Selkirk 30

Melrose 46

Melrose will go into the BT Charity Shield match against Heriot’s this weekend at the Greenyards, confident after a comfortable Border League win over Selkirk at Philphaugh.

But less comforting for John Dalziel’s men is the loss of their influential centre Joe Helps, who suffered a fracture of the lower arm late in the second half on Saturday.

Helps has established himself as first-choice inside centre over the past two seasons, and cemented his position in the Melrose team with his ability to kick goals from inside the opposition half.

And it is this skill off the kicking tee that will be difficult to replace as coach Dalziel conceded. He said: “We can’t hide behind how much of a miss Joe will be. Austin Lockington, Murdo McAndrew and Richard Mill can all kick goals, but none from 51 metres.”

Dalziel, however, will not have to search far for candidates to fill the inside centre position. Among them are the Taylor brothers, Richard and George, both of whom have played for Scotland under-18 at centre.

Melrose will also have the services this season of the Scotland under-20 centre Blair Hutchison, who is on a placement in Edinburgh as part of his studies at Loughborough University. Also staking a claim is outside back Rory Tolland, who returned to rugby after undergoing knee reconstruction surgery and who looked the part against Selkirk.

“We’re trying to get him integrated. He’s in brilliant condition,” stated Dalziel, who revealed that there is one more option. “We’ve got a gem up our sleeve with the 12 position – Andrew Nagle has been doing some training at centre. He’s got good hands and he wants to have a look at playing in midfield before he gets too old.

“In fact, he had toyed with this move when he was at Jed.”

Aside from the loss of Helps, there was much to celebrate in the Melrose camp and not least the return to action of skipper Fraser Thomson, who showed his form with two tries and a key part in a third. Melrose’s other tries came from new recruit Neil Irvine-Hess, winger George Taylor, scrum half Tom Wilson, winger Rory Tolland and stand-off Austin Lockington.

Selkirk who at one stage trailed 3-39 rallied in the last quarter to score tries from flanker Angus Duckett, full back Darren Clapperton, replacement Matt Robertson, winger Callum McEwan and flanker Euan McDougall.

“The second half showed that with a bit of self belief and a bit of a go-forward mentality you can score points against the best of teams,” said the Selkirk coach, Peter Wright, whose side will rest out on Saturday after losing their proposed fixture with Lasswade.

Supporters worldwide will be treated to a live, online double-header for free on the Daily Record website (www.dailyrecord.co.uk) this Saturday.

The games at the Greenyards, Melrose, will kick-off at 2pm UK time, with Edinburgh Rugby’s pre-season clash with Leicester Tigers, followed by the inaugural Scottish Rugby BT Charity Shield match between league winners, Melrose, and cup winners, Heriot’s, at the same venue (kick-off 5pm).

Scottish Rugby director of commercial opertations, communications and public affairs, Dominic McKay, said: “Naturally, the best place to see the action is in person at the Greenyards, but, regardless of where supporters are in the world, they’ll be able to catch all the action.”

Peebles 14

Gala 45

Gala took a first step towards the successful defence of their Borders League title after achieving a sumptuous win over Peebles at the Gytes last Friday, with a performance that blended power and strength up front with pace and creativity behind the scrum, writes Alan Lorimer.

The Premiership runners-up were, of course, expected to be too strong for their National League opponents and in the event it proved to be, as Gala accumulated seven tries with comparative ease, albeit that their first-half scores were aided by the yellow-carding of the Peebles prop Joshua Park.

On that point, it seemed that Park was the victim of rugby’s crazy laws that penalises one set of forwards for being less strong than their opponents. It’s a difference that causes either scrum collapse or the opposite effect of front rows being forced into the upright position and with it the inevitable penalty or even penalty try award.

Surely it is time to revisit the scrum laws and veer much more towards the free kick than match-deciding penalty awards. Or, dare we even think it, have a look at rugby league’s approach to scrums.

For Gala and Peebles, this was as much about looking at combinations as it was extracting points from a Border League game. And both clubs will be reasonably satisfied.

“We cut the squad down to 24 for the Peebles game. Most of the guys got a fair share of game time and we’re really pleased with what we saw out there,” said team manager Peter Dods.

Pleasing for the Netherdale coaching staff was the form of tighthead Paul Stewart, a former Peebles player who has returned to action after missing most of last season following a leg fracture, and Callum Mackintosh who put in a useful stint at loosehead.

Behind the scrum, Scotland under-18 cap Ruairi Howarth impressed at full back, but there are many who would like to see the Edinburgh EDP at stand-off. Edinburgh are understood to want Howarth to develop at full back, but the youngster played all his formative rugby at ten. Echoes of the Chris Paterson career?

For Peebles Greg Raeburn looked sharp at stand-off, Scott McCormick showed his past Premiership experience and up front, the forwards battled hard to stem the Maroons.

Gala led 21-9 at the break from a penalty try, a pushover score by Tom Weir and then a touchdown by David O’Hagen, all converted by Howarth.

The Peebles points came from three penalty goals by Raeburn. Then in the second half, tries by Steve Cairns, Euan Dods (2) and Grant Somerville and two conversions from Ewan Scott brought the score to 45-9, but a late try by replacement Jack Harrison provided consolation for Peebles.

Borders Premiership clubs participated in this week’s professional player draft, with Hawick, Melrose and Gala sharing out Edinburgh Rugby’s pool with Boroughmuir, Edinburgh Accies and Heriot’s.

Scotland 7s players are also aligned to the pro-clubs.

Elite Development players are not part of the draft, while first-year professionals are automatically linked to the club from which they were signed.

Stephen Gemmell, Scottish Rugby’s acting head of academy, said: “The pro-player draft is an important part of our joint determination to close the gap between the top end of the club game and professional rugby. For the players, it means that when they are not involved in a match-day squad for their pro-club or Scotland 7s, then they can get game time and contribute to the well-being of their allocated club.For the clubs there’s a great opportunity to work with the professional players so that everyone can benefit.”

Edinburgh players linked to Borders clubs are: Hawick – Joaquin Dominguez, Ollie Atkins, Tomas Leonardi, Allan Dell, Tom Heathcote, Michael Tait, John Andress, Jack Cuthbert, Mike Coman and Grant Gilchrist; Gala – Brett Thompson, James Hilterbrand, Fraser McKenzie, Gregor Young, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Lewis Young, Grayson Hart, Anton Bresler and David Denton; Melrose – Damien Hoyland, Scott Wight, Wicus Blaauw, Sean Kennedy, James Johnstone, Dougie Fife, Willem Nel, Ross Ford and Andries Strauss.

Meanwhile, Selkirk’s Lee Jones, who has signed a new one-year deal with Glasgow, has been aligned to Stirling County.

As part of the agreement, the 26-year-old will also be available to play for Scotland 7s.

Jedforest mini rugby starts this Sunday (August 24) at Riverside Park.

Girls and boys from primaries 1-7 are welcome to come at 10.15am for registration and training.

The Langholm Colts Sevens take place at Milntown on Saturday with a 2pm start. The tournament is on two pitches with two pools of five teams, so each team gets a minimum of four games.

The final between the winners of each pool will be at around 5pm.

Pool 1 (pitch 2): 2.00 Jed Thistle v Hawick Wands; 2.16 Tynedale Colts v Peebles Colts; 2.32 Gala Wands v Jed Thistle; 2.48 Tynedale Colts v Hawick Wands; 3.04 Peebles Colts v Gala Wands; 3.20 Jed Thistle v Tynedale Colts; 3.36 Hawick Wands v Peebles Colts; 3.52 Gala Wands v Tynedale Colts; 4.08 Jed Thistle v Peebles Colts; 4.24 Hawick Wands v Gala Wands. Pool 2 (main pitch): 2.00 Langholm Colts v Kelso Quins; 2.16 Selkirk Youth Club v Hawick PSA; 2.32 Melrose Wasps v Langholm Colts; 2.48 Selkirk Youth Club v Kelso Quins; 3.04 Hawick PSA v Melrose Wasps; 3.20 Langholm Colts v Selkirk Youth Club; 3.36 Kelso Quins v Hawick PSA; 3.52 Melrose Wasps v Selkirk Youth Club; 4.08 Langholm Colts v Hawick PSA; 4.24 Kelso Quins v Melrose Wasps.

As Scottish referendum day draws closer – September 18 to vote yes or no for independence, that is, four weeks from today – the debate gets more heated.

And, notable in farming terms, the big names have broken cover to say “Yes” – former NFU Scotland presidents John Cameron, John Ross, Jim Walker and John Kinnaird.

Having talked to a number of farmers on both sides of the debate during the past year or so, and read some of the seemingly interminable letters in the farming press before losing the will to live, I don’t know how much effect endorsement by the four will have.

All gave valuable service to Scottish farming over a combined period of almost 30 years, Cameron and Walker more extrovertly, Ross and Kinnaird more low key, but in their way as effective.

However, just as I doubt whether the televised debates of the genuine big political names Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling change our views on independence for or against, I doubt the farming four will convince or disabuse.

Still, we must give them full marks for trying.

Their joint view, summed up by Mr Ross at a press conference is basically: “Farming and rural affairs need to be at the forefront of all future Scottish government thinking… An independent Scotland is the only way this can be secured.”

It might seem naïve to suggest that an industry involving only about 65,000 people directly and producing a small part of the country’s output should be at the forefront of government thinking. But isn’t that rather blinkered view how most people think about the referendum? In theory, they should consider the overall effect. In practice, it is about how we think it will affect us as an individual.

As for my own view, I can only offer the allegory of a dour Gala/Hawick game where a visitor turned to the man next to him and said it was an awful match. To which the man said: “Are you fae Gala?” “No.” “Are oo fae Hawick?” “Er, no.” “Then what’s it got to do with you?”

I look forward to animated debate and discussion in the next month, but to few minds being changed from their present yes or no setting, regardless of who endorses either side.

Back in the harvest fields throughout the region, no one needs to be told that the weather took a turn for the worse again last week and remains unsettled.

So much for the worse that in some parts of our area grain fields were flattened, an unusual sight these days, and some might have suffered wind damage. A pity, because until early August most farmers in north Northumberland and the Borders admitted – the correct description for something akin to drawing teeth – that this has been a good year with a good spring, good lambing, good hay and silage and a great start to harvest with oilseed rape and winter barley.

Hendersyde Park Horse Trials offered a weekend bursting with top equestrian sport, including the prestigious Scottish and Northern Championship series.

The Agnew family kindly open their grounds once a year to host the trials, creating a sumptuous display of sculptured cross-country fences and a colourful showjumping arena, which makes it one of the most attractive eventing venues in Scotland.

The competitors were treated to beautifully-prepared courses, where the going was near perfect.

The Gormet Group Scottish and Northern Championship Intermediate Novice section was keenly contested by riders who had qualified during the year.

The championship classes have the showjumping last, which creates a nailbiting end to the competition.

Amy Lawson-Croome and Sappalot were heading the leaderboard following dressage and cross-country, so they went last into the showjumping phase.

She was just 0.4 points in the lead and a single pole down scored four faults, which dropped her to third.

Durham-based Will Murray rode a textbook showjumping clear round to secure first place on grey gelding Victor B.

The pair finished on their dressage score of 29.1. Borders-based rider Emily Parker also jumped double clear on Athlone Acorn to pick up second slot. Murray has ridden Victor B for three years. The gelding is owned by Victoria Gibson and was sent to Murray to sell on, but stayed to join the team.

He was very pleased with the win, telling The Southern: “Victor can be quite quirky, but has lots of talent and has clicked this year.

“Hendersyde is a great course, the jumps are up to height and the championship class asked some good testing questions for novice horses stepping up to intermediate.

“The three real questions were the new log drop to corner, the water complex with the carved otter to jump in the middle and the second water splash with the imposing logs either side.

“The water splash looked the stiffest test, but it rode well and the ground was perfect.”

Murray is no stranger to the area, having lived in Kelso while working for Caroline Powell and he now has his own yard in Durham from where he events and shows.

There were two other Scottish and Northern Championship classes.

The Central Carpets BE 100 was won by Stuart Sloan on Tinkas Flash.

The showjumping was once again very influential, with Sloan’s clear round moving them up from fifth place to clinch the top spot.

Sloan is a dentist living in Glasgow, but Flash is kept at his parent’s farm in Dumfries.

The pair compete in Working Hunter shows – they won the Intermediate class at The Horse of the Year show and the Royal International Horse Show last year.

Sloan said: “Flash is not straightforward, he gets very excited before the dressage, but loves the cross-country phase and settles quickly. The track was a good challenge, one of the most difficult we have done.”

It was Sloan’s first visit to Hendersyde and he would like to come back next year.

The Belhaven Scottish Championship BE 90 was won by Hawick rider Alexandra Meikle on Damdeasy who went double-clear within the time to finish on a dressage score of 24.

Stirling-based rider Daniel Scott had a bonanza of a weekend, winning the BE Novice section L on Zen Roundthorn and coming 2nd on Casmo Z.

He won the BE Intermediate Novice section N with Dwina De Cavron, finished fourth and sixth in the Scottish Championship BE 100 class and carried off a seventh place on Fame Van Thiunas in the Intermediate Novice Scottish Championship section K.

Local rider Kirsty Brewis also had a successful weekend, picking up fourth place in the Dalton Demolitions Intermediate Novice section N on her own chestnut gelding Harbour lights and second in the BE 90 section D, riding Ian Stark’s Markus III.

Livy Agnew and her team had a bumper entry for the BE 90 sections and the higher levels were also well supported, with many riders coming back year after year to compete in such a well-prepared venue.

Hostess Livy said: “We try to make changes and developments each year to keep the tracks fresh and interesting.

“The kindness and generosity of our sponsors and helpers is what makes it all work. They put in so much effort, but it is worth it to see riders enjoying their sport and youngsters developing their skills.”

The event raises much-needed money for charity and this year the funds will go to the Borders Children’s Charity, as well as Ancrum athelete Gemma Scott to build a custom racing wheelchair.

Gemma attended the prize giving with her recently-won medals to thank the team for their generosity.

Full results can be found at www.britisheventing.com.

Hawick Summer Festival is celebrating one of the most successful starts to its programme in the event’s 30-year history.

The special anniversary year began in style at the weekend when more than 200 primary school children participated in the second Children’s Day at Teviotdale Leisure Centre.

Festival chairman Gerry Monaghan said: “We were thrilled by the huge turnout and have received nothing but praise from parents and grandparents.”

Flower Princess Brooke Hollett and attendants Lucy Laing and Abigail Taylor, all from Burnfoot school, were presented to Provost Stuart Marshall, Cornet Ross Gibson and Lass Michelle Paxton, at the crowning ceremony. Also in attendance were Gilbert and Evelyn Sangster who, along with Betty Campbell, helped establish the summer festival in 1984.

Provost Marshall stated: “It’s fabulous to see how Hawick Summer Festival has developed and original committee members are to be commended for introducing this annual event to the town.”

The programme had begun the previous night at the Border Club where the junior showcase music night attracted big numbers. Sunday saw movie fans flock to Wilton Lodge Park for a special open-air film night to celebrate the anniversary of the Pink Panther. And walking enthusiasts enjoyed a visit to Fatlips Castle on the Monday.

Mr Monaghan added: “We have a small, but hard-working committee who pull out all the stops. The support from Teries makes it all worthwhile. We are also indebted to the groups and individuals
always willing to help organise events.

“The summer festival is a true Hawick success
and I hope continues to flourish.”

The celebrations conclude on Saturday, when Scocha and The Joe Mangels headline a special music evening at the leisure centre. Tickets available at the door.

An Ettrickbridge mother says the Foreign Office allowed her to wrongly believe it held letters containing fresh information about her son’s death.

Andrew Watt’s family has spent two years and nearly £5,000 on a legal challenge to gain access to the withheld documents concerning his death in France in 2010.

Although French doctors concluded Andrew’s death was due to ill health, his family has always believed the investigation was flawed.

But when Andrew’s mum, Julie Sheppard, and other family members travelled to London earlier this month to finally view two official letters, they discovered all they contained was information they already knew.

Information contained in the two letters and two further notes between British and French officials had been deemed so sensitive it could prejudice relations between the two countries if made public.

“Our legal advisers had recommended we drop our request for a tribunal – the Foreign Office made that a prerequisite for letting us see these two letters,” Mrs Sheppard said.

“But they contained nothing new, just pretty much what we already had been given in a paraphrasing of the information last year. And we weren’t allowed to see the two notes.

“To be honest, they’ve just strung us along for two years, letting us believe these letters contained important information. To treat a bereaved family this way is disgusting.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after a hit-and-run incident in Stow on Tuesday.

A silver Mazda car collided with three parked vehicles on the A7 Galashiels Road around 7.45pm. The Mazda left the road and went down a small embankment.

The male driver and female passenger of the Mazda left the scene, making off on foot towards Edinburgh. The man is described as white, medium build and wearing a dark-blue T-shirt and jeans. No-one was hurt. A 29-year-old woman was detained and released pending further enquiries.

Comedian and impressionist, Rory Bremner, welcomed local volunteers to an archaeological site near his home at Crailing on Sunday.

The purpose was to investigate Crailing’s ruined church and abandoned graveyard to help launch Scottish Archaeology Month – Archaeology Scotland’s annual celebration of the country’s many varied archaeological and heritage sites.

Rory commented: “I have always wanted to know more about this fascinating old graveyard, its history and the stories of some of the people buried here.

“We looked for evidence of just how old the original church might be. The archaeologists suspect it may go back to the beginning of Christianity in the Borders, and if so, will be a very important site.”

Archaeology Scotland’s research ahead of the visit to Crailing unearthed some fascinating local stories, including an 18th-century love story that led to the murder of a man by his daughter at the behest of her lover.

She was hanged whilst her paramour escaped to the continent.

“It’s thrilling, in a gruesome way, to think a man who lived here, walked these grounds and worshipped at this church, should commit such a heinous crime and get away with it,” Rory added.

Sunday’s efforts uncovered previously unrecorded stones and together they form a record of the people in the parish prior to the church moving to another site in the 1750s.

Chris Bowles, of Scottish Borders Council’s archaeology department, which has funded the work at Crailing, says little is known about many very old parish churches.

“There’s quite a bit more to do – the churchyard seems to be bigger than it first appears and the hope is it can be developed into a bigger project,” he said.

Borders MSP Christine Grahame is urging constituents to get in touch with her office about the failure of ITV Border to show debates in the run-up to the referendum.

She said: “I have been contacted by many constituents who are outraged that they were unable to watch the debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling on August 5.”

Email Ms Grahame: christine.grahame.msp@scottish.parliament.uk.

Local transport operators are being encouraged to attend information sessions next week to find out about major changes being planned in the way public and community transport services are provided.

Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is launching a new sustainable transport framework covering all passenger transport services for use by all CPP organisations.

The CPP includes Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, Borders College, housing associations and registered social landlords, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, voluntary sector organisations and other related groups.

It is anticipated the framework agreement will be awarded early in the new year, and local firms are being encouraged to tender for the work.

A series of information sessions will take place for operators next week. These are all being held from 6pm until 7.30pm:

They are being held for bus and coach operators at the BGH education centre on Monday and at Lanark Lodge Day Centre, Duns on Tuesday.

For taxi operators they are taking place and Lanark Lodge on Wednesday and the BGH education centre on Thursday.

The transport framework is part of a collaborative approach to the planning, co-ordination and commissioning of transport being taken forward by the CPP’s newly established strategic transport board.

Chair of the board Helen Forsyth, chief executive of Berwickshire Housing Association, said: “As a CPP we recognise how important transport is in the Borders and the significant issues people face in getting around.

“By working together to plan and co-ordinate transport activity we think we can address some of these issues and make real improvements in transport in our area.

“This joint framework is a significant milestone for the CPP in collaborative working and offers real opportunities to co-ordinate transport services more effectively and efficiently.”

The framework agreement will be split into four lots: short notice and urgent transport; mainstream education transport to and from schools and colleges; additional needs, social care, healthcare and other transport; and supported local bus services.

The transport framework will be tendered through Public Contracts Scotland at: www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

For more information contact the Council’s Corporate Procurement Service on 01835 825579 or visit: www.scotborders.gov.uk/procurement

In some quarters, the independence referendum campaign has been lauded as a model of democracy.

No bullets have been fired, no bombs detonated. Scots can be justly proud of the fine example they’re setting to the rest of the world, particularly in areas where causes have only been won via great suffering – even death.

Yes, at times things have got fairly heated and personal during the seemingly-unending campaign leading to Scotland’s date with destiny next month. Considering the magnitude of the decision we are being asked to make, it’s hardly surprising.

But, as we report on page eight of today’s paper, a worrying trend is emerging in the Borders.

Police are hunting for those who have damaged or stolen pro-independence signs during recent weeks.

Regardless of which side of the argument you are on, everyone who believes in the democratic process should condemn the actions of these people. They are not helping the No campaign and this sort of nonsense certainly won’t impress the electorate.

It’s vital that both Yes and No supporters are able to get their messages across to the voters – and using signs, posters and banners are an important tool in any campaign’s box. In fact, vandalism and theft may only serve to highlight the paucity – perceived or otherwise – of a certain point of view.

Peebles lawyer and cyclist Brenda Mitchell, is bringing Belles on Bikes, which organises bike rides, training and maintenance instruction for women, to the Borders.

The founder of specialist law firm, Cycle Law Scotland, hopes women of all levels of cycling experience will join Borders’ Belles on Bikes first ride of 18 miles on Saturday, August 30, leaving the Eastgate car park in Peebles at 10am.

Brenda said: “Belles on Bikes is run by women for women; to get more women cycling and to enjoy the benefits. Cycling is empowering. It reinforces a sense of independence.

“In a recent online discussion amongst women cyclists, the belief that cycling as a sporting activity rather than a means of transport, was thought to be holding some back from using their bikes more often.”

But the top reason given for stopping more women taking up cycling was fears around safety, she said: “That is why initiatives like Belles on Bikes are so important.”

Saturday’s route will take in Cardrona, Innerleithen and Walkerburn. Members will also have access to workshops and skills sessions to give them more confidence on the roads.

Supported by CTC Scotland and Cycling Scotland, Belles on Bikes was set up in Glasgow in March 2012. For more information join Belles on Bikes Scottish Borders on Facebook or in Meetup.com (Belles on Bikes in the Borders).

The swifts have gone, the swallows are gathering and there’s definitely a different feel to the air. Summer is slowly slipping into autumn and the signs are all around as I discovered on a riverside walk at the weekend.

The emphasis has moved from flowers to fruit as plants prepare to disperse their seeds as part of the annual reproduction cycle.

Some, like the rosehip, are fully ripe and red to attract the birds and small mammals, while the rowans are similarly red but still remain too hard for them to eat – Nature’s way of spreading the harvest.

Others like the elderberries, haws and sloes are formed, but still green, and still have a bit to go before they become edible.

The rasps are mainly over, other than those growing in the shade, and the brambles are still green, but it looks as though there is going to be a good crop.

There seems to be more sloes around this year than for some time, so all us makers of that Christmas enhancing beverage sloe gin, are in for a treat after a few lean years.

While walking under some sycamore trees, I couldn’t help noticing that the leaves were rustling louder than usual in the stiff breeze as if they were dry and brittle.

Many were coming down in the wind and it seemed that autumn had come early. I picked one up and quickly saw that it was covered in black spots ringed in yellow.

Like many members of the maple family, they are commonly attacked by this fungal infection called tar spot.

It is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus Rhytisma acerinum.

The spots are unsightly, and the disease can cause slightly premature leaf fall, but it has no long-term effect on the vigour of affected trees.

Another tree which caught my eye beside the path, was an alder.

I paused to photograph one which was displaying what I thought was its unusual reproductive system of having both male and female catkins on one branch.

I then thought it’s a bit late in the year for that, but the tiny cones looked to be accompanied by purple flowers.

I later discovered that these purple “flowers” were caused by another fungus – Taphrina Betulina, the same type of thing which causes “witches brooms” on birch trees.

It is a type of gall and is quite rare on alder. It just goes to show that even on a day when there doesn’t seem to be much about, looking closely at everyday things can often produce surprises.

Contact me on email – 
corbie@homecall.co.uk

A Borders cycling group celebrates its 10th birthday this weekend, with a 50-mile bike ride and cake.

Borders Brake-away started after Tweeddale hikers realised they cycled too. And on Saturday the group will cycle a loop from Peebles to the Ettrick Valley.

Group secretary Fiona Hunt said: “Borders Brake-away came about when a few members of Tweeddale Ramblers realised that we all cycled and perhaps we should trying cycling together in a group for days out in the area.

“The first ride in summer 2004 was much enjoyed and a programme of rides was put together for the rest of the year.

“Over the last 10 years we have gathered other folks with no connection to Tweeddale Ramblers. There is no formal membership, though we now operate as part of the CTC. I maintain an email list of 46 names to notify riders about what’s going on, plus I also keep a Facebook page Borders Brake-away Cycle Group.”

She said: “We typically get between six to 12 riders out, cover maybe around 50 miles, visit a cafe or two for lunch or cakes, chat a lot and enjoy the healthy exercise.”

The birthday ride leaves Peebles at 10am for RIKS cafe in the Ettrick Valley, returning via the Yarrow Valley.

For more information visit www.ctclothians.org.uk.

As Scottish referendum day draws closer – September 18 to vote yes or no for independence, that is, four weeks from today – the debate gets more heated.

And, notable in farming terms, the big names have broken cover to say “Yes” – former NFU Scotland presidents John Cameron, John Ross, Jim Walker and John Kinnaird.

Having talked to a number of farmers on both sides of the debate during the past year or so, and read some of the seemingly interminable letters in the farming press before losing the will to live, I don’t know how much effect endorsement will have.

All gave valuable service to Scottish farming over a combined period of almost 30 years – Cameron and Walker more extrovertly, Ross and Kinnaird more low key – but in their way as effective.

However, just as I doubt whether the televised debates of the genuine big political names Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling change our views on independence for or against, I doubt the farming four will convince or disabuse.

Still, we must give them full marks for trying.

Their joint view, summed up by Mr Ross at a press conference is basically: “Farming and rural affairs need to be at the forefront of all future Scottish government thinking… An independent Scotland is the only way this can be secured.” It might seem naïve to suggest that an industry involving only about 65,000 people directly and producing a small part of the country’s output should be at the forefront of government thinking. But isn’t that rather blinkered view how most people think about the referendum?

In theory, they should consider the overall effect. In practice, it is about how we think it will affect us as an individual.

As for my own view, I can only offer the allegory of a dour Gala/Hawick game, where a visitor turned to the man next to him and said it was an awful match. To which the man said: “Are you fae Gala?” “No.” “Are oo fae Hawick?” “Er, no.” “Then what’s it got to do with you?”

I look forward to animated debate and discussion in the next month, but to few minds being changed from their present yes or no setting, regardless of who endorses either side.

Back in the harvest fields throughout the region, no one needs to be told that the weather took a turn for the worse again last week and remains unsettled.

So much for the worse that in some parts of our area grain fields were flattened, an unusual sight these days, and some might have suffered wind damage.

A pity, because until early August most farmers in north Northumberland and the Borders admitted – the correct description for something akin to drawing teeth – that this has been a good year with a good spring, good lambing, good hay and silage and a great start to harvest with oilseed rape and winter barley.

Pedigree beef cattle breeders will have to up their game by adopting the latest genetic technology to ensure quality Scotch beef competes in the market place, NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller warned.

Part of the £45 million fund earmarked by the Scottish Government for beef improvement over the next three years should be used to develop genetic programmes to help commercial beef producers become more efficient, Mr Miller told more than 1,000 beef farmers attending the centenary open day of the Wedderlie Aberdeen-Angus herd at Gordon.

He praised owners, John and Marion Tilson, and daughter, Wanda Hobbs, for their good use of estimated breeding values (EBVs) to improve the performance of their 200-cow herd, one of the best in the country.

“The Wedderlie herd is showing the way by incorporating all available technology into their breeding programme, with an emphasis on maternal EBVs, to produce commercial cattle for the commercial market,” said Mr Miller. “They have demonstrated how top quality cattle can be produced on grass on a high lying hill farm presenting many challenges.”

But Mr Miller said Scotland was falling behind Ireland where EU money is financing an ambitious data capture programme, including carcase information and eating quality, to help producers select breeding stock, and also a performance testing programme to assess the commercial progeny of selected sires.

Contrary to popular belief, research in Ireland indicates bulls showing the highest liveweight gains were not necessarily the most efficient in converting feed into beef, he said.

Reducing feed costs – the benefit could be as much as 7kg per head per day - would be a major bonus for the industry. And identifying the genetics of cattle producing a higher proportion of the best cuts in a carcase, rather than just huge rumps and mince, could be worth as much as £200 in carcase value, he said.

Roslin Institute research shows progeny of some sires had a higher resistance to TB than others, and the same might apply to Johne’s diseases, which offered tremendous potential advantages to beef producers.

SRUC beef expert, Dr Basil Lowman, warned attendees the continued emphasis on liveweight gain in all breeds could lead to the breeding of “elephants” in the future. The Aberdeen-Angus had made tremendous progress in increasing average 400-day weights by 20kg over the past 10 years but indications suggested it was at the cost of calving ease.

“The aim must be to get cattle to grow as fast as possible up to 400 days and then stop. The breed should be looking to select females with a big pelvis for easy calving rather than concentrating on a further increase in growth rates,” he said.

The Wedderlie herd meanwhile has increased growth rates above the breed average while improving calving ease and increasing 200-day milk weight at double the breed average by concentrating on maternal EBVs when choosing females for breeding.