Such has been the success of the recent common riding race meetings at Gala Rig that organisers are now looking to put on a second one in August.

The annual event was voted a complete success, with a fantastic entry of horses on the day. The Peatlaw Handicap and the Mile attracted an impressive eight and nine entries respectively.

“The weather held out for the most part, with only a couple of showers, but that didn’t dampen the atmosphere on the course, or deter the crowds from supporting us once again,” said Rig secretary Stuart Hogarth. “All in all, it was a great afternoon’s racing, receiving positive feedback from both owners and jockeys.

“In light of this, the committee are proposing to hold another one on August 9. This meeting is provisional at present, but it is hoped that with some sponsorship support, and a good entry, that it will take place.

“The Rig has been going from strength to strength over the last few years and this second meeting could help cement it in the Borders Flapping calendar.”

Paul Conkie of the Fjordhus Reivers men’s hockey squad returned from Rotterdam this week after competing for Scotland at over-45 level in the Hockey Masters World Cup.

Paul played in six games, and while the Scots suffered heavy defeats to hosts Netherlands (9-0), England (5-1) and France (6-1), the highlights for the Borderer were scoring in a tight game against New Zealand, before losing 3-2, netting in a 3-0 win over Russia and notching the winner in a 2-1 victory against Wales in the final game. A great effort from Paul to score three times, from a player who normally plays in defence for the Reivers.

These results allowed the Scots to finish 10th overall.

Gala bounced back from a 279-run mauling by league leaders Edinburgh on Saturday to defeat Eastern Knights at Meigle Park on Sunday, and gain 20 much-needed league points.

Gala were indebted to a fine knock by skipper Duncan Millar, who fell just short of his first century for the home club when he was caught on 99 near the end of the innings.

Millar hit 10 boundaries in a fluent knock that displayed his shot-making skills all around the wicket.

Millar was well supported throughout the innings, especially from David Boland and Dinesh Tharanga, but the young visitors will rue a number of dropped catches and a generous 49 extras that saw Gala reach 251 for 6 at the end of their 50 overs.

In reply, Evans took the lead in a good opening partnership with Knights’ skipper Wells. However, once the former had holed out to Pringle off Tharanga, wickets fell at regular intervals and when Wells was the ninth man out for a well-made 65, with the score on 140, Gala looked to have ensured an early finish.

The last pair of Khan and Sadler had other ideas though. Aided by a dropped catch and Khan being saved from dismissal by Grahame Ormiston due to a no-ball call, the duo added 53 for the final wicket, before a great piece of fielding from Tharanga saw the Sri Lankan throw down the stumps with Sadler short of his ground attempting a second run to end the innings on 193.

For Gala, Robbie Pringle took three Knights wickets for 39 from his 10 overs, with Tharanga and Neil Crooks taking two wickets each, and Dean Moir and Ormistion notching one apiece.

Gala proved too strong for a young Selkirk/St Boswells combination at Philiphaugh last week, recording a comfortable nine-wicket win in the Borders Under-14s League.

The home team struggled to cope with the Gala bowling and were restricted to 32 for seven off their 20 overs.

Jack Gammie, Fergus Hastings and Jamie Crooks each picked up two wickets, with Ben Ballantyne taking one.

In reply, Gala knocked off the runs in the fifth over, with Jack Easson leading the way on 15 not out and with the help of 12 extras accrued by the hosts.

Kelso’s backers were treated to a top-of-the-table clash for their annual Sponsors Day at Shedden Park on Saturday.

The visitors were Dunnikier who were undefeated in the East of Scotland Division Two and sat in pole position before the game.

Kelso captain Dougie Wilson won the toss and elected to bat on what was a hard wicket which, in turn, promised a very entertaining game.

It did not disappoint.

The home innings started poorly with Dougie Wilson going for four in the first over after the ball took a deflection and rolled onto the stumps. Tom Grindell came in at three and didn’t see past the second over after he edged behind off the bowling of B.Shahzad which left Kelso seven for two after two overs.

Steven Patterson came to the crease and not for the first time this season steadied the ship with opener Mark Henderson. The third Kelso wicket fell when Patterson went for 18 with the score at 49.

Kelso continued to edge forward slowly when Ben Grindell came to the crease, before Henderson went for 18 off the bowling of S. Saeed.

Jason Gibson, Euan McNeill and Stuart Cessford all went cheaply, which left Kelso 94 for seven after 37 overs.

Up stepped Greg Davidson and, along with Grindell, he took the attack to the visitors. With the pair running hard between the wickets, Grindell moved onto another 50.

The partnership of 52 was broken by M. Sharif when Davidson went for 27 with the score at 148. Kelso only managed another 10 runs and lost the wickets of Grindell for 53 and Murray Scott for five, which left the home team 158 all-out off 49.3 overs.

The Dunnikier reply got off to a poor start when they lost A. Yousaf for a duck in the first over, having been clean-bowled by Cessford. Gibson then got S. Rowley for 10 which left the visitors on 19 for 2.

T. Aziz and F. Rafi got the visitors going along slowly before the latter went for 21 off the bowling of Gibson, while Steven Patterson bagged Aziz for 22, which left the visitors on 58 for 4.

Patterson then took M. Sharif and S. Mohammed cheaply, which left Dunnikier in real trouble at 78 for 6. A well-played 35 from S. Saeed was brought to an end with a run-out from Kelso keeper Mark Henderson. Patterson then picked up another wicket before Scott bowled M. Armaan for two.

Cessford then wrapped things up for Kelso when he bowled B. Shazad for three which gave the hosts a win by 30 runs and handed Dunnikier their first defeat of the season.

Hawick got off to a great start in defence of the Activity Presidents Plate by defeating Penicuik by nine wickets on Sunday.

A good bowling performance, led by Ryan Johnston, saw Penicuik all out for 96, with Hawick only conceding four extras.

In reply, Hawick openers Declan Solley and Ronan Alexander got off to a steady start before the latter was joined by Allan Moffat to accelerate towards the finish line with a 50 partnership off just 44 deliveries.

The visitors did all they could to get back into the game, but four maximums from Moffat and a reverse sweep from Alexander saw the Teries comfortably into the next round.

A half-century from Phil Mactaggart, helped by Neil Storey in a crucial 48-run partnership, managed to get Hawick over the line with two wickets to spare against Edinburgh II on Saturday.

Hawick bowler Ryan Johnston made the breakthrough with the score on nine.However, after this the Teries struggled, and poor fielding and dropped catches put them on the back foot, but Neil Storey’s two wickets in quick succession put them in the driving seat – the travelling side bowled out for 132.

In reply, Euan Hair and Ronan Alexander set a steady platform before both went to make it 30 for two.

Pierce Solley was the next man out, but Allan Moffat and Mactaggart steadied the ship and took Hawick into the 70s before Moffat was caught behind for 17.

Storey and Mactaggart kept the scoreboard ticking over, the latter reaching his first half-century of the season off just 36 balls.

And despite Storey being bowled for 20, Bruce Mactaggart stayed cool and hit the winning runs.

Oh how the clock turned back around noon on Tuesday when I spotted an emailed press release from Scottish Borders Council.

The headline wasn’t greatly inspiring: “Bike enthusiasts sought for new scheme”. But when I read it, I smiled and drifted back more than half a century to the days when boys were boys and did boys’ things. Those carefree days when the nights of spring, summer, autumn or winter provided challenges and fun.

Plundering for apples, plums and goosegogs; sitting by the trackside watching the steam trains and occasional diesel go by; putting pennies on the line to see them flattened by those mighty locomotives; playing rap-door-run; leaping from one garage roof to another – I wasn’t very good at that and landed first on the ground and then at Peel Hospital with a pretty sore wrist.

We raked phone boxes with their A and B buttons for pennies and, shame on us, cheated the Post Office (who ran the phone system then) by tapping the cradle to make contact with the few people we knew who had phones.

But back to this press release from the cooncil which revealed proposals for a scheme called Just Cycle – an idea to make use of the metal parts of scrapped bikes that are taking up expensive space on what were once rubbish tips, but which are now known as landfill sites.

The council states : “Recycled bike schemes are good news for the environment, our communities and our health. In all areas where these exist, the take-up of cycling has increased.”

Wonderful. A great initiative. But it’s not new. We did it more than 50 years ago and others did it before us. And we got chased for doing it. In Galashiels – and, of course, it happened all over the Borders – it meant finding a way into the council yard where the rubbish was stored. In Gala it was known as the Corpy Yard and was in Huddersfield Street, just down from the TA Hall. And it was also pretty close to the police station at the Burgh Chambers.

If you were bold enough you made a frontal attack on the maroon-coloured gates and clambered over – usually it meant squeezing between a building and a wall, and either under or over a few tiers of rusty barbed wire.

And the target, of course, was one of the concrete bunds that contained the scrap – bike frames, wheels, hand bars, brakes and saddles.

The object was to make a bike. They weren’t very bonnie, but in the most they were functional, although the brakes were often a bit dodgy and often the chain or the front forks were, what we now say, past their use-by date.

And it wasn’t just bikes. We built bogeys. Big bogeys, wee bogeys, fast bogeys and cumbersome bogeys.

Pram wheels were much sought after. Big ones at the back and wee ones stapled to a steering board at the front – the hole for the bolt burned through with a hot poker. Sometimes they had brakes and even seats.

Yes, we were in at the early days of recycling – and we got chased for it.

Nowadays you’d get a medal – a recycled one, of course.

A drunken man who assaulted three people after being refused entry to a house was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Raymond Thomson, 18, who lives at Violet Bank, Peebles, appeared from custody and admitted grabbing a 19-year-old and pushing his thumb into his eye at a house in Kingsmuir Crescent in the town on May 9.

Prosecuting at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday, Graham Fraser said: “There were a number of people in the house when the accused turned up. It was immediately obvious he was intoxicated through drink or drugs, and he was refused entry because of his state, but he went in anyway.”

Mr Fraser described Thomson as confrontational, adding: “He approached a 19-year-old and placed his thumb into his eye.”

The prosecutor said the “terrified” teenager, whose T-shirt was also ripped, fled to a neighbour’s house.

Thomson also pleaded guilty to grabbing a 29-year-old man by the throat.

“He turned his attentions to this man and seized him by the neck and tried to strike his elbow in his face,” explained Mr Fraser.

Thomson also admitted punching a 25-year-old in the face after he entered the house and tried to calm him down.

Mr Fraser said: “He lashed out and punched him in the face before a number of people restrained the accused and put him out into the garden.”

Thomson left by taxi and was later traced by police.

Mat Patrick, defending, said his client knew the people involved and regarded them as friends, adding: “He was at this house on a regular basis, but when he turned up was refused access.”

The lawyer said Thomson had taken alcohol and Valium prior to the offences.

Sheriff John Halley, describing the offences as “very serious”, said: “I am concerned by what I regard as a pattern of disorderly behaviour.”

He also ordered that Thomson – who had been on remand since May 12 – be on supervision for 18 months with a focus to address his alcohol and drug issues, as well as anger management.

Galashiels farmer Roderick (Rocket) Runciman of Allanshaws took the sheep interbreed championship for the first time at the Highland Show last week.

He also won, for the first time in the show’s history, the North Country Cheviot (NCC) championship for the fourth time in a row.

He told us: “Seeing the stick put on the sheep’s back to win the whole (sheep) show is the pinnacle of anybody’s showing career: I was speechless. It’s some honour. But it’s not just for me, it’s for the Borders too where we have some of the best stockmen in the country.”

The champion Texel, a shearling from Ian Murray, East Horton, Wooler, took the reserve interbreed. Ian said: “It exceeded all my expectations, I would have been happy if I got a ticket. I’m ecstatic.”

Other top results included the NCC reserve ticket going to Will Thomson, Hownam Grange, Morebattle, Kelso with a homebred two crop ewe; the Border Leicester champion from James Brown, Eildon Cottage, Mindrum Mill, near Cornhill; and the NCC hill sheep’s reserve champion from Michael Elliot, Woodside, Yetholm; reserve male champion from Charles and Mary Symmons, Attonburn, Yetholm; and reserve female champion from Will Thomson.

Among the Cheviots, Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, Selkirk took the championship with the female champion; the reserve and male champion came from Jim and George Irving, Mountbenger, Yarrow, Selkirk, the reserve male went to Bridgewater and Wood, Potholm Farm, Langholm and reserve female to Gavin Douglas, Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh.

Sam McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow won the Bluefaced Leicester male champion ticket and Gordon and David Gray of Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk took the Texel reserve female championship.

The Shetland champion, a two shear homebred ram, came from the Kaimknowe Flock of Patrick and Denise Playfair, Stichill Eastfield, Kelso.

The reserve female champion Jacob was Robert Locker’s of Greenlaw Mill Farm, Greenlaw while Dr John Mosley, Kirkdean Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton won the best female Hebridean,

Among the cattle Fraser Cormack, Whittaker and Co Farms, Stickle Heaton Farm, Cornhill, took the Aberdeen Angus reserve championship with Houghton Laura LO26 who was part of the winning native interbreed team. Whittaker also took the best junior bull, reserve junior animal and reserve bull tickets.

Kelso’s Ron and Robert Wilson, Cowbog, Morebattle, won the Hereford junior female championship; George and Avril Hamilton, Ramrig, Duns took the British Blonde bull’s reserve championship. The British Blue’s junior bull champion’s ticket went to Mr and Mrs Tom Cockburn, Kingside Farm, Leadburn, West Linton, while the Salers championship went to the female champion from Bryan Walling, Farmstock Genetics, Over Whitlaw, Lindean, Selkirk; Rob Livesey, Firth, Lilliesleaf won best pairs, best bull, best junior female and the junior championship and Roy and Adam Crockett, Conker Cottage, Deanfoot, Hawick took the reserve junior animal’s rosette with the junior bull.

A 39-year-old man from Galashiels who desecrated a mosque by attacking it with strips of bacon, has been jailed for nine months.

In April, Douglas Cruikshank, along with a teenage girl, had denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm in the early hours of January 31 last year, when along with another person, they wrapped bacon around the main door handles of the Central Mosque in Edinburgh’s Potterrow and threw bacon into the premises.

The Crown claimed the offence was racially aggravated.

During the five-day trial, a security guard at the mosque, 34-year old Usman Mahmood, told the jury: “I was surprised if a person did it for a joke. It is against our culture and religion. We do not eat pork or even touch it. I felt very bad seeing this meat in my sacred place. It was very disturbing.”

Appearing for Cruikshank, Mark Harrower, reminded the Sheriff that his client had offered to plead guilty to the offence in June last year if the racial aggravation was removed, but The Crown had refused this.

“As a result of that, matters dragged on. Mr Cruikshank had no option but to proceed to trial because of The Crown’s stance,” he said.

He added that Cruikshank had been drinking heavily for 48 hours before the raid on the mosque, continuing: “He thought his actions were a joke at the time, but has expressed empathy that it was unpleasant for the witnesses at mosque.”

The Sheriff accepted that Cruikshank had tried to plead guilty and told him that if he had been found guilty at trial he would have sentenced him to 13 months, but given his plea to the amended charge, he reduced that to nine months.

The Conservative group leader at Scottish Borders Council says the new scheme for each child to have a ‘named person’ is worthwhile.

The Scottish Government’s Children & Young People (Scotland) Bill comes into force next year and includes the controversial scheme whereby every Scottish child up to 18 will have an appointed state guardian or ‘named person’.

But a major legal challenge is expected against the scheme after criticism from various groups and child welfare experts who claim it is unnecessary interference in family life.

Conservative MSPs failed in their attempt to limit the scope of the scheme, but Councillor Michelle Ballantyne, Conservative group leader on SBC, believes the scheme is a genuine attempt to address a growing and serious problem.

She says she is in a slightly different position from many of her Tory colleagues, having a previous professional career with youth organisations and those dealing with drug and alcohol problems among young people.

“In terms of my perspective, therefore, I don’t have the same fears and concerns that some others do,” she told The Southern this week.

“A lot of people have commented it will be interfering with parental rights and responsibilities. But it’s nothing to do with that.

“People are resisting this because they see it as some sort of ‘Big Brother’ scenario because of the ‘knowledge kept’ thing, but it is actually an opportunity to help ensure that every child gets the protection from society that it deserves.”

However, her views are in opposition to that of Tory colleague and local MSP John Lamont, who says it is easy to see why there has been a groundswell against the policy.

“Introducing a named person for every youngster in Scotland fundamentally undermines the role of parents and families as it gives monitoring powers to the state,” he said.

“What is even more concerning is that it will take resources away from the most vulnerable children.

“The time, effort and money being wasted on named persons should be spent identifying and supporting those children most in need of support.”

Struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship, Dean McCallum persistently harassed his ex-partner.

The 23-year-old, of Winston Road, Galashiels, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing, and making abusive and offensive remarks at High Tweed Mill, King Street, Galashiels, on May 20/21.

Prosecutor Graham Fraser explained: “The accused was in a relationship with this woman for three-and-a-half years, until October 2013, and she is now in a new relationship.

“At 10pm she was at home, with her new boyfriend, and saw the accused outside the house.”

At 3am, McCallum could be heard shouting and swearing, including accusing the woman of having a sexually-transmitted disease. At 6am, he was again shouting outside, asking her new boyfriend to “come out and play”.

An hour later, the woman heard McCallum shouting again, and at 9am he was outside again, accusing her of having a STD and calling her a “f*****g tramp”.

McCallum added: “You can’t hide forever, I will get you.”

His solicitor, Ross Dow, explained: “He struggled to come to terms with the end of the relationship, but says that he would never have caused her physical harm.

“He appreciates she was alarmed and upset by his behaviour.”

Sheriff John Halley told McCallum: “This was one extreme and prolonged episode of harassment, and I regard it as a persistent and serious offence.”

He fined McCallum £400, reduced from £600 for his early plea, and made a one-year non-harrassment order, prohibiting him from contacting or attempting to contact his former partner.

HEROIN POSSESSION

A first offender who had £20 worth of heroin was fined £200.

Paul Lawson, 39, of Craigend Road, Stow, admitted possession of diamorphine at Tesco, Paton Street, Galashiels, on April 24.

Defence solicitor Mat Patrick said: “He has struggled with a drug problem for some time and has had intermittent success overcoming it.”

He said Lawson had purchased the illegal drug earlier that day.

“It is the first time he had bought heroin for many months,” added Mr Patrick.

Sheriff John Halley warned Lawson: “Heroin is a particularly dangerous and destructive drug in society.”

CLUBBER LOST HIS TEMPER

A drunken man, out on licence, lost his temper and punched a window at a Galashiels nightclub.

Thomas McCall, 28, of Carlin Court, Tweedbank, appeared from custody and admitted recklessly damaging a window in Overhaugh Street during the early hours of Sunday.

“He was released on licence on September 6, 2012, and on Saturday night went to the Indigo Rooms around 11.30pm, but was put out because of his increasing level of intoxication,” explained procurator fiscal Graham Fraser, adding: “He came back at 1.30am and got into an argument with the door supervisors, lost his temper and punched a window, causing £100 damage.”

The incident was captured on CCTV.

Defending, Ross Dow said his client told police: “I’m sorry for what I’ve done and will pay for the damage I caused.”

The solicitor told the hearing that McCall had abstained from alcohol for seven years, adding: “This was his first drink since 2007 and he says he is not going to drink again.”

Sheriff John Halley told McCall: “You have pled guilty to an offence of vandalism and drunken behaviour that is not acceptable. Of greater concern is that you committed this offence while on licence.”

McCall was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damage he caused.

ASSAULT ALLEGATION

A Kelso man was ordered not to contact his neighbours and to stay elsewhere.

Steven Greener, 44, of Redden Farm Cottages, appeared from custody and denied assaulting a neighbour by dragging her out of a vehicle by the hair and repeatedly punching and kicking her on Sunday.

He will stand trial on October 16, with an intermediate hearing on September 19.

Greener was released on bail to an alternative address in Newcastle, with a condition not to return to his home address or to contact the alleged victim and her husband.

THREW TV OFF BALCONY

A teenager who breached an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) by being drunk and disorderly has been warned that any further offending could see him locked up.

Eighteen-year-old McRae Fairbairn told police: “I don’t give a f**k.”

Fairbairn, of Inchmyre, Kelso, appeared from custody and admitted breaching an ASBO at Inchmyre on Sunday.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told how a neighbour heard banging and loud music at 5.30am.

Police could hear the music 100 metres away. Officers noticed a television lying on the grass under the balcony of the accused’s address. Inside the house there was an upturned couch and clothing strewn across the floor.

Fairbairn told police he had thrown the television off the balcony.

On his way to the police vehicle, he continued to shout towards the flats, telling officers: “I don’t give a f**k.”

Mr Fraser added: “He said that he was dependent on alcohol and had drunk vodka, whisky and rum in the last 24 hours.”

Iain Burke, defending, said his client could remember little about the offence, adding: “The catalyst for this seems to have been his father going into hospital. He lost the plot and had been drinking very heavily.”

Sheriff John Halley warned Fairbairn: “I am very concerned by the nature of this offence in light of your history – and you need to get the message that if you don’t stop this you will end up deprived of your liberty.

“This is completely unacceptable and you cannot afford any slip-ups.”

Sentence was deferred for reports, until July 25 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A woman who assaulted her long-term partner – whom she had previously saved from a heart attack – had sentence deferred until July 21 for reports.

Anne-Marie Gass has been in a relationship with the victim for some 14 years.

Gass, 37, of Hawthorn Road, Galashiels, appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to assaulting her partner at their home on June 20, seizing her by the arm and throwing a hairbrush which struck her leg, all to her injury.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser described the background as “fairly complex”.

He explained: “The 
accused was largely responsible for keeping her alive after she had a heart attack,” adding: “An argument over family matters spiralled out of 
control.”

RELEASED ON BAIL

A Galashiels man appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court, charged with house-breaking with intent to steal in Galashiels on June 5.

Twenty-one-year-old Steven Finlay, of Halliburton Place, made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

Twenty-eight years ago, when the Peebles Beltane Sports were staged at Hay Lodge Park, a 10-year-old Fife youngster by the name of Jack Beattie won the 90m youths’ handicap.

Time has since raced on and in the process countless races have been won and lost at the annual Peebles athletics meeting.

On the pastures of Whitestone Park on Sunday, however, that young boy of yesteryear tasted Peebles Beltane Sports sprint glory for a second time.

The flying Fifer this time pulled out the stops to win the senior 110m handicap.

Competing from a mark of 15.5m, Beattie booked himself a place in the final of the event with a heat win in 11.69 seconds, which was followed by a cross-tie triumph in 11.52 seconds.

Facing fellow Fifer Billy Martin of Glenrothes (9m), Charlie Carstairs, Lasswade (6m), Craig Bruce, Selkirk (10m), and Edinburgh pair Tom Holligan (scratch) and Graeme Armstrong (17.5m) in the final, Beattie knew he had a real battle on his hands.

But it was a battle he was about to win.

In what turned out to be a thrilling race, Beattie gained a dramatic photo-finish victory when edging out recent Selkirk Games sprint winner Holligan by a hair’s breadth. Holligan emerged second and Bruce third.

Following his win, Beattie told The Southern: “Although I was just a boy, I remember winning the youths’ sprint at Peebles as it was a really big thing for me.

“That same day my father, Jimmy, who had coached me, won the big sprint and this made everything even more special.

“As my father had won the Peebles sprint, I wanted to do the same and I am thrilled to have been able to do this today”.

Craig Rendle (200m) put victory Innerleithen’s way in the 3,200m handicap.

Self-trained Rendle was a place behind race leader John Thomson, Coaltown (205m) as the bell sounded for the last lap.

Thomson was striding out, but so was Rendle and, in what was a very exciting finish for a two-mile event, Rendle not only began to close what had been a big gap, but edged ahead to hit the tape in front.

Rendle said: “I knew John Thomson was going to be very difficult to beat and after he had gone past me I had to really dig in and sit on his tail.

“He was running well and I had to go all out to catch him late on in the race. This is my first year on the circuit and it was my first win, so I am very happy”.

Following 1,600m handicap triumphs at Hawick and Selkirk Games, 61-year-old Keith Redpath of East Kilbride (380m) made it a remarkable hat-trick of victories when doing the business yet again over the same distance at Peebles, from Gary Law of Hawick (400m) and Kobe Stevens of Moorfoot (160m).

The evergreen Redpath said: “Last season I never won a race and this year I have won three in succession.

“I just can’t believe it”.

Having his first season as a senior, Kobe Stevens of Moorfoot AC (65m) gave a fine account of himself in the 800m handicap.

After having taken the lead from clubmate Sophie Collins (145m), Stevens was race leader in the home run.

Back marker Calum McWilliams of Giffnock (40m) came charging in from behind to take the honours.

The final of the youths’ 90m handicap A race conjured up a meeting that featured twin sisters Samantha (20m) and Natasha Turnbull (19m) from Peebles, who had both won their heats well.

Gary Goodfellow of TLJT (18.5m), however, stole the show in the final through a great run.

After having recorded the fastest times of the heats, Danielle Lockie of TLJT (22.5m) hit full throttle again in the final of the B race.

Coached by John Motion, 11-year-old Michael Smith of Leithenburn (385m) shone by winning the youths’ 800m handicap, showing great heart as well as some excellent running.

The one-lap events on the Whitestone Park turf brought about some red-hot racing.

Euan Pettigrew of Jed AC (23m) turned on the heat in the senior handicap in particular.

Fastest winner of the heats, the Kelso teenager then produced a scorching run in the final when pipping Hawick’s Leon Ali (28m) on the post through a barnstorming finish.

Cameron Fisher of Jed AC (28m) hit the high spots in winning the final of the youths’ one-lap ‘A’ race handicap.

Eleven-year-old Charlotte Clare of Moorfoot (66m) showed the field a clear pair of heels by emerging a convincing victor of the youths’ one-lap B handicap.

The people of Galashiels came out in force on Wednesday evening to either dress up or watch others do so.

And, with the weather holding out (just), it was the usual mixture of madness, merriment and fun.

The Southern’s digital content manager Kevin Janiak set out armed with a video camera – and this is the result.

And when the fancy dress passed, Gala folk watched the procession of horses, led by the Braw Lad and Lass, as they returned to the town from their visit to Torwoodlee. Video from Stuart Cobley to come later.

Results to follow.

One word sums up Melrose Festival and the town which gave birth to it – inclusivity – and it is something all in the town should be proud of.

That was the message from the guest orator, retired vet Nigel Brown, at Thursday night’s festival installation and crowning ceremonies in the grounds of the town’s ruined abbey.

The weather could not have been better, with warm evening sunshine showing the abbey ruins off to their magnificent best.

It was the perfect setting for the crowd and guests that gathered to see Fraser Anderson installed as the 2014 Melrosian and Charlie Hume crowned as Festival Queen.

Northern Ireland-born Mr Brown retired last year after 37 years as a vet based in St Boswells.

In what proved a humorous speech, but one not without a serious message, Mr Brown told the audience that he considered it a great honour that he had been invited to give the address and that his partner, Mrs Gilly Innes, headteacher at Melrose Primary School, had been asked to be Crowning Lady.

“It is this wonderful inclusion of an incoming foreigner that makes Melrose special,” said Mr Brown.

“So the one word I’d like to ask you to remember is inclusivity. What I mean is inclusion and inclusion is what makes Melrose a special place – you include everyone.

“This ceremony encapsulates all that is great about Borders life, especially in Melrose – everyone is included.

The gates are open, anyone can walk in.

“From newborns to nonagenarians, all can come to this ceremony. This week celebrates inclusion from the kirkin’, to the rideout, bike ride, tour of ceremonies and the sports – Melrose is for everyone.”

Mr Brown said his son Kelly, a professional rugby player with Saracens and a regular in the Scotland team, who had played club rugby for Melrose, remained proud of his connection with the town.

“So no matter where you boys and girls end up, and you will spread all over the world, Melrose will forever be home. And Melrose will forever welcome you home.”

Mr Brown mentioned his passion for rugby. “I like rugby. I like Melrose rugby and what a season we’ve had – Scottish champions and undisputed kings of the sevens.

“Congratulations to everyone at the club and everyone in Melrose, because here, the club is the town and the town is the club.

“Everyone is included. I like rugby, both my sons played for Melrose. I like rugby, I like the friendships it generates and I like the life values it cherishes.

“All over Saracens’ training and playing facilities are plastered four words – humility, honesty, discipline and workrate. These are great values for us all to build on and live our lives around.

“Humility to enjoy success, but not forget all who helped on the way; honesty to accept life as it happens and accept responsibility for your actions; discipline to be the best you can and workrate to achieve that potential.”

Mr Brown then offered his congratulations to the Festival Queen and her court and to the Melrosian, and urged them to remember it was a precious honour they had been given and one which they needed to treasure and nurture for future generations.

And he concluded: “So to everyone, I say this is Melrose Festival – be proud to be Melrose, be proud to include everyone. Feel part of what Melrose Festival is.”

The evening’s ceremonies had opened with the installation of the 2014 Melrosian, Fraser Anderson, by festival chairman, James Marjoribanks.

The Ex-Melrosian’s Rosette went to Ruaridh Nairn, Melrosian in 2011, and the Silver Jubilee Melrosian’s medal to Cameron Crawford.

The Festival Queen was then crowned by Mrs Innes, after which Mr Marjoribanks introduced the Queen’s court – First Attendant Katherine Donaghy; Second Attendant Heather Panter; Courtier Ruaridh Tullis; Courtier Matthew Kirk; Heralds Ben Lynch and Lex Daunas and Trainbearers Maia Thomson and Lucy Whiting.

The Silver Jubilee Queen Julie Dee (nee Brown) could not be present as she lives in New Zealand, but Golden Jubilee Queen Sheila Forsyth (nee Wheelans), was at the ceremony and received a bouquet.

Left-Hand Man, Ex-Melrosian Graeme Crawford, gave the vote of thanks before the Melrosian, Festival Queen and her Court toured the town on the traditional triumphal procession.

The news this week that the Sheriff courts Selkirk and Jedburgh are to be retained has been welcomed by local campaigners as justice served, and should put to an end months of uncertainty.

The recommendation was part of a feasibility study into the future of justice services in the Borders, in which a working group looked at three possible options, the others being one large central justice centre in Galashiels, or a number of smaller centres throughout the region.

The study decided the best approach was to keep the two courts but improve the use of technology between them.

And the recommendation was accepted by the Scottish Court Service Board, with SCS chief executive Eric McQueen saying: “I am confident this gives us a solid platform to deliver the best services for the people of the Scottish Borders.”

The study makes for interesting reading, and offers reassurance, in that there has been a drop in serious cases coming before a jury over the last three years in the Borders, with the same being said for the less serious cases which make up the bulk of Sheriff Court criminal business.

But of the cases that do come to court, it is right that people have them heard and dealt with here in the Borders, without stress, time and cost being added for all those involved.

In last Saturday’s June Medal competition, sponsored by Border Safeguard, David Johnston returned his best score of the season to win by two strokes from two other golfers who also had their best cards of the season.

Maybe the course is becoming too easy.

Results: 1, D. Johnston nett 62; 2, W. Walton 64; 3, J. Rae 64; 4, G. Lightfoot 65; 5, M. McVie 66. Twos: G. Lightfoot & P. McVie at the 7th, and R. Douglas, S. Henderson & D. Pringle at the 18th.

The club championships are well under way and, as usual, there has been lots of drama.

It looks as if it could be a McVie brothers final, although their semi-final opponents, Colin Finlay and Rodney Pow, may have other ideas.

The B class has been a fine old battle, with holder Craig Niven and Peter Henderson playing impressively well.

The final of the C championship will be contested tomorrow by Matthew Brass and Mark Easson. The presentation of prizes at night will be followed by a disco, and all members and friends are welcome.

l The sun shone brightly for one of the most popular nights in the ladies’ fixture card – the President’s Prize & supper night.

As expected, with the conditions, there was some brilliant golf played.

None more so than by the evergreen lady captain June Craig, who returned an excellent 89 (23) 66 to win the bronze division. Carol Purves was not to be outdone by returning her best score of the season in the silver division, carding a 78 (11) 67, along with the only two of the night.

The scratch prize went to Diane Cassidy who continued her good run of form with a 73.

Lady president June Robertson presented the prizewinners with generous vouchers which were greatly appreciated and the ladies rounded off an enjoyable evening with a lovely supper.

The rugby season may be in the middle of its summer break, but try telling that to the swarm of kicking-keen youngsters who turned up at Philiphaugh for the inaugural Tag Tournament last Friday.

Organisers now hope the event will become a yearly affair, acting as a fun way of introducing primary school children in years P4-P7 to the game of rugby.

On the night, in excess of 40 children participated, with all present enjoying a fun-filled evening and all received goodies to take home as a reward for their support.

Watched by parents and friends, matches of tag rugby were followed by a barbecue run by 1st XV vice-captain Ross Nixon, now recognised as one of the club’s best burger-flippers. Also on hand was Selkirk’s new development officer, Kieran Cooney, who officially takes up his new post at Philiphaugh on Monday, July 14.

Tag rugby is a non-contact, fast-moving game that is suitable for adults or children, and for boys and girls to play together.

It is of a safe, non-contact nature, combined with the fun and liveliness of the sport.

There are no scrums or line-outs and tackling is not allowed.

The game was first pioneered back in the early 90s as a way of introducing youngsters to the sport. Since then tag rugby has had phenomenal growth in popularity and has now spread throughout the world.

Jointly organised by Cameron Cochrane, director of rugby at Selkirk RFC, and Richard Sweetnam, who is convener of Selkirk Rhinos, the local event proved to be a great success with the children being able to enjoy playing free-flowing running rugby while roared on by a large band of enthusiastic supporters, who themselves were able to bask in the glorious warm evening sunshine.

Plans are now afoot with regards to next year’s event where it’s hoped it will go from strength to strength.

All roads (well the one down the High Street anyway) led to Selkirk Bowling Club last Friday night as the opening round of the 2014 Pub League got under way.

Pity the conditions of some of those playing didn’t match up to the weather.

The hapless hacks at The Southern got off to a hopeless start in their match against the Babychams, although did pick themselves up a bit in the latter stages.

Also struggling with the pace were the Town Arms team who were given a sound thrashing by the Hot Shots.

Results: Southern Reporter 9 Babychams 17; Merchant Co 15 Colonials 10; Hot Shots 21 Town Arms 8; Masons 13 Ex-Standard Bearers 11.

Tonight’s fixtures: Hot Shots v Merchant Co; Southern v Town Arms; Babychams v Ex-Standard Bearers; Colonials v Masons.

l Last Saturday saw Selkirk BC hold its open triples, a much more civilised competition.

Played in excellent conditions once again, the winning triple was Colin McKinnon, Rob Kelly and Ian Borthwick who defeated Pat Houston, Hazel Scott and Isobel Downie in a very close final.

Selkirk Bowling Club would like to thank Chris Lightfoot from First Class Marquees for his continued sponsorship.