Michael Moore MP has been selected by the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie to take part in Lord Smith of Kelvin’s cross-party talks on more powers for Scotland.
Lord Smith, from Eshiels, is aiming to produce a set of recommendations on further devolution by November 30.
Nominations are now open for the 2015 Inspire Awards, which are held annually to celebrate the hard work and achievements of young Borderers aged 12 to 25.
The awards are designed to recognise young individuals or groups who have been outstandingly successful in a particular field or have overcome considerable obstacles to make a contribution to their local community.
The award categories are: Volunteering, Sport, Music and the Arts, Community, Global Citizen and Inspirational.
Nominations are open until December 31, and anyone can nominate someone, or a group, for an award.
Judging will be carried out by this year’s Inspire Awards group, which is made up of young people from across the region under the age of 21.
The results will be announced at the annual Saltire Inspire Awards ceremony, to be held in Galashiels on March 20, 2015, when Saltire Award certificates for volunteering will also be presented.
Visit www.scotborders.gov.uk/inspireawards or www.vcborders.org.uk to download an award nomination form.
A fatal accident inquiry will be held next month at Selkirk Sheriff Court into the death of Lauder farmer Jim Sharp, who died in March while operating a grain auger.
An FAI into the death of Gavin Donaldson, from Westruther, will be held in Jedburgh in January next year. He was found dead near Oxton in May.
Watsonians 46 Kelso 12
BT NATIONAL DIVISION ONE
Despite the horrendous weather in the last couple of days, the Myreside pitch was in perfect order for Saturday’s clash between Kelso and Watsonians.
Kelso had a couple of changes from last week with Frankie Robson and Callum Rowlandson being unavailable and Andy Tait out injured.
An early penalty by Watsonians captain, Ross Aitken, fell short but Kelso were caught offside from the failed catch of the penalty kick. First blood to the hosts with Aitken’s second attempt.
Kelso soon took the lead when Donald Seed won a line out which was driven and, when the ball was released, Adam Alexander burst through to feed Richard Minto to go over for an unconverted try.
Play was fairly even for the next 10 minutes until a massive Watsonians drive took the ball up to the Kelso line. Although the defence appeared to be initially resolute, hooker, Jake Kerr, burrowed over to score the try, which Aitken converted. The lead was increased when, in the 21st minute, the city side sparkled with their handling for scrum half Reiss Cullen to finish off a move to take them 15-5 ahead.
There was a fair bit of luck to the next Watsonians try when a tricky bounce bamboozled the Kelso defence on the right only for new Watsonians winger, Julien Hyardet to score on the Kelso left. Kelso just ran out of numbers in defence on this one. Hyardet converted his own try.
Kelso took that one on the chin and tried really hard and produced a second try when they took a quick tap penalty and, from a resulting scrum, Richard Minto crossed for his second try to allow Andrew Skeen to convert.
The hosts came straight back at Kelso and scored their bonus point try after 33 minutes following a driven line out allowing Martin Christie to crash over. Worse was to come for Kelso when they conceded a free kick and Cullen, at lightning speed tapped and breached the Kelso defence to go over under the bar to give Hyardet an easy conversion. 34-12 at half time and Kelso was in all sorts of trouble.
They made a bad start to the second half but gradually started to gain possession and position and worry their hosts into conceding penalties. They could not, however, add to their score. The Watsonians pack was exerting a serious amount of pressure with their aggressive rucking making Kelso concede possession. After 62 minutes, another of Watsonians’ young guns in the Scotland under 20 training squad, Ally Miller, broke from a retreating scrum and burst through several tackles on his way to the tryline from 45 metres.
Kelso picked up another front row injury to reduce the match to uncontested scrums but there was still time for further agony for Kelso with another try which came from Chad Northcott after 68 minutes. He converted his own try.
Kelso had a couple of chances in the closing minutes when, firstly Adam Alexander had the ball dislodged as he was crossing the line and secondly, from a driven line out, Kelso were held up just on the line.
So back we came over Soutra with our tails between our legs after being on the wrong end of a 46-12 rout. 7 tries to 2, ouch!
Kelso scorers: Tries, Richard Minto (2); Con, Andrew Skeen.
Kelso team: Murray Hastie; Craig Russell, Richard Minto, Adam Alexander, Gregg Minto; Andrew Skeen, Anders Cameron; Chris Keen, Chris Riddell, Gary Holborn, Alastair Grieve, Donald Seed, Max Gordon, Liam Tait, Gareth Riddell. Subs: Ross Henderson, Allan Frame, Ian Wallace, Scott Brown, Ally Johnston.
Hawick 21 Melrose 20
BT PREMIERSHIP
Hawick got their show back on the road after taking the honours against the defending BT Premiership champions Melrose in a fiercely competitive match at Mansfield Park that doubled as a Bookers Borders league game.
In the end Hawick scraped through by a single point but overall they were worth their win after showing massive commitment in defence, smart off-the-cuff attacking rugby, and an ability to snap up chances.
Two penalties by Lee Armstrong to one by Austin Lockington gave Hawick a 6-3 advantage after 22 minutes but on the stroke of half time Hawick made their breakthrough with a try by winger Scott McLeod from good approach work and a clever chip ahead by Armstrong.
An Armstong penalty kept Hawick’s scoreboard ticking over but tries by Graham Dodds and Euan McQuillan and a conversion by Lockington put Melrose ahead by 15-14 only for the Greens to regain the lead with a touchdown by centre Joaquin Dominguez converted by Armstrong.
Then in a frantic finale Melrose scored through Tito Mua but to the relief of the Mansfield Park faithful Richard Mill’s touchline conversion drifted wide leaving Hawick winners.
More comment and analysis on this game in Thursday’s Southern Reporter.
Scorers
Hawick: Tries, McLeod, Dominguez; Cons, Armstrong; Pens, Armstrong (3).
Melrose: Tries, Dodds, McQuillan, Mua; Con, Lockington; Pen, Lockington.
Teams
Hawick: L. Armstrong; N. McColm, N. Walker, J. Dominguez, S. McLeod; R. Hutton, S. Goodfellow; S. Muir, R. Graham, W. Blacklock, F. Simpson, M. McKee, N. McTaggart, K. Davies, B. McNeil. Subs: L. Gibson, N. McLennan, B. Campbell, A. Weir, S. Fairbairn.
Melrose: F. Thomson; T. Mua, B. Hutchison, R. Taylor, C. Anderson; A. Lockington, M. McAndrew; N. Beavon, T. Pearce, E. McQuillan, J. Head, L. Carmichael, N. Irvine-Hess, R. Knott, R. Miller. Subs: R. Ferguson, G. Dodds, P. Eccles, R. Mill, T. Wilson.
Referee: P. Allan.
A group of 21 Scandinavian visitors from the Norwegian fashion chain VOLT have enjoyed a successful tour of the Borders.
In 2012, 15 employees won a trip to the region after winning a company competition based on sales of Lyle and Scott knitwear.
VOLT was so impressed by that trip, where the staff learnt about the Borders’ textile history, that they decided to organise another competition to mark the company’s 140th anniversary.
“Part of the goal for the visit was for them to get to know the Borders, and maybe be charmed by the way of life and the scenery,” explained Morten Erichsen, owner of SMD Holding AS, exclusive importers of Lyle and Scott products to Norway.
He added that the company also felt it important that the employees feel connected to the heritage of the products they sell.
To make the most of the three-day trip to the region, the company enlisted the help of Ian Walker of Border Journeys Tour Company.
Mr Walker said: “I had the same group two years ago – they were actually my very first group - so I wanted to make sure that they enjoyed themselves just as much this time.”
To this end, he created an itinerary that highlighted some of the best that the Borders has to offer.
Unmissable, of course, was a tour of the Lyle and Scott mill at Hawick, which was followed by fly-fishing, archery and clay pigeon shooting.
The group also took part in a mini Highland Games competition, and enjoyed a trip to the Born in the Borders visitor centre.
The group stayed at Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, and general manager Mark Wallace said the region’s textile heritage is a real draw for visitors.
“We’ve noticed a real increase in foreign visitors to the Borders – drawn especially by our textiles, but also by a whole number of activities.
“The Borders has so much to offer the corporate guest,” he added.
Mr Walker said that the group was delighted by their stay in the region, and is hopeful that a third visit to the Borders will happen in due course.
Arable farmers are voicing strong opposition to new Scottish Government rules on growing nitrogen fixing crops.
NFU Scotland said Holyrood wants farmers to plant two different nitrogen fixing crops in each EFA (Ecological Focus Area) area, harvest those crops after August 1 each year and maintain field margins around them.
In England growers can plant the nitrogen fixing plants - examples include soybeans, alfalfa and clover - with no management restrictions other than meeting GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions) requirements.
Union president, Borders farmer Nigel Miller said: “These prescriptions make the growing of nitrogen fixing crops a non-starter on many farms and therefore severely limits the EFA options for Scottish growers.
“EFA requirements were always going to pose a challenge for Scotland’s productive arable sector but compliance also flows onto many livestock and dairy units where arable crops and temporary grass are grown and things like wholecrop form part of the feeding regime.
“The EU agreement last year allowed member states and regions to have some flexibility in deciding which EFA options were most appropriate and that these could be designed to be viable for most parts. Europe recognised the value of nitrogen fixing crops, not only in supporting pollinators but in minimising the use of artificial fertilisers, improving soil structure, benefitting water quality and providing a source of home-grown protein.”
With their Image Printers Cup tie against Gala Fairydean postponed because of a waterlogged ground last Saturday, Vale of Leithen take on Edinburgh University away from home this weekend in a Lowland League encounter.
In the lower half of the league table Vale are looking to get more points on board to improve their position.
And talking of his side’s current situation Vale manager Mark Lamb told TheSouthern: “We are a young team competing in a very competitive league, and it’s going to be a long hard season for our players.
“It’s our aim to remain in the Lowland League and I have set us a target of 25 points. So far we have picked up 13 points and I am quite happy about this considering we have such a small squad.
“I am trying to strengthen the side and on the lookout for new faces.”
Gala Fairydean face Gretna 2008 at Netherdale without the suspended Jamie Gibson.
Selkirk were scheduled to play East Kilbride, however the K-Park outfit are lining up against Spartans at home in a Scottish Cup second round reply tie following a drawn game last Saturday.
Selkirk team boss Stevie said of this: “It’s very frustrating as it means we have another free Saturday.
“We need games, we need to be playing.”
On a high from their excellent win over Tynecastle in the semi-final of the Alex Jack Cup, Peebles Rovers are set to square up against Heriot Watt University in an East of Scotland first division battle.
Commenting on matters, Rovers manager John O’Hara says: “I was over the moon with our win over Tynecastle.
“It was a fantastic result for us, especially as Tynecastle are a side who are unbeaten in their league. We are now in the final of a cup which is just great for the club.
“The final is against Leith Athletic in a few weeks’ time at Innerleithen. It’s going to be a big occasion for Peebles Rovers but before this we have league games to play and I will be making sure that we will be focussed on these matches and get maximum points.
“We are doing very well in the league and need to keep pushing in this direction.”
Kelso United travel to Duns, while Hawick Royal Albert visit Ormiston.
Selkirk Sessions filled the Royal Burgh’s pubs and clubs with local musicians last weekend, despite the drab weather.
Guitarists, fiddlers and singers turned up in Selkirk, travelling from around the Borders, Northumberland, and the west, for three days of ‘take it as it comes’ sessions, a competition and ceilidh.
“There were quite a lot of camper vans and tents - which was surprising, given the weather,” the festival’s chairman Davey Scott said.
“The people who come always enjoy it. People said it had a really nice and friendly feeling. It was quite well supported, and the standard of musicians was quite high.”
The rainy Friday night saw three sessions running simultaneously, in Selkirk’s Tory Club, Bowling Club and Town Arms pub - each featuring around 20 musicians, and ending late into the night at 1.30am. But, Mr Scott observed: “The Tory Club had more musicians than visitors, just because of the weather.”
A slightly fairer Saturday afternoon saw the competitions kicking off in Angus O’Malleys bar, where musicians turned up to compete for the ‘song/poem’, ‘instrumental’ and ‘chorus’ quaiches, inscribed by ‘Souter’ Colin Turnbull.
“At 2.30pm we still had more judges than competitors - it looked a bit dodgy,” worried Mr Scott, “but then everyone came in, and it went on until 4.45pm.” The winners were: Davie Rodgers from Selkirk in song/poem category; the fiddlers Riddell Rabble in the instrumental class; and Patsy McArthur for the Chorus Cup, which is judged on the chorus that gets the best singing from the audience.
Two more unplanned sessions followed on Saturday evening, running from 8.30pm to 1.30am, anchored by local musician Brian Cherrie in Selkirk’s Bowling Club, and by Guy Smith of Dere Street in the Tory Club. “The whole dance floor was taken up with people,” Mr Scott recalled, “so there were around 30 musicians.”
On Sunday morning Riddell Fiddles held a workshop, before the Sunday ceilidh burled away in the Tory Club, where Selkirk Pipe Band turned up, all in full uniform, to join the scratch band. “It was great to see the cooperation between musicians,” Mr Scott said.
But the low number of younger participants was “a disappointment this year”, he added. “Things go up and down. Because it’s unstructured and unscripted, it’s difficult to control who comes. We’d like to encourage more youngsters to come.”
Forty soldiers from the Royal Scots Borderers, now based in Northern Ireland, have been deployed to Sierra Leone on a humanitarian mission to combat the deadly Ebola outbreak.
The Royal Scots Borderers (1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) moved from Edinburgh to their new base at Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down, just a few weeks ago and were visited by the battalion’s royal colonel, the Princess Royal, today (Wednesday, October 8).
Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Matt Munro said his soldiers were ready for their African assignment.
“We deployed in the first instance to Sierra Leone at very short notice not knowing how long my people were likely to be there. But they are hugely professional and I have spoken before, not just about the quality of the soldiers, but also about the quality of their training,” he said.
“There are some peculiar threats to this operation clearly relating to the Ebola virus and of course there is a risk of soldiers from this battalion contracting the virus, but it is a very low risk because there are all sorts of very practical and sensible measures that my people can employ to ensure that the risk is kept to an absolute minimum. ”
Britain is sending over 700 troops and medical personnel, naval assets and helicopters, in the coming days to help combat the outbreak which has so far killed more than 3,500 people in West Africa.
Football
Saturday, october 4
Scottish cup second round
Arbroath 2 Montrose 2
Berwick Rangers 2 Formartine United 0
Bo’ness United 7 Culter 1
Brora Rangers 5 Banks O’Dee 0
Cove Rangers 1 Annan Athletic 2
East Fife 7 Threave Rovers 0
Edinburgh City 2 Auchinleck Talbot 1
Elgin City 0 Forres Mechanics 0
Gretna 2008 0 Queen’s Park 1
Inverurie Locos 0 Hurlford 3
Linlithgow Rose 5 Dalbeattie Star 1
Nairn County 2 Huntly 1
Spartans FC 3 East Kilbride 3
Turriff United 0 Clyde 3
Whitehill Welfare 0 East Stirling 1
Alex Jack Cup - Semi Finals
Leith Athletic 3 Heriot-Watt University 2
Tynecastle 1 Peebles Rovers 3
East of Scotland Qualifying Cup first Round
Duns P Civil Service Strollers P
second Round
Easthouses Lily 1 Lothian Thistle HV 4
Vale of Leithen P Gala Fairydean Rovers P
east of scotland Premier Division
Craigroyston 1 Coldstream 3
Stirling University P Spartans P
P W D L F A pts
Leith Athletic 5 5 0 0 15 4 15
Tynecastle 4 4 0 0 18 4 12
Easthouses Lily 6 3 1 2 16 12 10
Lothian Th H Vale 5 3 0 2 15 11 9
Spartans 6 2 2 2 13 16 8
CS Strollers 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
Coldstream 6 1 1 4 8 15 4
Craigroyston 6 1 1 4 9 19 4
Univ of Stirling 6 0 0 6 3 19 0
east of scotland First Division
Hawick Royal Albert 1 Kelso United 2
Ormiston P Burntisland Shipyard P
P W D L F A pts
Peebles Rovers 5 4 1 0 20 5 13
Ormiston 5 4 0 1 13 5 12
Duns 5 2 3 0 14 9 9
Kelso United 6 2 2 2 10 17 8
Heriot-Watt Univ 5 2 1 2 8 10 7
Burntisland Ship 6 1 3 2 13 15 6
Eyemouth United 6 1 0 5 6 15 3
Hawick RA 6 0 2 4 8 16 2
Scottish Amateur Cup second Round
Carse Thistle w/o Gordon
Fernieside 4 Gala Fairydean Rovers 3
Melrose 1 Forth Community 7
Milton 4 Greenlaw 1
Peebles Ams 0 Fallin 8
St Bernards 0 Tweeddale Rovers 6
Syngenta 1 Leithen Rovers 7
border amateur league
Division A
Ancrum 0 Jed Legion 5
Chirnside Utd 3 Stow 4
Hawick Waverley 0 West Barns Star 5
P W D L F A pts
Gala Fairydean R 5 5 0 0 18 8 15
Leithen Rovers 4 4 0 0 14 2 12
Stow 5 4 0 1 13 11 12
West Barns Star 5 3 1 1 14 8 10
Jed Legion 4 1 0 3 8 7 3
Gordon 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
Hawick Waverley 5 1 0 4 8 18 3
Greenlaw 3 0 1 2 3 6 1
Chirnside Utd 4 0 0 4 8 14 0
Ancrum 3 0 0 3 2 15 0
Division b
Eyemouth Ams 4 Earlston Rhymers 1
Gala Hotspur P Langholm Legion P
Hawick Legion 7 Chirnside Utd Colts 1
Hawick Utd 3 Coldstream Ams 1
P W D L F A pts
Hawick Legion 6 5 1 0 22 9 16
Eyemouth Ams 6 3 0 3 14 16 9
Tweeddale Rov 3 2 0 1 8 3 6
Gala Hotspur 4 2 0 2 14 10 6
Linton Hotspur 3 2 0 1 8 7 6
Coldstream Ams 5 2 0 3 10 10 6
Hawick Utd 5 2 0 3 12 15 6
Earlston Rhymers 4 1 1 2 6 10 4
Langholm Legion 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
Chirnside UC 6 1 0 5 10 24 3
Division c
Biggar Utd P Duns P
CFC Bowholm 2 Selkirk Victoria 0
Lauder 3 Hawick Legion Rovers 0
Tweedmouth Ams 6 St Boswells 1
P W D L F A pts
Tweedmouth Am 5 5 0 0 24 5 15
Hawick LR 5 4 0 1 21 10 12
Biggar Utd 4 3 1 0 13 1 10
Duns 4 3 1 0 12 6 10
Melrose 3 2 0 1 8 6 6
St Boswells 4 2 0 2 8 10 6
CFC Bowholm 4 1 1 2 4 8 4
Lauder 5 1 0 4 7 15 3
Selkirk Victoria 6 1 0 5 11 27 3
Kelso Thistle 4 0 1 3 3 16 1
Peebles Ams 4 0 0 4 5 12 0
NFA Minor Cup second round
Alnmouth Utd 3 West Allotment A 2 (aet)
Amble St Cuthbert 5 Tyne/Wear Metro 2
Heddon v Bamburgh Castle w/o
Wansbeck AFC 0 Newcastle University 7
Craster Rovers 0 Tweedmth Rangers 8
Rothbury 3 Wooler Res 1 (aet)
North Shields CC 3 Belford 4
Red Row Welfare 1 Tweedmouth Harrow 0
Lowick Utd w/o v Hedgeley Rovers
Blyth Town Interm 9 Highfields Utd 2
Gosforth Boh Res 9 North Sunderland 2
Wooler 1 Willington Quay Saints 0
NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE
DIVISION two
Embleton 11 Eglingham 1
Springhill 7 Alnmouth 1
P W D L F A pts
Belford 4 3 0 1 24 5 9
Amble St Cuth 4 3 0 1 14 6 9
Tweedmouth H 4 2 1 1 11 10 7
Springhill 3 2 0 1 7 4 6
Craster Rov 4 2 0 2 11 10 6
Wooler Res 4 1 2 1 10 10 5
Lynemouth Ang 3 1 1 1 6 8 4
Embleton WR 3 0 1 2 3 7 1
Alnmouth 3 0 1 2 1 10 1
Eglingham 2 0 0 2 3 20 0
Sunday, october 5
Scottish cup second round
Stirling University 1 Albion Rovers 4
Fixtures
saturday, october 11
SCOTTISH CUP SECOND ROUND replays (3pm)
Montrose v Arbroath (2pm)
East Kilbride v Spartans FC
Forres Mechanics v Elgin
spfl division two
East Fife v Clyde (1pm)
East Stirling v Queen’s Park (3pm)
lowland league (3pm)
BSC Glasgow v Dalbeattie Star (1pm)
East Kilbride P Selkirk P
Edinburgh University v Vale of Leithen
Gala Fairydean v Gretna 2008
Spartans FC P Preston Athletic P
Stirling University v Whitehill Welfare
Threave Rovers v Edinburgh City
East of Scotland Qualifying Cup first Round (2.30)
Duns v Civil Service Strollers
east of scotland Premier Division (2.30)
Coldstream v Stirling University
Craigroyston v Spartans
Lothian Thistle HV v Leith Athletic
Tynecastle v Easthouses Lily
east of scotland First Division (2.30)
Burntisland Shipyard v Eyemouth United
Heriot-Watt University v Peebles Rovers
Ormiston v Hawick Royal Albert
Border Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)
Gordon v Chirnside Utd
Leithen Rovers v Hawick Waverley
Stow v Gala Fairydean Rovers
West Barns Star v Ancrum
Wright Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)
Chirnside Utd Colts v Eyemouth Ams
Gala Hotspur v Earlston Rhymers
Linton Hotspur v Coldstream Ams
Collie Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)
Hawick Legion Rovers v Melrose
Kelso Thistle v Duns
St Boswells v Selkirk Victoria
Tweedmouth Ams v Biggar Utd
border amateur league (2pm)
Division A
Jed Legion v Greenlaw
Division b
Hawick Utd v Langholm Legion
Division c
Peebles Ams v CFC Bowholm
Bilclough Cup Preliminary Round (2pm)
Wansbeck v North Sunderland
Bamburgh Castle v Rothbury
Tweedmouth Harrow v Lynemouth Anglers
NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE (2pm)
DIVISION one
Alnmouth United v Lowick United
Red Row Welfare v Tweedmouth Rangers
Division Two
Belford v Wooler Reserves
Embleton WR v Amble St Cuthbert
Craster Rovers v Alnmouth
Springhill v Eglingham
northern alliance league first division (2.30)
Wooler v Hexham
wednesday, october 15
spfl league two (7.45)
Berwick Rangers v Montrose
rugby
saturday, october 4
premiership
Boroughmuir 16 Ayr 34
Currie 28 Heriot’s 34
Edinburgh Acads 19 Gala 26
Hawick 21 Melrose 20
Stirling County 28 Glasgow Hawks 19
P W l d F A B pts
Gala 6 5 1 0 185 116 4 24
Heriot’s 6 5 1 0 164 114 4 24
Ayr 6 5 1 0 165 131 4 24
Melrose 6 3 3 0 149 122 5 17
Stirling 6 3 3 0 140 154 4 16
Currie 6 3 3 0 153 178 2 14
Hawick 6 2 4 0 107 146 4 12
Boroughmuir 6 2 4 0 118 155 3 11
Glas Hawks 6 2 4 0 114 114 2 10
Edin Accies 6 0 6 0 110 175 3 3
national league division one
Aberdeen Gram 37 Jed-Forest 12
Dundee HSFP 51 Biggar 30
GHA 35 Marr 34
Peebles 58 Hillhead Jordanhill 10
Stew-Mel FP 16 Selkirk 17
Watsonians 44 Kelso 12
P W l d F A B pts
GHA 5 5 0 0 154 121 4 24
Selkirk 5 5 0 0 186 73 3 23
Dundee HSFP 5 3 1 1 138 85 2 16
Watsonians 5 3 2 0 163 107 3 15
Peebles 5 3 2 0 134 84 2 14
Stew-Mel 5 2 2 1 119 103 4 14
Kelso 5 2 2 1 109 116 2 12
Aberdeen Gram 5 1 3 1 134 135 3 9
Biggar 5 2 3 0 94 144 1 9
Jed-Forest 5 1 4 0 95 123 3 7
Marr 5 1 4 0 129 176 3 7
Hillhead Jord 5 0 5 0 41 229 0 0
national league division two
Aberdeenshire 33 Greenock Wands 29
Hamilton 24 Whitecraigs 0
Howe of Fife 66 Haddington 19
Kirkcaldy 29 Cartha Queens Park 54
Livingston 20 Ardrossan Acads 19
Musselburgh 28 Falkirk 28
P W l d F A B pts
Howe of Fife 5 5 0 0 274 80 5 25
Falkirk 5 4 0 1 193 86 3 21
Hamilton 5 4 1 0 204 101 4 20
Musselburgh 5 3 1 1 165 122 3 17
Kirkcaldy 5 3 2 0 119 150 3 15
Cartha QP 5 3 2 0 135 117 2 14
Whitecraigs 5 2 3 0 163 103 3 11
A’deenshire 5 1 4 0 134 181 5 9
Livingston 5 2 3 0 73 212 0 8
Ardrossan Ac 5 1 4 0 120 131 3 7
Greenock W 5 1 4 0 88 214 3 7
Haddington 5 0 5 0 85 256 3 3
national league division three
Dalziel 27 Dunfermline 10
Dumfries Saints 95 Hawick YM 8
East Kilbride 32 Irvine 15
Murrayfield Wand 15 Perthshire 33
RHC 18 Preston Lodge 22
West of Scotland 18 Lasswade 15
P W l d F A B pts
Dumfries 5 5 0 0 240 61 5 25
RHC 5 4 1 0 163 70 4 20
Preston Lodge 5 4 1 0 142 77 2 18
East Kilbride 5 3 2 0 131 85 4 16
Lasswade 5 3 2 0 117 75 3 15
Perthshire 5 3 2 0 118 99 3 15
West 5 3 2 0 143 84 2 14
Irvine 5 2 3 0 109 72 2 10
Hawick YM 5 1 3 1 74 205 1 7
Dalziel 5 1 4 0 63 192 1 5
Murrayfield W 5 0 4 1 46 149 0 2
Dunfermline 5 0 5 0 53 230 0 0
east league division one
Dalkeith 22 North Berwick 16
Dunbar 14 Berwick 33
Hawick Harlequins 19 Hawick Linden 32
Langholm 11 Linlithgow 14
Portobello FP 18 Duns 53
P W l d F A B pts
Dalkeith 6 6 0 0 162 65 3 27
N Berwick 6 4 2 0 237 94 4 20
Berwick 5 4 1 0 183 75 3 19
Linlithgow 6 4 2 0 104 62 3 19
Dunbar 5 3 2 0 139 81 4 16
Duns 6 2 4 0 125 125 3 11
Hawick Linden 5 2 3 0 115 139 2 10
Portobello 6 1 5 0 83 244 3 7
*Langholm 5 1 4 0 81 190 3 5
Hawick Quins 6 1 5 0 98 252 0 4
*2 points deducted
east league division two
Forrester P Earlston P
Inverleith 22 Lismore 22
Penicuik 30 Liberton FP 20
St Boswells 78 Edinburgh Northern 0
Trinity Acads 18 Leith 43
P W l d F A B pts
St Boswells 6 6 0 0 473 27 6 30
Forrester 5 5 0 0 300 60 5 25
Inverleith 6 4 1 1 162 82 4 22
Leith 6 4 2 0 223 127 5 21
Trinity Acads 6 2 4 0 141 197 2 10
Liberton FP 6 2 4 0 98 205 2 10
Earlston 5 2 3 0 86 181 1 9
Penicuik 6 2 4 0 66 291 1 9
Edinburgh N 6 1 5 0 57 204 1 5
Lismore 6 0 5 1 59 291 1 3
east league division three
Queensferry 37 Bo’ness 12
Ross High 39 Gala YM 14
Walkerburn 12 Broughton 28
P W l d F A B pts
Broughton 3 3 0 0 81 33 2 14
Ross High 3 2 1 0 117 36 2 10
Walkerburn 4 2 2 0 98 67 2 10
Gala YM 3 2 1 0 76 76 2 10
Queensferry 3 1 2 0 68 74 1 5
Bo’ness 2 0 2 0 17 66 0 0
RDVC 2 0 2 0 3 108 0 0
borders semi junior league
Berwick Colts 0 Kelso Harlequins 28 conc
Gala Wanderers P Langholm Colts P
Hawick Wands 39 Melrose Wasps 5
Selkirk Youth 17 Peebles Colts 15
P W l d F A B pts
Jed Thistle 6 6 0 0 327 59 0 12
Melrose Wasps 7 5 2 0 354 96 0 10
Hawick Wands 6 5 1 0 269 66 0 10
Peebles Colts 6 4 2 0 247 64 0 8
Selkirk Youth 7 4 3 0 218 162 0 8
Kelso Quins 6 3 3 0 188 117 0 6
Gala Wands 6 3 3 0 84 166 0 6
Tynedale Colts 5 1 4 0 45 211 0 2
Langholm Colts 5 0 4 1 17 288 0 1
Hawick PSA 5 0 4 1 20 350 0 1
Berwick Colts 5 0 5 0 0 190 0 0
sunday, october 5
border under-16 league
Berwick P Duns P
Gala Red Triangle 15 Peebles 14
Jed-Forest P Langholm P
Kelso P Selkirk P
Melrose 5 Hawick Albion 25
P W l d F A B pts
Melrose 4 3 1 0 142 42 0 13
Gala Red Tri 4 3 1 0 142 102 0 13
Hawick Albion 3 3 0 0 112 19 0 12
Selkirk 3 1 2 0 88 73 0 6
Peebles 3 1 2 0 56 53 0 6
Duns 3 1 2 0 72 97 0 6
Jed-Forest 2 1 1 0 45 53 0 5
Berwick 1 1 0 0 64 14 0 4
Langholm 3 0 3 0 14 218 0 3
Kelso 2 0 2 0 26 90 0 2
Fixtures
saturday, october 11
premiership (3PM)
Ayr v Currie
Gala v Boroughmuir
Glasgow Hawks v Edinburgh Acads
Hawick v Stirling County
Melrose v Heriot’s
national league division one (3pm)
Biggar v Watsonians
Hillhead Jordanhill v Dundee HSFP
Jed-Forest v GHA
Kelso v Stewart’s-Melville FP
Marr v Peebles
Selkirk v Aberdeen Grammar
national league division two (3pm)
Ardrossan Acads v Kirkcaldy
Cartha Queens Park v Howe of Fife
Falkirk v Livingston
Greenock Wand v Musselburgh
Haddington v Hamilton
Whitecraigs v Aberdeenshire
national league division three (3pm)
Dunfermline v East Kilbride
Hawick YM v West of Scotland
Irvine v Murrayfield Wanderers
Lasswade v RHC
Perthshire v Dumfries Saints
Preston Lodge v Dalziel
east league division one (3PM)
Berwick v Hawick Linden
Duns v Dunbar
Langholm v Hawick Harlequins
Linlithgow v Dalkeith
North Berwick v Portobello FP
east league division two (3PM)
Earlston v Inverleith
Forrester v St Boswells
Leith v Edinburgh Northern
Liberton FP v Trinity Academicals
Lismore v Penicuik
east league division three (3PM)
Broughton v RDVC
Gala YM v Bo’ness
Ross High v Queensferry
borders semi junior league (3pm)
Hawick PSA v Gala Wanderers
Hawick Wands v Kelso Harlequins
Jed Thistle v Tynedale Colts
Langholm Colts v Selkirk Youth
Peebles Colts v Berwick Colts
sunday, october 12
border under-16 league (1pm)
Berwick v Duns
Tweed Valley Pétanque Club held a special fund raising day for Macmillan Cancer Support at their piste within Kailzie Gardens, Peebles.
There were a couple of friendly games and fun competitions, where visitors from Melrose, Edinburgh and Spain were included. Afterwards, everyone retired to the new clubhouse for refreshments and, after the raffle, competitors showed their skill at shooting a boule from a log. This proved very popular with Peter Hansen, a fairly new member, managing to win by shooting off two boules from three.
Trying to knock a maximum of six boules from a circle using three boules also become highly addictive with people coming back again and again for one more try. The competition was won by Kenny Brown’s total of five, with Frances Donald (4) winning a tie-break to take runner-up spot.
All the members worked together to make a very successful day and the final total raised for Macmillan Cancer Support was £330.#
Sporting digest
Archery
Ettrick Forest Archers
Several club members travelled up to Glasgow for the last clout competition of the year, held at Mugdock Country Park and hosted by Green Hollow Bowmen.
Now apparently over the shoulder injury that has seen her miss the last few weeks’ competitions, it’s almost as if Elaine Pearson was never away.
In another strong show, she pipped Kilwinning’s Emma Gillies to the Autumn Clout title by one point, scoring 57 hits for 155 points, including no less than six clouts.
Gillies took the first round medal and Highland’s Barbara Campbell the second round. Also shooting for Selkirk was Ev Craig, who scored a pretty handy 42, 97, 0.
Selkirk’s Kyle Fairbairn was also successful in the junior section, scoring 37, 85, 0.
There was no such drama in the gents’ competition as Kilwinning’s Scott Notman soared to a 56-point win over Ned O’Neil, who won the first round. Selkirk’s Jim Stillie took the second round, his total score of 36, 83, 0 earning him third overall.
Other Selkirk scorers were: 6, Jim Craig 25, 61, 0; 8, Doug Anderson 28, 57, 1; 10, Mike Pearson 23, 53, 0; 11, Martin Stillie 24, 49, 0.
In the best of ends shoot-offs, Doug Anderson won by a foot in the gents, while Barbara Campbell won in the ladies’ section.
Badminton
Jedburgh
Seventy three pupils from primaries 2-4 enjoyed a Badminton Bonanza day, organised by Active schools and Jedburgh Badminton Club to promote and encourage the sport to younger players living in and around the town.
Harry Wright, Sophie Oliver, Justine Lee and Yasmin White were presented with goody bags provided by Badminton Scotland for showing potential in a sport which was completely new to them. Badminton Scotland water bottles were given to Lian Tyson, Dawn Glitster, Jessica Jereczek and Kayden Brookes, who excelled in the fitness challenge.
An Ancrum Bonanza will take place today from 1–3pm for P1-5 pupils.
Bowling
Earlston
The first of many out-of-season events will take place in the clubrooms tomorrow evening in the form of a Quiz Night. The fun starts at 7.30pm, maximum five players per team, £12 per team entry.
Cricket
Langholm
At the recent Langholm Cricket awards in the clubrooms at the Castleholm, captain Duncan Elliott presented both the Player of the Season trophy and the Player’s Player Cup to Steven Johnstone.
The award for the most wickets also went to Johnstone, who snapped up 26 in the season.
Gregor Park received the award for most runs, having reached the half-century on five occasions, and he was also presented with the Deep Fine Leg trophy.
Other awards went to Bailey Donaldson for Young Player of the Season, and Most Improved Player was Davie Gordon. There were a couple of humorous awards, the one for most ducks going to Jack Pool and the Ham Sandwich to Graham Park.
Langholm found it tough in Division One of the Eden Valley League in the summer past, having gained promotion on two successive seasons, but they secured five wins and a winning draw, and were clear of the relegation zone.
Curling
Border League
Even before September was out, the Agrii Border League got under way with a win for Coldstream over Foulden and a walkover for Jedburgh against Yester.
All this was followed by Teviotdale hitting top gear before Glendale hit the starter button, a tense first half between Ayton Castle and Duns was followed by a rather one-sided second half, with the Dingers in overdrive. Something similar occurred between Lammermuir and Chirnside, with the Hill rink in command – including the first blank end of the league season – and an early breakaway by Kelso kept them in control over Lauderdale.
Ladies
The Ladies’ section opening Bonspiel saw Judith Dixon’s rink winning the honours.
More curling on page 83.
Golf
Kelso
Stroke Competition: 1, J. Chisholm 85 (18) 67, 2=, G. Crozier 91 (21) 70, A. Lauder 86 (16) 70.
Autumn Stroke: 1, B. Anderson 76 (10) 66; 2=, I. Jerdan 71 (4) 67, J. Black 83 (16) 67.
J. D. Robson Trophy: winner, B. Anderson 138.
15-hole Stableford (ladies): 1, G. Herriot 32 points; 2, L. Anderson 30.
Seniors Knock-out Singles: winner, J. Campbell.
Seniors Knock-out Foursomes (Dave Cowe Quaich): winners, Alwyn Chadwick and Billy Paterson.
The Gents’ and Ladies’ Glenfiddich Greensomes had to be cancelled on Saturday due to waterlogging, but members should note that both competitions have been rearranged for Saturday, October 25.
Torwoodlee
Final Tuesday Order of Merit: 1, I. MacDonald 81 (16) 65; 2, T. Martin 83 (13) 70; 3, I. Heard 74 (3) 71. Scratch: C. Riddle 71.
Netball
Border League
The first Aitken Turnbull Border league play took place in Hawick on Sunday.
For the U-13 squads this was their first outing. A late withdrawal of the Berwickshire U-13s left Peebles without opponents, but hosts Hawick saved the day, fielding a mixed U-13 squad from different teams, to provide a friendly challenge.
Hawick was delighted with their early win, their U-13s storming to a 19-2 victory over Earlston’s B team. However, Earlston turned the tables in match two to run out 28- 5 winners over Hawick’s B team. Peebles U-13s’ debut was all about smooth team play with fast and accurate moves, and confident shooting contributing to their runaway 60-1 win against the makeshift Hawick side.
In the U-15 section, Hawick’s B team also produced a convincing 50-4 win over Berwickshire B, with Peebles A (51-10) and Peebles B (30-11) teams both working hard to secure valuable wins against feisty Earlston and Hawick A squads respectively.
Pentanque
Tweed Valley
The final competition of the season, the Champion of Champions, took place at Kailzie Gardens, Peebles, on Sunday.
After three games, Peter Harrington, Evelyn Inglis and Chris Mackie played Tommy Quinn, Irene Quinn and Kenny Brown in the final, with Tommy’s team emerging as winners.
The difficult part of this competition is when the winning team, who have played well together, have to become individuals and play against one another to become the Champion of Champions, played out to 11 points. Irene took the lead, followed by Kenny, and then Tommy managed to get in the points. Irene held a good lead until reaching 9 points, where she stayed for the rest of the game.
Tommy got back on track and played some brilliant shots, gaining points quickly till he emerged the winner with Irene second and last year’s winner, Kenny Brown, who presented the champion’s trophy, in third.
Thanks go to Jimmy and Jane at Kailzie Fishery for supplying the mid-afternoon refreshments. On such a chilly day it was very much appreciated by all.
Pool
Border League
Belhaven Border League (week 4) First Division: Nikis 5 Fleece A 7; Fleece B 3 Waverley A 9; Reivers A 7 High Level 5; Waverley B 4 Ship A 8.
Second Division: Eildon Centre 7 Dryburgh 5; Golden Lion 7 Red Lion A 7; Ship B 4 Bridge 8; Red Lion B 2 Reivers B 10.
Snooker
Border League
JJ Xpress Border League results: Hawick Con A 5 Hawick Burns A 1; Hawick Con B 3 Hawick Burns B 3; Selkirk A 3 Selkirk B 3; Jedburgh Legion 5 St Boswells 1.
Sports Councils
Ettrick & Lauderdale
ClubSport Ettrick & Lauderdale held its committee meeting last week and grants were awarded to the following –Individuals: Maddie Arlett (Selkirk) rower with Edinburgh University Boat Club; Charlie Green (Galashiels) footballer with Hibernian under 14; Maili Brown (Galashiels) swimmer with Gala ASC and BEST.
Clubs: Galashiels Swimming Club (new equipment); St Boswells Cricket Club (new wicket).
The annual awards evening will take place on Friday, November 14.
Squash
Galashiels
Gents’ Club Championship (quarter-final): D. Sharratt 3 J. Eyre 2 (6-9, 10-8, 5-9, 9-3, 9-7); Ladies’ Club Championship (semi-final): S. McCutcheon 3 R. McAleese 0 (9-7, 9-0, 9-5).
League One: L. Molero 3 I. Chalmers 0 (9-7, 9-5, 9-5).
Friendlies: A. Gill 1 R. McAleese 1; D. Burnie 2 L. Molero 0; A. Gill 1 L. Molero 1; D. Burnie 3 R. McAleese 0; A. Gill 0 D. Burnie 2; R. McAleese 2 L. Molero 0.
Kelso Ladies2
Edinburgh Uni V0
Kelso started well with excellent phases of fast attacking play coming from both sides of the pitch.
Midway through the first half, captain Evonne Jack made an excellent cross ball, which was skilfully hammered into the net by Laura McColm and the half-time scoreline stood at 1-0.
Kelso continued to attack in the second half, with a second goal coming from Allison Chapman, who converted a rebound ball.
The Tweedsiders continued to maintain focus and were able to maintain the winning gap.
After two weeks of podium success, Lauder driver Stephen Kershaw and passenger Rob Wilson were back in British Championship action at Silverstone last weekend.
Looking strong in Friday’s practice, having knocked 1.5 seconds off their best time, the weather turned for Saturday morning’s qualifying.
On a wet and very greasy track, the pair qualified in eighth place with an average speed of 76mph.
The afternoon eight-lap race was held in near perfect conditions and at an average of 94mph, the pair battled with one of their nearest rivals in the championship, Tony Brown and his new passenger Sam Christie, finishing in seventh place. After the race, Wilson said that the tyres didn’t seem to grip due to the big drop in track temperature.
Sunday’s race two was in near perfect conditions and a mirror-image of the first race. Finishing in sixth place, the Borders pair moved to seventh overall, only four points behind sixth, with plenty to race for at Brands Hatch in two week’s time.
The penultimate round of the British Superbike championship took place over last weekend at the 3.6-mile Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire.
Hawick’s Stuart Easton returned to the action on his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Superbike, leading the cup competition.
With a strong practice on Friday in good conditions, the weather turned for Saturday’s three-session qualifying.
Torrential rain in the morning caused the track to flood, so practice was cancelled for several of the sessions and, with a drying track for the qualifying race, tyre choice was a problem.
Easton managed to make it through to the second stage, which put him on 11th place on the grid for the two 14-lap races on Sunday.
In near-perfect conditions, race one was led from the start by the three main contenders for the Superbike crown.
Easton found himself in the next group of 12.
Fighting his way through the field, he finished in a great fifth place.
Race two was a similarly hard-fought affair with the Kawasaki man finishing in sixth place.
This keeps him in top spot for the cup competition, 23 points ahead of James Ellison, who finished third in race two. The Hawick rider knows that with three races at the final round at Brands Hatch in two week’s time he will need to continue the good form if he is to win the cup.
Euan Thorburn won a dramatic Colin McRae Stages Rally to seal his first Scottish Rally Championship title last weekend.
The Duns driver, co-driven by Paul Beaton from Inverness, completed the six Perthshire stages in his Ford Focus WRC in a total time of 43 minutes 51 seconds.
It had been a closely-fought battle between Thorburn and reigning champion David Bogie, with Hawick co-driver Kevin Rae, throughout the day before Bogie put his Fiesta R5 off the road on the final test as he desperately tried to catch the Duns driver.
As the Champagne was sprayed in front of a large crowd of supporters and photographers, Thorburn expressed his delight and relief.
“I can’t believe it’s happened after all these years trying to win the championship,” he said.
“It’s been a real ding-dong battle with David all year and it’s a pity his rally ended with technical problems. But I’m chuffed to bits.
“Finally, I can call myself Scottish Champion.”
Another Duns competitor, Dale Robertson, with Paul McGuire of Tranent on the notes, finished seventh overall and took maximum points in the Group N category – his third successive class win.
“We had problems with our brakes and had a broken pipe on the back caliper,” said Dale.
“That made it exciting, but we managed to get to the end and get some good points on the board.”
Hawick’s Louise Rae and Yorkshireman Steve Bannister were second home of the two-wheel drive entries – ending the day 11th overall in their Ford Escort Mk2, after a “cautious run” following an accident on the Trackrod Rally the previous weekend.
Duns Father and daughter team Garry and Hollie Wilson fought their way to a hard-earned 24th overall in their Subaru Impreza.
There was not much joy for other Borders competitors in the challenging conditions in the Perthshire forests.
Kieran Renton from Leitholm, alongside experienced Jedburgh navigator Dave Robson, missed out on the Junior Drivers’ championship to Dumfriesshire’s Greg McKnight after the engine blew in his Ford Fiesta R2.
Duns crew Colin Aitchison and Garry Pearson also had a day to forget. They were forced to retire on the final stage when their Vauxhall Chevette HSR hit a log, while Lauder’s Callum Atkinson retired his Ford Fiesta with mechanical problems.
The final round of the 2014 Championship is the Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally in Castle Douglas on Sunday, October 26.
Fjordhus Reivers3
Stirling Wanderers1
Reivers men welcomed the league favourites to Tweedbank for an East District Division Two clash.
The game started with Stirling controlling the ball well and moving the Reivers’ defence around.
Against the run of play, veteran Jonathan Fletcher broke away from a congested midfield to coolly slot past the visiting keeper.
Stirling began the second half in a similar fashion and grabbed a deserved equaliser, before Reivers skipper Pitman put the result beyond doubt.
On Saturday, November 29, I will return to my old school. It’s not being billed as a reunion, but rather a celebration party. It is 50 years since the old Galashiels Academy closed and the new Galashiels Academy opened.
In the year of 1963, our lot were the last intake to the old Academy on the Melrose Road and to the sandstone edifice that was the Roxy on Roxburgh Street.
In 1964, Melrose Road and Roxburgh Street came together in a spanking new complex built on land that had belonged to the Laird of Gala adjacent to the Scott Park.
I remember well walking to the Melrose Road school for my first day at secondary school after primary education at first the Balmoral and – for the final couple of years – the Burgh primaries.
It was a big step in many ways – including the walking distance to my new home of education. It was exciting, but it was also sad. Sad, because the primary classroom ethos that we had been used to was now disappearing. We had been used to spending our entire school day in the company of our pals who were also, in most cases, our neighbours. And we had the same teacher all day and every day, Monday to Friday, except for the odd music lesson or an hour with a visiting gym teacher.
Now, some went to the Roxy and others to the Melrose Road. School days were split into periods – double sometimes for the dreaded maths – and we had to get used to the foibles and the moods of a variety of teachers. And they were varied. Very varied. Some are still alive, so I will say no more. But it was a change and a change that wasn’t, for many, easily weathered.
Our bunch kicked about the Scott Park, so we watched what was to become our Alma Mater take shape. We saw the healthy trees felled and their roots blasted from the ground. We watched the earth dug out, foundations laid and the walls that would encase and hopefully educate us rise to their three storeys, with a wee bit perched on top, the reason for which, in my three years there, I never discovered.
By the summer of 1964, it was ready for us. Melrose Road and Roxburgh Street came together as one. Melrose Road was actually three buildings – remember the gym hall down at Langhaugh? – and a collection of huts. Now they were all under one roof. Well, for a while. A few years after our lot left they heid yins at the cooncil discovered the new Academy wasn’t large enough and an annexe had to be built up the Elm Row driveway.
I have returned to mark anniversaries at both the Balmoral and the Burgh, this will be my first reunion by another name, at Galashiels Academy.
Our new school was opened by the Queen Mum on September 23, 1964. I remember it well. On her visit I was in Mrs MacDonald’s room 10 for mysterious maths. I was to be in the front row and would likely be the subject of a Royal hello. Not to be. My misbehaviour saw me despatched to the back and all I saw was a large hat perched on a Royal heid.
I am genuinely looking forward to the evening.
Reading this, some of my still-living teachers might not be so like-minded.
Border Ice Rink (BIR) celebrated its Golden Jubilee in fine style last week with a series of events, both on and off the ice, to mark the occasion.
A birthday lunch was held on October 1, when 56 club presidents, past presidents, province presidents and directors enjoyed a champagne reception, followed by an informal midday meal during which friendships were renewed, memories exchanged and a convivial afternoon was enjoyed by all.
The main event took place on Saturday, with 32 rinks from throughout the Borders competing in an East v West bonspiel.
Some friendly but competitive curling was enjoyed throughout the day, with the final result very close. East ran out the winners with 68 ends to 58 for the West.
A unique prize for the highest-up rink overall – four solid silver BIR badges from the 1960s, set in an acrylic mould – was presented by David Henderson, president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, to the Greenlaw One winning rink of Bert Duncan (skip), Marje Dykes, Jean Buchanan and Peter Colebrook.
In the evening, a gala dinner for 230 guests was held at The Cross Keys Hotel, Kelso.
Guests convened for a reception at 7.30pm, before sitting down to an excellent dinner, sponsored by McCreath, Simpson and Prentice.
Each guest was presented with a commemorative booklet, entitled “We Built an Ice Rink,” compiled by Bill Cleghorn, the popular and hard-working long-time curler and director of Border Ice Rink, together with a pictorial place mat depicting many aspects of BIR, both past and present.
David Kerr of Kelso Curling Club, the current BIR president, hosted the evening and invited the Royal Club president David Henderson to present 11 curlers who joined BIRC back in 1964 with founder member certificates.
Six of these founder members are still curling, 50 years on, an astonishing achievement in any sport.
Peter Bowyer, immediate past president of BIRC, then toasted the Royal Club and David Henderson replied with a toast to Border Ice Rink.
Douglas Elliott, the chairman of directors, responded to David’s toast. The guest speaker for the evening was the well-known former athlete George McNeil from Tranent, who entertained the guests with hilarious stories of his life as a sportsman. His first-class speech received a standing ovation at its conclusion.
The evening was concluded with a vote of thanks by past president Jim Cullen, who presented his reply in verse – a fitting conclusion to an excellent jubilee celebration.
Fernieside4
Gala FDR Amateurs3
Gala travelled to Edinburgh to take on Fernieside FC in the Scottish Amateur Cup at Peffermill on Saturday.
It didn’t take long for the first goal to come, a free-kick for Gala from the right hand corner of the box was drilled in by Des Sutherland for Shaun Hardie to poke home from five yards in the first minute of the game.
Fernieside were a big physical team and were always going to be a threat from set pieces. The equaliser came from a corner aimed at two big lads, the ball flashed in and was met in unfortunate circumstances by Gala’s own Stu Harkness.
Gala went ahead again, this time Sutherland smashing home direct from a free-kick.
Another set-piece from Fernieside saw their big No6 rise above everyone to bullet home from four yards before Brad Lochrie gave Rovers the lead again when tucking away a fumble from the Fernieside keeper, making the score 3-2 in the visitors’ favour at half-time.
The second half began with an early goal from the city lads, and with Gala struggling to retain their first-half style, the Fernieside winner came from a corner which was cleared only as far as the edge of the box, played back in and headed past Jamie Shiel.
GFR threw on Scott Nightingale to try to find an equaliser. They had two very good calls for penalties denied late in the game, but were unable to find the goal needed to reach extra time.
Next up for the Ams is Saturday’s Border Cup quarter-final v Stow, 2pm – venue TBC.