Health chiefs have moved swiftly to reassure the public over recent discoveries of poorly cleaned patient equipment at the BGH.

NHS Borders was responding to a report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate issued today (Tuesday, August 12), following an unannounced visit to the Borders General Hospital in June.

The purpose of the inspection was to assess progression on the six requirements and one recommendation made at previous inspections in October and November, 2013.

The report says NHS Borders has fully met four of the requirements from last year’s inspection in relation to the sharps management policy, linen management within the Special Care Baby Unit, appropriate storage of breast milk and the enhancement of bathing facilities in Ward 12.

NHS Borders has also partially met the requirement around full completion of documentation relating to peripheral vascular catheter insertion.

However, on the day of inspection, the inspectors identified patient equipment within two wards that had not been cleaned to the standard expected.

These findings led to the conclusion that the requirement to ensure that ‘all patient equipment is clean and ready for use’ was deemed not to have been met.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery at NHS Borders, Evelyn Rodger, said: “Whilst we are pleased the majority of requirements from last year have been met, the findings and photographs taken of inappropriately cleaned equipment on the day of inspection were completely unacceptable.

“I would like to give my assurance that these were isolated incidents and that immediate action was taken to ensure that these one off matters remain precisely that.”

The actions of those of who have vandalised ‘Yes’ signs across the Borders has been criticised by the chairman of Yes Scottish Borders.

At least six incidents have been reported in recent weeks, including the theft of three signs in Berwickshire and vandalism to signs near Jedburgh and in Walkerburn and Peebles.

Independence campaigners have alleged vandals attacked one sign with a hammer before throwing pieces of it on to the A72.

Yes Scottish Borders chairman Calum Kerr said: “It’s important that people are able to show their support without fear of criminal damage to, or theft from, their property.

“I call upon Better Together to condemn this activity, which we know is from a minority, but is becoming far too common an occurrence.”

He added: “If these people are so convinced of their case I don’t understand why they don’t put it to the people of the Borders instead of getting involved in this childish, and in some cases dangerous, behaviour.”

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that it is investigating recent acts of vandalism.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Dozens of youngsters had their swimming lessons at Kelso pool curtailed this afternoon (Tuesday) after someone had what Borders Sport & Leisure Trust called a ‘little accident’.

A trust spokesperson told The Southern this was the third such incident in the last month at the Kelso pool, all of which required a complete pool closure.

With over 600 youngsters learning to swim each week, such incidents have a major knock-on effect for all pool users.

“Each time it happens, we have to carry out two or three back washes, which means reversing the flow of the water through the filters to catch all the excrement,” said the spokesperson.

“Staff have to go in during the night to do this as each one takes hours. They also have to vacuum the pool tank too.

“It does have a serious side as if not dealt with properly people can get Cryptosporidium. We’d like to remind parents to take their little ones to the toilet prior to going into the pool or, if needed, wear a swimmer nappy.

“With the last three instances the offenders did not even let us know it had happened and it was a member of staff who ‘spotted’ the problem and had to evacuate the pool.”

Police have confirmed that a man has been found dead on a farm in the Scottish Borders.

The discovery was made earlier today (Tuesday) at Heriot Hill Farm about 18 miles on the Edinburgh side of Galashiels.

It’s being treated as a workplace accident and is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police responded to an incident at Heriot Hill Farm, Heriot at around 1.20am on Tuesday, August 12, where the body of a 64-year-old male industrial worker was found.

“Officers are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive during this enquiry.”

No further derails have been made available.

Berwick Bandits are awaiting further news about the condition of injured captain Matthew Wethers after his horrific crash at Shielfield Park on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Aussie was taken to hospital complaining of pain in 
the hip area after being catapulted off his bike and over the safety fence when he clipped the rear wheel of Edinburgh Monarchs rider Aaron Fox.

Wethers needed extensive medical attention at the scene and was quite clearly concussed after the incident, which took place on the final lap of heat 14.

Fox was complaining of chest pain, but the Wethers injury looked like it was the more serious of the two.

He was still being treated when the county ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.

Team manager John Anderson said: “We know he was complaining of hip pain, and we await to hear the full extent of his injury and wish him well for a good recovery – as we do indeed equally to Aaron Fox who also needed treatment.

“But that overshadowed the match and the result which palled into insignificance.”

Langholm RFC have announced that former player Gary Brannan will take over as Head Coach for Season 2014/15.

Gary also enjoyed a spell playing with Gala RFC as well as representing the South of Scotland at Age Grade levels.

He also recently won the Forresters RFC Anniversary 7s Tournament as guest coach of invitational charity team The Pigbarians RFC.

Head Coach from last season Ally Little (Scotland’s first ever female coach of a senior mens team) will move into a role as Director of Rugby to help develop all aspects of the club but she will also remain very much involved in the coaching of the senior team.

Recruitment has gone well over the off-season with the signing of former Langholm Colts player Eddie Turner who returns after a stint at Selkirk RFC and Brodie Smithers who has signed full-time from Stewarts Melville FP. A number of players have also agreed to dual-register for the club including former Scotland Sevens cap Geoff Caldwell (Livingston RFC) and his former Melrose RFC teammate Stuart Thom (Stewarts Melville) amongst others.

New link-ups have also been developed with Boroughmuir RFC and Wigton RUFC to augment the one already in existence with Moffat RFC. It is hoped these will provide greater playing numbers for the senior side as well as offering a route for talented young Langholm players to develop at a higher level.

Steven Nicol will Captain the Senior XV this season with Alistair Cavers as Vice-Captain.

Juniors

Langholm Academy has recently been awarded a GOLD award in the RBS School Rugby Champions Scheme (the only school in The Borders to have this level of award). This has been driven by the school PE Department and Langholm RFC Development Officer Iain Park and the hard-work has subsequently yielded good growth of playing numbers for both the rugby club and the school.

As a result of this the club is re-launching its Colts side after having to withdraw last season due to lack of numbers. The club are delighted that Brian ‘Bomber’ Hislop will coach the side assisted by Kenny Little and Craig Hislop.

Langholm Youth Rugby also has been awarded a charitable status and is now an officially registered Scottish charity with a group of 6 trustees in place to help with fundraising for the club.

Melrose Rugby are all set to contest a new trophy to herald the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

Scotland’s champion club side, and Heriot’s, holders of the National Cup, will meet on Saturday, August 23, in the inaugural BT Scottish Rugby Charity Shield.

The game will crown a feast of rugby at The Greenyards the week before the new BT Premiership season kicks-off.

Kicking off the action will be a pre-season clash between Edinburgh Rugby and Leicester Tigers (2pm) before the Charity Shield at 5pm.

The initiative came from Melrose and was discussed with Scottish Rugby and the Premiership Forum. Mike Dalgetty, Director of Rugby at Melrose, said: “One of the key elements of the day will be the charity side of it.

“At Melrose, we are supporting Breast Cancer Care as our sole charity partner this season.

“In the past the partnership has been for Melrose Sevens only but this year we’re making it season-long.

“We are launching an away strip with the Breast Cancer Care ribbon logo on the front and we’ll be doing a 600km bike challenge as well as activity during the Sevens.

“We envisage that as the BT Charity Shield initiative develops it will evolve and the charity element will always be core to the day.”

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Club Services, Nick Rennie added: “We were delighted to endorse this suggestion from Melrose and to provide a trophy for the inaugural match.

“It’s one of our strategic objectives to raise the standard of the domestic game. The launch of the BT Scottish Rugby Charity Shield will play a part in that regard and also give supporters a foretaste of the sort of action they can expect to see on a weekly basis in the BT Premiership.

“We look forward to working with BT Premiership clubs to drive this initiative forward on an annual basis.”

Iain Milne, former Scotland Grand Slam hero and vice-president at Heriot’s said: “We think this is a great idea and it’s a fixture which will prove a terrific advert both for Premiership rugby and for what our game is about and the values that we share.

“Recent matches between Heriot’s and Melrose have been free-flowing affairs with tries galore and we’ll both be encouraging supporters who come along to the Edinburgh Rugby v Leicester Tigers match, to stay and sample our game too.”

Life in Selkirk during the First World War is being revealed in daily online postings by staff at Hawick Heritage Hub, following the donation of a doctor’s diaries.

Descendents of Dr John Stewart Muir gave his diaries to the hub’s archives team just in time for staff to post his daily entries from the start of the war online.

As well as providing an insight into Dr Muir’s work, his diaries also reveal attitudes towards the war, and how it affected the town, and its residents.

The entries are being posted on the Heritage Hub’s Tumblr website at 10am each day.

Paul Brough, archive manager, said: “We are as much on a voyage of discovery as everyone else, as we are only working on the diary a fortnight ahead.”

He added: “The diaries run from 1891 to 1938, when Dr Muir died, and we are going to carry on posting the entries for as long as we can, but definitely plan to run those from the First World War period.”

Among the entries already online is that from August 4, 1914, in which Dr Muir states: “Only a slight shower. Pleasant day with some sunshine. Baptie went on his holiday. River in tip top order and I wish I could have fished. Cycled to Ashiestiel and saw some 10 town cases.

“The imminence of war is the all-absorbing topic and the telegrams in the Southern Reporter window are scanned by eager crowds. The Territorials have been called out.”

The only certainty about British weather is its uncertainty and that any long spell of good weather tends to end dramatically.

That happened again at the weekend, although in spite of torrential rain and strong winds the north of England and the Borders got off relatively lightly compared with what the tail end of hurricane Bertha did to the south of England. However, even that tail end inflicted some damage on standing crops in our area. The forecast now is for a cool, showery rest of August. We shall see.

Compared with the genuine horrors of the world – deaths in Gaza, massacres in Iraq, fighting in Ukraine, Ebola virus, to take a random recent news bulletin – damage to grain crops from the last gasps of a hurricane should be put in perspective. But it’s human nature to worry most about what’s happening closer to home and that can be horrifying enough as with last week’s death of a teenager on a Borders farm, suffocated in a grain silo.

If age and experience hadn’t inured me to irony and coincidence both terms might have been used to note that the death, not long after the death of Lauder farmer Jim Sharp in a grain store, was in the same week that a farm safety partnership was announced between the Scottish government, NFU Scotland, NFU Mutual insurance and the Health and Safety Executive. “Working together to save lives” will try to prevent further additions to the almost 80 deaths – men, women and children – on Scottish farms in the past ten years. Not forgetting those, many of them, who have been badly injured, crippled or paralysed.

By the nature of modern farming, with increasing reliance on machinery and fewer human beings, many of these deaths and crippling accidents happen when someone is working alone. No one else will ever know precisely what happened and it would be wrong to apportion blame. But every single one of us involved with anything to do with a farm must be more aware of the inherent dangers of falls, animals, transport and equipment (FATE is the useful reminder) of any kind. Please.

The loneliness and stretched resources of many sectors of modern farming is also, without doubt, behind the steady increase in rural crime. Up another five per cent last year to cost the industry more than £44 million, the biggest increase has been in stealing livestock. At one time an occasional sheep might disappear from a field, taken by an opportunistic criminal. Now more than 100 sheep and several dozen cattle at a time are being taken. That’s organised and professional by experienced stockmen/women. They must also have immediate outlets, as do those stealing tractors and quad bikes.

Farm fuel tanks have long beeen a target, but, worryingly, chemicals and fertilisers are increasingly being stolen. As with the livestock, that suggests professionals who know exactly what they’re looking for and have a black market buyer or are stealing to order. There’s no doubt that fewer people on farms are making theft of any kind easier.

A number of students were successful in gaining higher grades in a recent grading held by Borders Martial Arts.

The gradings were held in kung fu and kickboxing/self-defence.

Club members who gained higher status in freestyle kick boxing are: Sam Campbell, Scarlet Campbell (junior white belts); Craig Campbell (white belt); Gabby Kinghorn, Sam Shepherd and Chantelle McGregor (junior green belts); Ethan Deakin (junior purple belt); Jake Shepherd (junior brown belt).

Shaolin Lau Gar kung fu: Lauren Simpson, Stuart Lindsay and Tim Boyle (blue sash); Jason Shepherd (purple sash).

If you are interested in learning kung fu, kickboxing/self-defence, tai chi for wellbeing or ladies boxercise please contact John 
Wilson on 07974 533127 or email john@bordersmartialarts.com for details. All classes start back after the summer break, week beginning August 18.

Excitement is building for a darts event in the Borders on August 24.

The Volunteer Hall in Duns is the venue for the Dalgleish Berwickshire Open when four Borderers will take on four Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) stars to raise money for the local multiple sclerosis charity group.

The event offers a chance to meet PDC players and bid in a charity auction to play them.

Barry Dalgleish, from Galashiels, faces Berwickshire and Scotland’s former Premier League champion Gary Anderson.

In the other matches, Darren Bohme (Duns) takes on Stephen Bunting, current BDO world champion, Kenny Latimer (Birgham) plays Dean Winstanley, while another Dinger, Callum Donaldson, goes up against Michael Smith.

Tickets are available by calling 07745 218856.

They are priced at £40 for a VIP one, which includes a ‘Meet and Greet’ with the players before the darts matches start, or £30 for a standard ticket. They can be purchased as single tickets, or as a complete table.

The Borders Badminton Group has been busy over the summer break and the new-look committee has issued squad trial dates for the forthcoming season.

The squad trials for the 2014/15 campaign will be held at the Queens Centre, Galashiels, on Sunday, August 31.

Children born in 2003 or later (primary school) should attend from 10-11.30am, while under- 
17 youngsters (secondary school) born before 2003 are to turn up from 11.30am-1pm.

The sessions will be led by Borders badminton coaches and, if selected, players will be expected 
to attend monthly squad training sessions at a venue which is still to be confirmed but is likely to be Earlston High School.

Players are asked to bring £1 to help pay for shuttles and hall.

The trial itself will 
be quite an intense 
practical session so players should bring some fruit/snack and water/drink. Players should be dressed for indoor sport, i.e. shorts, T-shirt and trainers suitable for indoor sport. A towel might be handy too.

Schools/children will be notified after the event if they have been selected or not.

An e-mail on the squad trials will be sent to parents and guardians shortly. Anyone willing to take up the challenge should e-mail Alan Oliver to register for the squad trials.

Please note that 
any squad players from last season attending the Glasgow School of Sport events on August 31 will remain in the squad without attending the trial. Please inform Alan Oliver (alanpsoliver@gmail.com) if you are unable to 
attend the trial but still 
wish to remain part of the squad for the upcoming season.

The Borders Badminton Group Committee for season 2014/15 are: Christine 
Wylie (Jedburgh) - Chairperson; Andrea Mitchell 
(Peebles) - Secretary; 
Donna Waddell (Duns) - Treasurer; Alan Oliver (Tweedbank) - Coaching Convener; Stacey Patterson (Duns) - League Secretary; Harry Turnbull (Hawick) - Website & Social 
Media; Colin Blaikie (Hawick) - Active Schools & Child Protection Officer; Grant Purves (Greenlaw), Audrey Rae (St. Boswells), Iain Williams (Jedburgh), Karen Turton (Peebles), Jenifer MacDonald (Duns) - all members.

Hawick & Wilton cricketers travelled to Dunbar on Saturday in what turned out to be excellent conditions.

The visitors were put in to bat, with father and son, Gary (88) and Ronan Alexander (37) contributing massively to the final tally of 197 for seven. Stuart Hair did his bit by also adding a 37 towards the end of the innings.

The Buccleuch Park men continued their dominance with an excellent spell on the ball. Ronan Alexander, Hair and Morgan Tait all took two wickets apiece as the hosts were put out 38 runs short of their target in a pleasing performance from the Teries.

Kelso won the toss at Boghall on Saturday and elected to bat against West Lothian.

Captain Dougie Wilson and opening partner Mark Henderson got the Tweedsiders off to a great start with a stand of 50 before Henderson fell for 17.

Wickets started to collapse on a regular basis with Jason Gibson being the second top scorer with 19. But Wilson stood strong and made 84 as Kelso finished on 193 for 9 after their 50 overs.

Following the interval, the visitors came out strong, taking three wickets in 15 overs. With the home batsman riding their luck at times, however, wickets became fewer and West Lothian found themselves back in the game with a stunning 62 from the hard-hitting K. Smith.

The game changed when Murray Scott came on to bowl, his good line and length saw Kelso take their catches and the game swung back their way. Wickets tumbled and Kelso won by 38 runs with Scott and Stevie Patterson being the pick of the bowlers with seven wickets between them.

Langholm managed to ease relegation fears with a fine victory by eight wickets over fourth placed Shap at the Castleholm in fine weather on Saturday.

This was their fourth win in the Eden Valley League Division One this season and Langholm now sit mid-table.

Shap opted to bat on the damp wicket and ended their 40 overs on a total of 131 for eight.

Langholm had reached 24 when Elliott was bowled, and with only one more run added Chris Stewart was caught. Gregor Masterton and Gregor Park formed a strong partnership and were both still at the wicket when they passed the Shap total to finish on 133 for two.

Borders Junior 1000 rally crew Sandy Fairbairn and Callum Atkinson enjoyed their first podium finish of the season in the Usedcarpets Solway Coast Rally.

A group of 27 crews gathered near Kirkcudbright on Saturday, the first time that competitors from all three UK national Junior 1000 Rally Championships would compete in the same event.

The military range roads of the Kirkcudbright Training Area presented a real challenge for the young drivers aged 14 to 17 years, who also had the tail end of Hurricane Bertha to contend with.

The event was won by Alex Vassallo,16, in his Citroen C1, with Michael Gilbey co-driving, while second crew home were Michael Robertson, 17, and Phil Sandham in their Toyota Aygo.

In third Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge place, and eighth place overall, delivering the promise he has shown since joining the Championship in 2013, was Earlston’s Sandy Fairbairn,17, in his Nissan Micra. He was accompanied by experienced, and front-running Scottish Rally Championship driver, Callum Atkinson from Lauder. At one stage they had been as high as fourth overall.

Their day was not without drama. They returned to the pits from the first of two stages with a rear shock absorber punched through into the boot area. But Sandy and dad Warren had the Micra returned to full strength in a very short time. Sandy loves wet and slippery conditions, having done a lot of his training on ice lakes in Sweden.

The next round of the Brick and Steel Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge is at Knockhill on August 30.

Bowling

Abbotsford

Last week the National Championships were held at Ayr with Abbotsford’s Liz Waugh and Tommy Mann Jnr playing in the mixed pairs competition, where their opponents were from Busby in Glasgow.

Liz and Tommy were in contention for most of the game but were never ahead and the match ended with Busby winning by 15 shots to 8.

The A team played a Border League match at home against Melrose. For the majority of the match the score was close, however in the last few ends Abbotsford pulled away for a comfortable 107-73 victory. Andrew Hancock skipped the highest rink up.

The seniors travelled to play Earlston/Melrose who proved too strong on the day and, with only Stuart Aitchison’s triple ahead, the match was lost by 66-37.

This week sees the finish of the men’s Border League fixtures. Waverley has already secured the first division title but Abbotsford still has a chance of second place, depending on the final results.

Borders

Well done to all the local bowlers who made it to the National Finals at Ayr’s Northfield greens last week, especially the Hawick Wilton Ladies rink (J Robertson, J Kyle, B Gordon, I Bennett) who made it to their final before being beaten by Newton Park in atrocious weather conditions.

Hawick

Hawick travelled to Kelso for last week’s encounter and managed to come out winners by 85 to 78, with skips Bill Anderson and the ageing Martin Christy pulling them through.

The Seniors entertained local rivals Wilton at home and continued their recent run of successes by winning by 62 shots to 52. Top rink for the Hawick side was that skipped by Bobby McDonald.

On Saturday the club held an open two-bowl pairs competition. Sixteen pairs from around the district entered, which was played in a round robin format.

Some of the fancied pairs fell at the group stages, none more so than home duo Bill Anderson and Les Clarkson. The final saw J. Renwick and R. McCulloch (Ancrum) against C. Miller and D. Gentleman (Buccleuch) with the former pair emerging as winners with one end still to be played.

At the conclusion of play President J. H. Reilly presented the prizes to the winners.

Cycling

Kelso Wheelers

A favourable tailwind helped the Maxton Flyer live up to its name for the Wheelers time trialists last week as both Senior and Youths course records fell.

Mike Burgher (20.01) joined Oscar Onley (24.39) in setting new marks.

As the season enters its final few weeks the Wheelers can look forward with anticipation, or trepidation, to the 12 and 10 mile leagues being concluded, the hill climb championship up the monstrous Redpath Rig and the 10 mile club championship.

Senior times: M. Burgher 20.01 pb and course record; R. Ure 20.23; J. Smith 20.32; C. Stevenson 20.56; R. Norris 21.25; S. Gaunt 21.31; R. Coupek 22.27; R. Connell 22.48; G. Dalglish 24.01; D. Patterson 24.57; A. White 25.45; R. Smith 26.01; J. Sinton 26.02; D. Whitecross 26.19. Youths: O. Onley 24.39 pb and course record; B. Simpson 24.59 pb.

Flapping

Selkirk Flapping Association (August meeting)

Three Brethren Handicap (7 Furlongs): 1, Jupiter (Owner, The Deedlywegs) Jockey, Greg Fairley; 2, Isobar (Terrence Froud) Sean Huggan; 3, Movie Star (Alice Robb) Ian Crozier.

Ettrick Forest Handicap (mile ½): 1, That’s Right (Donna Hall) Titch Boyd; 2, Rain Dance Annie (David Telford) Greg Fairley; 3, Wee Al (Alastair Clarke) Alastair Clarke.

Chip Millar Pony Race: 1, Robbie Ashe on Shortcut; 2, Sarah McGee on Storm.

Race 4: 1, Big Mac (Waverly Racing) Sean Huggan; 2, Full of Magic (Ian McKean) Greg Fairley; 3, The Gambler (George Campbell) Titch Boyd.

Race 5: 1, Kalahari Desert (Colin Barnfather) Greg Fairley; 2, Eye Candy (Moose Nichol) Sean Huggan; 3, Just A Joker (Neil Henderson) Jack Jones.

Golf

Galashiels

John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Seniors Championship Qualifier: A. League winner, S. Scott nett 32; B. League winner, G. Turnbull 34 BIH.

Kelso

Intersport Midweek 6: 1, G. Borthwick 38 points. Intersport Midweek Trophy Overall Result: 1, G. Liddle 117 points; 2, B. Paterson 114; 3, G. Borthwick 112.

Wullie Douglas Trophy: 1, B. Hogarth 69 (3) 66; 2, G. Sanders 81 (14) 67.

Three Club Competition: 1, S. Little 80 (9) 71; 2, N. Hinnigan 93 (21) 72.

Bob Swan Trophy: 1, C. Foster 40 points BIH; 2=, G. Taylor, P. Wilson 40.

Hill Medal (3rd Qualifier): 1, P. Robson 86 (17) 69; 2, A. Wild 90 (19) 71.

Open Mixed Foursomes: 1, B. Allan & J. Ure (Braehead) 77 (10.5) 66.5; 2, D. Brotherston & M. Callander (Kelso) 92 (23) 69; 3, J. A. Anderson & Ann Wild (Kelso) 87 (17.5) 69.5. Scratch: T. Pringle & S. Paterson (Kelso) 77.

The club are holding a Ladies Open Texas Scramble on Sunday, August 24, enter via the website www.kelsogolfclub.co.uk or by telephoning 01573 223009 – teams of three and a shotgun start at 1.30pm.

Melrose

Burts Hotel Challenge Trophy: 1, A. Purves 84 (21) 63; 2, C. Creamer 72 (6) 66. Scratch L. M. Wallace 68.

Minto

Gents’ Senior Open (Class A): 1, M. Dalgetty (Melrose) nett 68; 2, J. Ross (St Boswells) 70; 3, A. Scott (Minto) 70. Class B: A. Simpson (Torwoodlee) 63; 2, D. Minto (Minto) 64; 3, M. Davis (Hawick) 65. Class C: T. Hartop (Minto) 62; 2, Albert Thompson (Minto) 63; 3, Robert Bowd (Torwoodlee) 66.

Finlay Campbell, Fraser Lothian and Lily Towers secured third place in the ClubGolf Junior Masters qualifying competition played over the tough Powfoot course and thus earned a place in the ClubGolf Junior Masters final at Blairgowrie in October.

A second Minto team, Scott Murdoch, Ross Nichol and Frazer Towers narrowly missed out on getting to the final.

Eight Minto juniors competed in the Hirsel Junior Open, an indication of the depth of talent in the Minto Junior section at the moment. Owen Cranston emerged the winner on a superb nett 63, four shots ahead of his nearest rival.

Ladies’ Salver: 1, H. Todd 105 (36) 69; 2, G. Cartwright 100 (30) 70; 3, M. Towers 92 (19) 73. Scratch: L. Bruce 94.

For her second ladies’ captain’s outing of the season, Gill Cartwright chose Burgham Park near Morpeth, which proved to be a popular but challenging choice with its wide fairways, strategically placed bunkers and numerous water hazards. The day was warm and sunny but the strong east coast winds added to the challenges.

The clear winners of the four ball better ball competition were Carole Allott & Mary Towers with 37 Stableford points. Lesley Moore & Ann Witherington were second with 31 points.

St Boswells

Ladies Millennium Salver: 1, C. Hunter (35) 43 points; 2, R. Thorburn (23) 39; 3, R. Macdonald (15) 38.

Torwoodlee

Tuesday Order of Merit: 1, I. Wilson 68 (3) 65; 2, G. Low 69 (3) 66; 3, R. Kyle 80 (12) 68.

Willie Moffat Cup: 1, M. Dodds 77 (12) 65; 2, A. Lundie 77 (12) 65; 3, E. Brown 84 (17) 67. Scratch: D. Gillie 69.

HOMING

Earlston

Members sent 40 birds to Tow Law, liberated into a north-west wind. Result: 1, 2, 3, S. Martin 824.01; 4, 5, S. Hardie & Sons 658.74.

Langholm

The club released 121 birds from Ingleton into a west wind – 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, R. V. Graham 1274.982; 2, D Nordon 1267.440; 6, 9, A. Henderson 1254.925; 10, K. Braben 1211.661.

Orienteering

Roxburgh Reivers

Kirstin Maxwell, Jedburgh, has been selected to represent GB at the World Universities Orienteering Championships in the Czech Republic this week. A total of 267 competitors from 32 countries will take part in the three individual events and two relays in the area around Olomouc in the east of the country.

One of only four Scots in the 12-strong team, Kirstin has been selected for the sprint event and the two relay events following her victory in the sprint selection race in the Lake District earlier in the year. Orienteering at this level requires good running speed and in addition to being a member of Roxburgh Reivers Orienteering Club the Edinburgh University student also runs for Gala Harriers and has represented Scottish Universities at cross country.

Squash

Galashiels

League One: D. Burnie 3 Ruaridh Kohler 0 (9-6, 9-6, 9-7); D. Sharratt 3 Ian Chalmers 2 (8-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-3). Club night friendlies: D. Sharratt 2 R. Kohler 1; L. Molero 1 A. Gill 0; I. Chalmers 2 M Silies 0; R. Kohler 1 R. McAleese 1; I. Chalmers 2 L. Molero 0; D. Sharratt 2 M. Silies 0; A. Gill 2 D. Burnie 0; O. Lindsay 1 D. Sharratt 0; A Gill 2 D Sharratt 0; D Burnie 2 R. McAleese 0.

Angered to see his pregnant ex-partner out in the early hours of the morning, Daniel Stewart shouted and swore at her.

The 24-year-old, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, appeared from custody and admitted threatening and abusive behaviour in Channel Street, Galashiels, on Saturday.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the woman was pregnant with the accused’s child, but they had split up some two months’ earlier.

She was standing waiting for a taxi at 1am when Stewart came staggering towards her, shouting and swearing.

“He was unsteady on his feet and began shouting and swearing at her,” continued Ms Bradley. He threatened: “Give me my f*****g house keys, or you’ll get done in.”

Stewart told police he was concerned to see her out at that time of the morning when she was pregnant. Stewart was sentenced to a community payback order with 70 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.

“This is a direct alternative to custody,” warned Sheriff Peter Paterson.

It may have been common knowledge around the Borders’ rugby grounds, but Melrose have now officially confirmed that talented prop Ewan McQuillin has joined them from Gala.

The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Netherdale and made his debut for the first XV when he was just 17.

Some impressive performances since then have led to McQuillin being signed to Edinburgh on an elite development player (EDP) contract, but Melrose coach John Dalziel is looking forward to having the use of the versatile front-row man when he is released from pro d ties.

He said: “Ewan wants to be a full-time professional and everyone hopes that he can force his way into the Edinburgh squad. However, if and when he is available to play for us I am sure he will bring a lot to our camp.”

McQuillin is just one of several top signings made by the club champions, who kick-off their competitive season on Saturday with a Booker Border League match against 
Selkirk at Philiphaugh (3pm).

Tomorrow night (Friday) Peebles host the current holders of the Border League trophy, Gala.

This match will kick off at 7.30pm.

Running in his first season as a senior, Jedburgh Grammar School pupil Craig Smith emerged top of the class at Morebattle Games on Saturday.

For the flame-haired flyer set the Tofts track alight by blazing to victory in the 110 metres handicap.

Running under the banner of TLJT, 16-year-old Smith showed he was a special student in his heat when romping home in 12.24 seconds, from a mark of 8 metres.

Smith then earned himself a spot in the final with a cross- tie triumph in the self-same time of his heat. Could the student continue to teach lessons in the final was the question on the blackboard.

Smith answered this by writing his name all over it in the last showdown.

Facing TLJT club mate Tommy Finkle (11m), Kevin Amos of Jedburgh (14m), Kelso pair Dave McKay (12m) and Matthew Fleming (12.5m) plus Geoff Keen of Selkirk (10m), the Jedburgh young gun blasted away the opposition to emerge a positive winner in 12.21 seconds. McKay was second and Finkle third.

Coached by John Steede and Bruce Scott, Smith said: “It’s my first season in the seniors and to begin with I found it really hard as it’s a lot different than running in the youths.

“However, as the weeks have gone by things have got better. I won the 200 metres at Lauder Games last week and this came as a bit of a shock as I didn’t think I would win anything this season. It was an even bigger shock to win the sprint today.”

The mile and the two mile, there may be a mile apart but they are one and the same for Langholm distance runner Ryan Milligan.

For the 18-year-old pulled off a superb double, coming out on top in both the 1600 metres and 3,200 metres handicaps. This was a remarkable feat and even more remarkable is the fact that Milligan does not belong to a running school, hasn’t got a coach and trains alone.

Milligan started by nailing his colours to the mast in the 1,600 metres. Competing from a mark of 160 metres the man from the Muckle Toon strode to a convincing win.

Despite having been pulled 30 metres for his mile win and going from 150 metres, Milligan did it all again in the 3,200 metres. Showing purpose in every stride he emerged a convincing victor.

Langholm Legion footballer Milligan, who won the 1,600 metres handicap at Langholm Games, said: “As I train by myself I don’t know how good or bad I am.

“So when I run in a race, I just run my hardest and hope for the best. I did this today and it worked for me – I just run hard and see what happens.”

Another Borders teenager to hoist the winning flag in a senior event was Andrew Thomson of Jed AC. Coached by Brian ‘Chico’ Woods, Thomson (50m) excelled when winning the 800 metres handicap in fine style.

Veteran Wallace McGowan of Sauchie (37m) held off challenges from the back to snatch victory in the one lap handicap from Kelso pair Fraser Neil (18m) and Euan Pettigrew (11m).

McGowan commented: “I found my legs going near the end in the final, but I managed to get there. It’s the first time I have broken the tape this season.”

Running from scratch, 12-year-old Josh Abbot of Kelso, who is a real up-and-coming prospect, fired on all cylinders to take the junior one lap handicap while Cameron Clamp of TLJT (14m) gave a top notch show to take the youths’ equivalent.

In the youths’ 800 metres handicap, Berwick’s Scott Tindle (100m) showed the field a clean pair of heels with a great run.

Showing great determination from the gun, nine-year-old Madeline Collins of Moorfoot (450m) headed the pack in the youth’s 1,600 metres handicap until the closing stages. Jedburgh’s Jack Amos (195m), who had strode purposefully out from beginning to end, then took over the leadership to gain the honours.

Harry Fuller of Chirnside (21m) buzzed to a splendid win in the youth’s 90 metres handicap.