at Mansfield, Gala found it an easier task by far on Friday night when they opened the defence of their Booker Border League title at Netherdale.

The Maroons extended their winning run over Hawick to nine games – their longest ever – and generally coped with the Green’s first half pressure, even though they had one eye on this week’s Premiership decider.

Nerves ahead of the vital games this weekend affected both sides.

Gala’s coach George Graham spotted anxiety about the prospect of injuries affecting his team.

And he was far from happy with some of Gala’s play.

He told us: “We missed a lot of tackles and I was very disappointed with the first-half performance.”

Hawick’s number eight forward Keith Davies, agreeing about the impact of nerves on the side, blamed mistakes in dealing with kick-offs.

Davies said: “We let them back into the game, but we were a bit unlucky with the interception try. But there was some good rugby from each side”.

Injuries and the call of the international meant changes in each side, but Gala were pleased with the first appearance of Ewan Gunter at scrum half in place of the coach’s injured son. He was alert and speedy in delivery.

The Border League formula allows each team seven replacements, and Hawick had on call the experience of such useful men as Matt Landels, Ross Graham and Bruce McNeill.

Gala supporters enjoyed the sight of replacement Tom Weir in for his first run since November, and he was early involved in his usual style.

Interceptions have become fashionable just recently, and David O’Hagan countered Neil Renwick’s early penalty with a neat try when he picked up a Hawick pass and strode in from the 22, Ewan Scott converting.

After some feckless kicking from each side, Grant Somerville threatened to repeat his award-winning try at Mansfield with a strong run down the right, and the forwards were on hand for Craig Borthwick to score.

Hawick’s last serious threat came with a Renwick penalty and then a fine try where space was provided for the full back to score at the posts, converting personally.

A half-time score of 12-13 didn’t give any indication of how strong Gala’s second half challenge would be, but Ewan McQuilin showed the way for a try converted by Scott.

Hawick’s cause was not helped by the departure of the injured Gary Johnstone, but the arrival of Bruce McNeill brought some urgency to their efforts, if only for a brief spell.

Grant Somerville’s ninth try of the season, far out on the right, and Opeta Palepoi’s by the posts, both converted by Scott, saw Gala comfortably home.

l Melrose comfortably beat Peebles by 40-5 at the Gytes on Thursday evening in the Border League Pool B match. Tries came from Graeme Dodds (3), Andrew Skene, Alan Dodds and Grant Runciman, with Andrew Skene converting five of them.

New Tredegar 7

Jed Thistle 28

JED THISTLE played their annual fixture against Welsh team New Tredegar on Friday, with Thistle running out victors by 28-7.

This was the 50th game between the clubs and New Tredegar made it a special day for both teams with a large crowd and mini rugby players forming a tunnel to cheer both teams onto the pitch.

Thistle started strongly, with the forwards gaining the upper hand along with some good tactical kicking from stand-off Rory Smith pinning Tredegar back in their own half.

The first score came from winger Calum McNeil, converted by Shane Armstrong.

Jed’s other tries came from Rory Marsall, Cole Lothian and Finlay Duff, all converted by Armstrong, with Thistle player Gregor Law getting the man of the match trophy.

Vale of Leithen 0

Edinburgh Univ2

Vale slumped to a miserable defeat in the final cup competition of the season as the students secured victory with a goal in each half, writes Dave Ryce.

Uni, currently sitting midtable in the East of Scotland Premier Division, are a decent outfit, demonstrating enthusiasm, fitness and the ability to move the ball about well. But weaknesses in certain areas were all too evident and a failure to effectively exploit them was Vale’s downfall.

A Luke Murray free kick put the visitors ahead after 26 minutes, although it was only thanks to a goal line clearance by Stuart McFarlane from a Ross Aitchison effort that they took the lead into the dressing room.

Early in the second half, Scott Gormley smacked a free kick off the crossbar and Aitchison forced a good save.

But in the 62nd minute a quick break forward by the visitors found the Vale defence posted missing and Jan Maelgar presented substitute Jack Guthrie with an opportunity he couldn’t miss.

Gormley hit the woodwork again, before the referee turned down appeals for a penalty when McFarlane appeared to handle in the box. Keeper Graham O’Brien received a straight red card for protesting the decision and coach Mickey Weir was sent to the stand for comments to the official.

Hawick Royal Albert 4

Burntisland Shpyrd 0

It was a meeting of the bottom dogs in the East of Scotland First Division – and it was Hawick Royal Albert who barked the loudest – and leapt two places over Shipyard and Duns.

Showing great bite throughout, Hawick snapped and growled their way to victory.

After a lively opening period in which both sides had came close to scoring, the Albert broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.

Running onto a Graeme Young pass, Kevin Strathdee produced a spot-on finish in drilling a shot past Shipyard keeper Mike Couser.

Burntisland came bouncing back and Keith Buckley unleashed an angled shot, but Dean Fry pulled off an excellent save.

In the 29th minute Hawick extended their lead. Fry booted a Shaun Fallan pass back down the park and after latching on to the ball, Young fired home.

The Albert had the edge for the remainder of the first half .

Early in the second period Fallan almost got his name on the scoresheet with a header on meeting a Nicky Cairns corner kick.

With 68 minutes gone Hawick did add to their tally. Cairns set up Strathdee with a lovely through ball and although his first shot was blocked by Couser, he managed to stick away the rebound.

With 10 minutes left, Albert struck again when Burntisland defender Peter Bell put through his own goal when attempting to clear a Strathdee shot.

And in the closing stages, Grant Blyth and Dale Robertson both came close for the Fifers.

Whitehill Welfare5

Gala FDR2

GALA travelled to Rosewell on Saturday for this King Cup second round match, determined to improve their fortunes after their loss to Selkirk.

But it was not to be. Welfare started quickly despite playing into the strong wind.

After seven minutes, Wayne McIntosh burst clean through on goal, rounded the keeper before slotting in from a tight angle to open the scoring.

And with 15 minutes on the clock, Andrew Kidd headed in a McIntosh cross.

Sean Palickza got one back for Gala with a low finish.

Whitehill emerged for the second half determined to use the wind behind them to their advantage – and McIntosh smashed the ball high into the net from a Stuart McLaughlin corner.

On 53 minutes, minutes Gala narrowed the gap again as Alan Nichol blocked Willie Kidd’s attempted clearance all the way into the net.

Welfare were largely dominant, though, and Danny Noon headed home a McIntosh cross and Mclaughlin played in Aaron Somerville, who ran in on goal and slotted home.

Peebles Rovers 4

Kelso United 0

Talk about the highs and lows of football – United went from the heights of defeating Hibs to hitting the depths at Whitestone Park on Saturday.

A hat-trick by midfielder Frankie Arthur – two of them from the penalty spot – and a strike from Scott Sutherland sealed victory for the home side.

It turned out quite an eventful day with three penalties awarded to Peebles and Kelso reduced to nine men by the end of the game – Elliott Turnbull and Grant Gass both sent off by Bothwell whistler Jim McCunnie.

“It was a bad day for us,” said Kelso manager Prof Blaikie. “We never performed and Peebles deserved their victory, however there were some dubious decisions by the ref which did not help our cause.”

Peebles had a strong wind advantage in the first half.

Both teams missed chances, before the home side took the lead in the 35th minute, when they worked a short corner on the right and good interplay between Jordan Hall and Arthur saw the latter hit a right-foot shot into the top corner of the net.

United started the second half well, but the first of Peebles’ penalties came in the 62nd minute when Callum Gass brought down full back Jonathan Flockhart at the edge of the box. The referee initially gave a free kick outside the box, but after consultation with his assistant the decision was changed to a penalty, which Arthur converted.

Six minutes later and it was penalty number two when a cross from the right saw Darren Bowie and Hall rise for a header. Referee McCunnie deemed that the United defender had fouled the Rovers front man. United captain Turnbull could not believe that a penalty had been given and smiled at the ref’s decision. The man in black decided that was dissent and the keeper was on his way to the dressing room, having already been booked.

Arthur made no mistake putting the ball in the bottom corner past substitute keeper Bowie.

Peebles increased their lead in the 80th minute when Sutherland rounded keeper Bowie from close range, having taken a neat pass from Chris Flockhart.

Penalty number three was given with three minutes remaining when a dust-up between Damien McNulty and Chris Flockhart ensued – both players were booked .

Arthur stepped up again, but this time hit the upright with his effort.

It was all too much for Grant Gass who gave the referee a verbal volley and it was his turn to walk from the field.