Young Borders photographers keen on nature have been invited to enter a national competition.

The Scottish Nature Photography Awards, celebrating the country’s nature, wildlife and landscape, has several categories, including the junior section, open to young people up to the age of 18.

And organisers, image and design company Perspectives’ Niall and Jacqueline Irvine, are particularly encouraging youngsters to take part and send up to five images taken in Scotland. The winner’s prize includes a one-day masterclass with Scottish Natural Heritage photographer Lorne Gill, who is also one of the judges.

And winning images will be part of a touring exhibition next year and will appear in a portfolio yearbook.

The awards also include eight adult categories open to professional and amateur photographers, including wildlife portrait, wildlife behaviour, land, sea and coast, urban greenspace, botanical, natural abstract, and environmental.

The winners from each category compete for the title of Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year. There is also a student category.

Berwickshire-based photographer Phil McLean, who lives near Berwick, won the Scottish Botanical category last year.

Phil said: “I was very pleased. It was a last-minute decision to enter this particular image and I’m obviously rather glad that I did.

“I believe it to be a hawkweed seedhead, photographed while I was walking my springer spaniel, Ollie, at Edington”

The competition was launched in 2010 to celebrate Scotland as a key destination for nature photographers and to mark the excellence of the photographic work undertaken in the country through awarding the title of Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year.

Judges this year are award-winning Scottish Natural Heritage photographer, Lorne Gill; co-organiser of the awards and also a photographer, Niall Irvine; award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer Neil McIntyre; and renowned landscape photographer Colin Prior.

Entries close on November 30. For more information visit www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com

Yo ho ho. Yes, it’s on its way. The festive season is rapidly approaching. It will soon be time to dig out the funny hats or dive under the duvet for a couple of weeks.

It will soon be the season to be jolly.

The time for parties and crowded shops. The time when you can’t get to the bar of your local for people who haven’t been there since the last yo ho ho season.

Why can’t we just yo ho ho all the year round instead of crowding it into a few days at the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

I know the answer, but I’m still going to ask the question – why does Christmas and the New Year have to be so close to each other? Why can’t we spread them out a bit?

OK, Christmas is a fixed feast, but I’m sure that in bygone times the New Year wasn’t always the first day of January. Something about Romans and Gregorians tugs at the back of my mind.

But, of course, there will be no change. Christmas and the New Year will forever remain close neighbours. So we just have to get on with it.

I’m far from being a bah humbug, unless anyone is forming that impression. Far from it in fact. I let my silvery hair down on numerous occasions and don’t need a festive season to do it.

Works parties were always a time for much hilarity, but often followed by a bit of argy-bargy. Things that should have been said sensibly in the sobriety of the workplace can be spouted out at very much the wrong time.

But I’ve been at some great works dos. The printing industry was – not so now – famous for its bashes. They were usually held around the stone in the caseroom and reporters, photographers and the office staff always felt a bit special to be part of that gathering of talented tradesmen.

Mine were at the Border Telegraph in Galashiels. Newsprint was spread across the stone, and the beer and whisky took pride of place alongside filled rolls cut in half, sausage rolls and mince pies.

The gas pots that were used to melt the metal for the linotype-setting machines were disconnected and reconnected to frying pans which were soon full of sizzling bacon.

Fun was very much the order of the day and into the evening as tales of days gone by were happily recounted.

It was almost seen as a sin to leave too leave early. I remember one advertising manager being locked in the warehouse because his wife was coming to collect him. And I well remember a printer – after we had adjourned to a nearby pub – trying to toast some leftover rolls on a fake electric fire.

The BBC Radio Tweed studios were famous as a party venue – any excuse really. We once shared the building with the local tourist board, so always shared our Christmas festivities. I – and a rather prominent member of the board staff – once formed the judging panel that involved tape measures and girls wearing stockings and .... no, no, no, enough is enough. Once the police were called, but that ended in a happy marriage.

My festive season kicks off at Scott’s Selkirk on December 6, when I am the Toun Crier.

I haven’t been to an office party for a few years, but have been persuaded to attend this year. I promise to behave.

Yo, ho, ho!

Borders youth film project Voice Of My Own (VOMO) celebrates its 10th birthday with a Big Bash on Tuesday, December 2.

Past, present and future participants are invited to the event in MacArts Centre in Bridge Street, Galashiels, which will include a decade of highlights fashioned into an exhilarating montage featuring hundreds of young filmmakers.

There will also be opportunities to see more recent VOMO films in full, while the young people of Wired on Radio Borders capture the action for their Sunday show.

Compere will be Kelso’s Adam Stevenson, who was one of VOMO’s earliest participants when – at the age of 14 – he first stepped in front of a camera as part of the powerful drama, Who Cares. The film was devised by young people through a partnership between Borders Youth Theatre, Young Carers and VOMO in 2004. It features the lives of two carers and the emotional challenges they face while juggling school and friendships.

From his role in Who Cares, Adam took part in many other VOMO projects, including the International Youth Media Project in 2007, which saw him and 11 other young Borderers head to Sweden to meet other youngsters with an interest in film-making.

Adam, who admits to having experienced many challenges while growing up, said: “I don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t been introduced to VOMO.

“I want to be a professional actor and I’m now studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I wouldn’t be in this position without VOMO.”

Ambitious plans by VOMO now include a web-based TV station for the Borders, thanks to funding from Creative Scotland. And there are plans for a studio and office in Galashiels, where young people will produce a weekly news bulletin and programmes covering issues about which which they are passionate. There will also be an opportunity to show new drama and short films, as well as VOMO’s impressive archive.

They have also submitted a funding application for a TV studio to expand into a range of youth arts programming.

BAFTA award-winning film-maker and VOMO project manager Robert Sproul-Cran said: “It will be run by young people for young people. It will be their TV station, offering a larger range of training and development opportunities.

“We want to include as many young people as possible, starting with creation and fitting out this new station.”

The birthday bash is from 7pm to 9.30pm. Entry is free, but people are asked to book by emailing: artservice@scotborders.gov.uk , texting 07825 831544 or phoning 01750 726400 during office hours.

Bustracker, SEStran’s innovative web-based real-time passenger information system, has been awarded gold in the Local Authority Bus Project of the Year catagory, at the National Bus Awards.

The project, which went live in April 2014, uses advanced computer technology to provide live information on bus services throughout south-east Scotland.

The system, which is accessible via the internet and a free smartphone app (“SEStranbus”, available from the I-Phone App store and Google Play store), is fully compatible with Edinburgh’s existing RTPI system. Now, for the first time, passengers living outside the city have access to up-to-the-minute information on local services.

Initially, bustrackerSEStran has been installed on more than 300 vehicles operating on selected First Scotland East and Stagecoach services throughout East Lothian, Borders, Fife and West Lothian, and services between Dumfries & Galloway and the Borders.

SEStran chair Russell Imrie said: “SEStran are delighted to receive this award. We believe that all bus passengers living in south-east Scotland are entitled to expect a high-quality service.

“We plan to extend the system to include more vehicles through time, and ensure that everyone in the region has access to a 21st-century bus service.”

Mr Imrie added: “Our aim is to build a sustainable transportation system that will make public transport the mode of choice for most journeys.”

A contemporary tartan designed by a Galashiels-based student during a work experience placement has been registered by The Scottish Register of Tartans.

Rachel Evison, 21, a fourth-year textile and design student at Heriot-Watt University, created “Ashers of Nairn” tartan.

Pictured with examples of tartans she has designed, Rachel, who was on a summer work experience placement with Bute Fabrics on the Isle of Bute, used the corporate colours for Ashers of Nairn to commemorate the company’s success in this year’s Scottish Baker of the Year competition.

Rachel, who hails from North Yorkshire, won her work placement after taking first prize in an industrial project arranged by Heriot-Watt staff. Working in conjunction with university lecturers and the design team at Bute Fabrics, students were tasked with resolving a design challenge that the firm faced.

During her placement, Rachel was briefed by Ashers of Nairn, who wanted to modernise its existing tartan using the colours in the company logo.

There was double success for the Borders after the region claimed two top tourism awards earlier this month.

Fauhope Country House in Melrose won Most Hospitable B&B or Guest House at the Scottish Thistle Awards Central South East regional final, while Willie MacLeod of Peebles won the Ambassador Award due to his involvement in the industry.

Councillors have rejected a controversial proposal to close eight rural polling stations serving electorates of less than 100.

The facilities were among 10 earmarked for extinction in March following a statutory review of electoral arrangements across the region.

That study revealed that SBC could save £5,000 per election by shutting the stations at Tweedsmuir and Manor in Peeblesshire, Abbey St Bathans and Cranshaws in Berwickshire, Cappercleuch in Selkirkshire, along with the Roxburghsire hamlets of Makerston, Hownam, Crailing, Edgerston and Hermitage.

The cost of hiring and staffing the venues for recent elections varied from £12.86 per elector in Makerston to £24.20 in Cappercleuch. This contrasted with the average cost of £1 per elector in a station serving 600 voters.

The closures were put out for community council consultation with Manor and Abbey St Bathans being removed from the process after new registrations saw the 100-voter threshhold exceeded. With the exception of Crailing, which voiced no dissent, local opposition was emphatic.

At the latest full SBC meeting, it took councillors just a few minutes to unanimously throw out the closure plans.

Scottish Borders Council is to continue its £225,000 annual funding of the region’s three Citizens Advice Bureaux for the next two years.

The consortium of services – based in Hawick, Galashiels and Peebles – employs 17 paid staff and has around 100 volunteer advisors. Fears over the future funding of the local network – facing unprecedented demand on their services from hard-pressed Borderers – have been expressed by Kelso Conservative Councillor Simon Mountford.

With the current three year core-funding contract with the council due to expire in March, he sought an assurance at the latest full council meeting that the deal would be renewed.

Council leader David Parker said: “I am delighted to say the contract, which has given the CAB funding certainty, is working well and had led to significant improvements for customers using the service. As a result, I can confirm the contract is being extended until March, 2017.”

The annual report of the three bureaux reveals that they advised on 18,090 new issues in 2013/14, with personal debt, benefit difficulties in the wake of welfare reform and employment problems dominating the workload.

As a result of CAB help, a total client financial gain of £2.56million was achieved last year – an average of £445 for each client seeking advice.

In the first six months of this financial year, a further net client financial gain of £890,000 has been realised.

The number of CAB referrals to those church and charitable organisations operating food banks has surged to 129 in the three months from July to September this year, compared to just 30 in the corresponding period last year.

A spike in demand for advice is expected next spring when a range of welfare benefits is replaced by Universal Credit.

John Montgomery, manager of Peebles CAB said: “The great thing about the core funding from the council is that it allows us to lever in other moneys to support our services which are experiencing huge and varied demand.

“Without it, we would not be able to attract funding from other sources, like the Scottish Legal Aid Board, the Big Lottery and the Bank of Scotland Foundation, so it is of crucial importance.”

Seven level three catering students at Borders College undertook barista training, gaining them a qualification that will enhance their employability skills.

They can now give their future customers at The Restaurant at Borders College a great barista experience.

Scotland’s thrilling victory in the recent European Championship has seen the Bravehearts jump three places in the Rugby League International Federation’s world rankings to an all-time high of eighth place.

The wins over Wales and Ireland, meant that despite defeat to France in the final game at Galashiels, Scotland leap-frogged Wales, Papua New Guinea and the USA to rise into the world’s top ten.

“This is reward for several years of hard work,” said head coach Steve McCormack.

“It’s not just the wins this year, it’s the World Cup wins over Tonga and the USA, and the draw with Italy. They were built on the back of some real graft and commitment from a lot of players and staff since the 2008 World Cup to make those achievable.”

Australia remain number one despite losing the Four Nations final to New Zealand, who close the gap in second, with England still third. Samoa, who impressed throughout that tournament, have risen from seventh to fourth, pushing France down to fifth following their disappointing European campaign. Ireland’s wins over France and Wales saw them also move up, from tenth to seventh. Wales drop from sixth to ninth, having lost all three games this year, with the USA dropping a place from ninth having lost to Canada. Fiji fall from fifth to sixth.

Scotland are guaranteed a place in the 2017 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, having reached the quarter-finals last year, while they will compete with England, Australia and New Zealand in the 2016 Four Nations in the UK. 2015 sees another European Championship with opponents and venues to be confirmed.

If it were not already apparent, then the words of most leading coaches should convince willing listeners that the second half of the BT Premiership is all about keeping or gaining a place in the top four ahead of the lead-up to the inaugural play-offs in April.

Melrose players appear to have their ears well and truly pinned back as a gritty 20-18 win against Stirling County at the Greenyards on Saturday keeps them well and truly in the hunt.

The hosts looked hungry in the opening phases of play and were rewarded with a solo try by stand-off Austin Lockington, who used his pace to slice through the County defence. Then when prop Nick Beavon was sent to the sin-bin the loss of a player signalled a difficult period for Melrose.

But instead, apart from the resultant penalty goal by County’s full back Jonny Hope following the yellow card, Melrose turned up the pressure on Stirling to produce a fine try for hooker Richard Ferguson made by a deft flip pass from number 8 Graham Dodds for a 10-3 interval lead.

But at the beginning of the second half it was Stirling who looked the stronger side and when Hope created a try for Scotland sevens cap Rory Hughes, County were back in the game. Hope missed the conversion but atoned with a penalty goal to put Stirling ahead for the first and only time in the game.

A penalty by Joe Helps restored the lead for Melrose and when the centre added the extra points to Bruce Colvine’s try the Greenyards men had a 20-11 advantage. The lead was reduced with a converted try for County by replacement prop Gary Mountford to give Stirling a deserved bonus point.

Gala are managing to hold onto the vital fourth spot despite suffering a 21-10 defeat at a muddy Malleny Park.

Despite the soft and slippery conditions both sides attempted to play some entertaining open rugby with the hosts finding their footing first with three converted tries.

Gala ran back at their hosts in the second half with Gavin Young and Russell Anderson both touching down but time eventually got the better of the Maroons who now have Currie breathing fire down their necks on the table.

Elsewhere in the capital Heriot’s swept aside Hawick in the second half of an entertaining match at Goldenacre to ensure the they stay hot on the heels of Ayr at the top of the table.

Hawick were eight points ahead at half-time thanks to tries from Greg Cottrell and Rory Hutton plus one conversion and a penalty from Lee Armstrong.

Heriot’s, who had notched an early try from Glen Bryce with Graham Wilson converting, reduced the margin by three when the same man kicked a simple penalty minutes after the restart.

And when replacement prop Nick McLennan earned a yellow card for collapsing the scrum the hosts took full advantage with Jack Turley and Nathan Borel both crossing the whitewash.

With the visitors tiring Heriot’s rounded off their win in the later stages when an eight-man drive at a five-metre scrum was collapsed and the penalty try was awarded along with the bonus point. Final score: 29-15.

Berwick Bandits have moved quickly over to tie up three new faces, confirming their intention to run as a team in 2015.

GB international Ben Barker has been unveiled as the club’s new No1, while 22-year-old Danish rider Thomas Jorgensen also comes in from Scunthorpe. He fills the role vacated by David Bellego, who is on his way to Sheffield.

The third rider set to join Berwick, subject to securing a working visa from his home country, is 19-year-old Jake Allen from Queensland, Australia.

The club says they are working hard to tie up the remaining four places for a 2015 team as soon as is feasible.

Chairman John Anderson confirmed: “We are announcing initially these three new riders and feel that these captures will excite potential sponsors as well as fans of course.

“We can only reiterate that we need the support of a new main sponsor as well as associate sponsors as announced earlier, but by pushing on with progressive team news we feel this can only encourage folks to support and back the 2015 Bandits”

Football

Friday, november 28

east of scotland Premier Division

Spartans 5 Leith Athletic 3

saturday, november 29

scottish cup fourth round

Bo’ness United 0 Arbroath 5

Alloa Athletic 1 Hibernian 2

Annan Athletic 1 Brechin City 1

Berwick Rangers 1 Albion Rovers 1

Dundee 2 Aberdeen 1

Falkirk 1 Cowdenbeath 0

Motherwell 1 Dundee Utd 2

Partick Thistle 2 Hamilton Accies 0

Queen of the South 4 Brora Rangers 1

Spartans FC 2 Morton 1

St Johnstone 2 Ross County 1

St Mirren 1 Inverness CT 1

Stirling Albion 0 Raith Rovers 2

Stranraer 2 Dunfermline Athletic 2

SPFL league two

Clyde 0 Queen’s Park 2

East Stirling 1 East Fife 1

lowland league

Edinburgh University 2 Preston Athletic 0

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1 East Kilbride 1

Vale of Leithen 2 Dalbeattie Star 0

Edinburgh City 4 Threave Rovers 0

P W D L F A pts

Edinburgh City 14 12 2 0 36 8 38

Spartans 14 8 4 2 32 15 28

Gretna 2008 15 8 3 4 36 15 27

Whitehill Welfare 14 6 6 2 31 19 24

Dalbeattie 15 5 7 3 31 27 22

East Kilbride 14 6 3 5 30 20 21

Stirling University 14 6 3 5 20 23 21

Vale of Leithen 14 6 1 7 22 31 19

Gala Fairydean R 17 5 4 8 27 40 19

BSC Glasgow 14 5 3 6 27 35 18

Selkirk 13 5 2 6 35 30 17

Edinburgh Univ 17 5 2 10 28 37 17

Threave Rovers 15 2 2 11 13 46 8

Preston Athletic 16 1 4 11 21 43 7

South Challenge Cup Second Round

Selkirk 1 University of Stirling 2

Ormiston 1 Whitehill Welfare 2

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 
second Round

Civil Service Strollers 0 Heriot-Watt University 1

east of scotland Premier Division

Coldstream 3 Lothian Thistle HV 5

Craigroyston 1 Tynecastle 2

Stirling University 3 Easthouses Lily 6

P W D L F A pts

Leith Athletic 11 7 3 1 35 18 24

Easthouses Lily 12 7 3 2 41 26 24

Lothian Th HV 12 6 2 4 35 26 20

CS Strollers 9 5 3 1 22 13 18

Tynecastle 9 5 1 3 25 16 16

Spartans 11 3 5 3 24 27 14

Stirling Univ 12 2 2 8 17 33 8

Craigroyston 12 2 2 8 16 37 8

Coldstream 12 1 3 8 19 38 6

east of scotland first Division

Duns P Burntisland Shipyard P

Kelso United 1 Peebles Rovers 2

P W D L F A pts

Peebles Rovers 10 7 3 0 30 10 24

Ormiston 10 6 0 4 25 15 18

Heriot-Watt Univ 9 5 2 2 25 16 17

Burntisland Ship 12 4 4 4 26 27 16

Duns 9 4 3 2 21 20 15

Eyemouth United 12 3 0 9 17 32 9

Hawick RA 10 2 2 6 19 29 8

Kelso United 10 2 2 6 14 28 8

Border Cup Final (at Greenlaw)

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3 West Barns Star 0

border amateur league

Division A

Gordon 0 Leithen Rovers 4

Hawick Waverley 1 Chirnside Utd 2

Jed Legion 2 Ancrum 1

P W D L F A pts

Leithen Rovers 7 7 0 0 24 3 21

Gala Fairydean 8 7 0 1 25 12 21

Stow 9 6 1 2 22 15 19

West Barns Star 7 4 1 2 17 10 13

Greenlaw 8 3 1 4 18 19 10

Gordon 5 3 0 2 10 9 9

Chirnside Utd 8 3 0 5 19 22 9

Hawick Waverley 11 3 0 8 16 35 9

Jed Legion 8 2 0 6 14 18 6

Ancrum 9 0 1 8 6 28 1

division B

Chirnside Utd Colts 0 Coldstream Ams 8

Earlston Rhymers 1 Eyemouth Ams 2

Hawick Legion 3 Hawick Utd 3

Linton Hotspur 1 Gala Hotspur 4

Tweeddale Rovers 4 Langholm Legion 2

P W D L F A pts

Hawick Utd 11 6 2 3 40 24 20

Hawick Legion 8 6 2 0 28 13 20

Eyemouth Ams 10 6 0 4 23 27 18

Langholm Legion 8 5 0 3 27 17 15

Coldstream Ams 8 4 0 4 23 14 12

Tweeddale Rov 5 3 1 1 15 8 10

Earlston Rhymers 9 2 4 3 18 20 10

Gala Hotspur 8 3 0 5 22 25 9

Linton Hotspur 8 2 1 5 13 23 7

Chirnside UC 11 1 0 10 20 58 3

Division c

Hawick Legion Rovers 4 CFC Bowholm 2

Kelso Thistle P Selkirk Victoria P

Lauder 1 Tweedmouth Ams 3

Peebles Ams 1 Biggar Utd 1

St Boswells 0 Duns Ams 6

P W D L F A pts

Tweedmouth Am 9 9 0 0 40 7 27

Biggar Utd 8 5 3 0 27 6 18

Hawick LR 9 6 0 3 35 21 18

Lauder 10 5 0 5 18 21 15

Duns Ams 6 4 2 0 20 8 14

Peebles Ams 9 3 1 5 15 22 10

Melrose 6 3 0 3 15 18 9

St Boswells 7 3 0 4 11 18 9

CFC Bowholm 11 2 2 7 14 30 8

Selkirk Victoria 8 1 0 7 12 35 3

Kelso Thistle 9 0 2 7 8 29 2

NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND division one

Alnmouth Utd P Rothbury P

Red Row Welfare 2 Bamburgh Castle 7

Lowick Utd 7 Highfields Utd 0

Tweedmouth Rangers P AFC Wansbeck P

P W D L F A pts

Alnmouth United 5 5 0 0 21 7 15

Lowick United 7 5 0 2 24 16 15

AFC Wansbeck 6 4 1 1 16 10 13

Tweedmouth R 4 3 0 1 11 4 9

Red Row Welfare 7 3 0 4 20 17 9

Bamburgh Castle 6 2 1 3 18 16 7

Rothbury 6 1 2 3 15 16 5

N Sunderland 5 0 1 4 7 23 1

Highfields United 6 0 1 5 6 29 1

NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND division two

Amble St Cuthbert 2 Craster Rovers 2

All other matches postponed

P W D L F A pts

Belford 8 7 0 1 49 9 21

Springhill 7 5 1 1 38 8 16

Amble St Cuth 8 4 2 2 34 17 14

Craster Rovers 9 4 2 3 24 18 14

Tweedmouth H 6 4 1 1 22 12 13

Wooler Reserves 9 3 2 4 21 32 11

Embleton WR 7 2 2 3 21 14 8

Lynemouth Ang 6 2 1 3 18 19 7

Eglingham 8 1 0 7 7 77 3

Alnmouth 8 0 1 7 5 33 1

bill gardner cup first round

Wooler 0 Hexham 1

sunday, November 30

scottish cup fourth round

Hearts 0 Celtic 4

Rangers 3 Klimarnock 0

tuesday, december 2

scottish cup fourth round replay

Inverness CT 4 St Mirren 0

SPFL league two

Annan Athletic 2 Albion Rovers 1

Elgin City 1 Arbroath 1

Montrose 2 Berwick Rangers 1

P W D L F A pts

Arbroath 14 10 1 3 31 12 31

Queen’s Park 14 9 1 4 24 12 28

Albion 14 8 3 3 21 11 27

East Fife 14 4 5 5 19 18 17

Annan Athletic 14 4 5 5 17 19 17

Montrose 14 5 2 7 17 30 17

Berwick 14 4 4 6 24 22 16

East Stirling 14 5 1 8 17 29 16

Clyde 14 4 3 7 17 24 15

Elgin 14 2 5 7 12 22 11

fixtures

saturday, december 6

SPFL league two (3pm)

Albion Rovers v Elgin City

Arbroath v Annan Athletic

Berwick Rangers v Clyde

East Fife v Montrose

Queen’s Park v East Stirling

lowland league (3pm)

Edinburgh University v East Kilbride

Spartans v Preston Athletic

Threave Rovers v Gretna 2008

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 
Second Round (1.30)

Coldstream v Edinburgh City

Vale of Leithen v Gala Fairydean Rovers

Whitehill Welfare v Selkirk

third round (1.30)

Heriot-Watt University v Leith Athletic

League Cup first Round

Tynecastle v Spartans (1.30)

Easthouses Lily v Duns (2.30)

east of scotland Premier Division (2pm)

Lothian Thistle HV v Civil Service Strollers

Stirling University v Craigroyston

east of scotland first Division (2pm)

Eyemouth United v Kelso United

Hawick Royal Albert v Peebles Rovers

Ormiston v Burntisland Shipyard

Scottish Amateur Cup fourth Round (2pm)

Drumchapel FP v Leithen Rovers

Tweeddale Rovers v Glenburn Miners Welfare

border amateur league (2pm)

Division A

Chirnside Utd v Jed Legion

Gordon v Gala Fairydean Rovers

Greenlaw v Ancrum

West Barns Star v Stow

division B

Coldstream Ams v Hawick Utd

Eyemouth Ams v Linton Hotspur

Gala Hotspur v Earlston Rhymers

Langholm Legion v Hawick Legion

Division c

CFC Bowholm v Peebles Ams

Duns Ams v Biggar Utd

Lauder v Kelso Thistle

Melrose v Tweedmouth Ams

St Boswells v Hawick Legion Rovers

NFA MINOR CUP fourth round (1.30)

Red Row Welfare v Ponteland Utd Res

BILCLOUGH CUP first ROUND (1.30)

Highfields Utd v Bamburgh Castle

NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE (2pm)

division one

AFC Wansbeck v Rothbury

Lowick Utd v Tweedmouth Rangers

North Sunderland v Alnmouth Utd

division two

Alnmouth v Lynemouth Anglers

Belford v Embleton WR

Craster Rovers v Tweedmouth Harrow

Eglingham FC v Amble St Cuthbert

Springhill v Wooler Res

northern alliance league division one (2pm)

Wooler v Wallsend Boys Club

rugby

wednesday, november 26

borders semi junior league

Hawick Wanderers 48 Kelso Harlequins 7

saturday, november 29

premiership (3pm)

Ayr 18 Glasgow Hawks 6

Boroughmuir 22 Edinburgh Academical 16

Currie 21 Gala 10

Heriot’s 29 Hawick 15

Melrose 20 Stirling County 18

P W l d F A B pts

Ayr 11 9 2 0 275 204 6 42

Heriot’s 11 8 3 0 309 212 9 41

Melrose 11 7 4 0 268 233 6 34

Gala 11 6 5 0 263 227 5 29

Stirling Co 11 5 6 0 258 250 9 29

Currie 11 5 4 2 263 285 4 28

Glasgow Hawks 11 4 6 1 193 203 3 21

Hawick 11 3 7 1 216 284 6 20

Boroughmuir 11 4 7 0 196 281 3 19

Edin Acad 11 2 9 0 193 255 6 14

national league division one

Aberdeen Gram 25 Watsonians 16

GHA 12 Dundee HSFP 38

Jed-Forest 22 Biggar 24

Marr 30 Hillhead Jordanhill 10

Selkirk 18 Kelso 12

Stewart’s Melville 34 Peebles 18

P W l d F A B pts

Selkirk 11 11 0 0 340 135 6 50

GHA 11 8 3 0 276 224 8 40

Stew-Mel 11 7 3 1 293 205 8 38

Watsonians 11 8 3 0 299 177 5 37

Dundee HSFP 11 5 5 1 282 234 6 28

Aberdeen Gram 11 5 5 1 308 261 6 28

Peebles 11 5 5 1 234 200 4 26

Marr 11 4 6 1 267 283 6 24

Jed-Forest 11 4 7 0 190 224 4 20

Kelso 11 3 7 1 204 278 5 19

Biggar 11 3 8 0 184 286 3 15

Hillhead Jord 11 0 11 0 83 453 0 0

national league division two

Aberdeenshire 76 Livingston 6

Greenock Wanderers 0 Falkirk 38

Haddington 8 Cartha Queens Park 36

Hamilton 52 Kirkcaldy 21

Howe of Fife 38 Musselburgh 20

Whitecraigs 38 Ardrossan Academicals 22

P W l d F A B pts

Hamilton 11 10 1 0 527 172 10 50

Howe of Fife 11 9 2 0 527 148 9 45

Musselburgh 11 8 2 1 443 198 6 40

Falkirk 11 8 2 1 339 162 6 40

Aberdeenshire 11 7 4 0 450 264 9 37

Whitecraigs 11 6 5 0 341 205 7 31

Cartha QP 11 6 5 0 249 289 5 29

Kirkcaldy 11 4 7 0 247 284 5 21

Ardrossan Acad 11 2 9 0 218 411 5 13

Greenock Wand 11 2 9 0 172 400 5 13

Livingston 11 2 9 0 96 627 0 8

Haddington 11 1 10 0 164 613 3 7

national league division three

Dumfries Saints 13 RHC 24

East Kilbride 9 West of Scotland 28

Hawick YM 12 Lasswade 32

Irvine 24 Dunfermline 25

Murrayfield Wand 17 Dalziel 25

Perthshire 16 Preston Lodge 39

P W l d F A B pts

West of Scot 11 9 2 0 340 161 8 44

Preston 11 9 2 0 351 186 6 42

Lasswade 11 8 3 0 300 161 9 41

Dumfries 11 7 3 1 362 173 8 38

RHC 11 7 4 0 300 193 8 36

East Kilbride 11 5 5 1 232 224 6 28

Irvine 11 4 5 2 297 176 6 26

Perthshire 11 5 5 1 223 256 3 25

Dalziel 11 3 7 1 169 362 2 16

Hawick YM 11 2 8 1 195 410 2 12

Dunfermline 11 2 8 1 171 392 2 12

Murrayfield 11 0 9 2 129 375 1 5

east league division one

Dalkeith 59 Portobello FP 15

Hawick Quins 51 Duns 11

Langholm 22 Dunbar 45

Linlithgow 58 Hawick Linden 11

North Berwick 13 Berwick 24

P W l d F A B pts

Dalkeith 10 9 1 0 389 141 7 43

Berwick 9 8 1 0 397 100 6 38

Linlithgow 10 7 3 0 220 139 6 34

North Berwick 9 6 3 0 400 127 6 30

Dunbar 9 5 4 0 211 164 5 25

Duns 10 3 7 0 155 242 4 16

Hawick Quins 10 3 7 0 202 393 3 15

Hawick Linden 8 3 5 0 144 260 2 14

Portobello FP 10 2 8 0 163 464 6 14

*Langholm 9 1 8 0 151 402 4 6

*points deducted

east league division two

Earlston 3 Edinburgh Northern 31

Forrester 83 Trinity Academicals 7

Inverleith 3 Penicuik 7

Lismore 24 Leith 50

St Boswells 76 Liberton FP 3

P W l d F A B pts

St Boswells 10 10 0 0 765 45 9 49

Forrester 10 9 1 0 549 100 9 45

Leith 10 7 3 0 328 284 7 35

Inverleith 10 5 4 1 226 226 6 28

Trinity Acads 10 5 5 0 241 311 4 24

Penicuik 10 5 5 0 127 352 2 22

Edinburgh N 10 4 6 0 148 261 3 19

Liberton FP 10 2 8 0 156 355 4 12

*Earlston 10 2 8 0 122 388 3 9

Lismore 10 0 9 1 100 440 1 3

*points deducted

east league division three

Queensferry P Broughton P

Ross High 22 RDVC 6

Walkerburn 44 Bo’ness 3

P W l d F A B pts

Ross High 6 5 1 0 207 48 5 25

Broughton 5 5 0 0 141 48 4 24

Gala YM 6 4 2 0 199 112 4 20

Walkerburn 7 3 4 0 155 117 3 15

Queensferry 6 3 3 0 117 136 2 14

*RDVC 6 1 5 0 55 195 0 1

Bo’ness 6 0 6 0 37 255 0 0

*points deducted

borders semi junior league

Hawick PSA 5 Melrose Wasps 71

Hawick Wands 60 Gala Wanderers 0

Jed Thistle 28 Langholm Colts 0 (w/o)

Selkirk Youth 28 Berwick Colts 0 (w/o)

P W l d F A B pts

Jed Thistle 14 14 0 0 563 99 0 28

Melrose Wasps 14 11 3 0 674 186 0 22

Hawick Wand 13 11 2 0 585 119 0 22

Gala Wands 14 8 6 0 353 296 0 16

Selkirk Youth 14 8 6 0 410 327 0 16

Peebles Colts 13 7 6 0 400 185 0 14

Kelso Quins 13 7 6 0 339 254 0 14

Tynedale Colts 12 3 9 0 180 455 0 6

Langholm Colts 13 1 11 1 45 484 0 3

Hawick PSA 13 1 11 1 72 821 0 3

Berwick Colts 13 1 12 0 28 423 0 2

Fixtures

saturday, december 6

premiership (3pm)

Boroughmuir v Melrose

Edinburgh Academical v Currie (2pm)

Glasgow Hawks v Gala

Hawick v Ayr

Stirling County v Heriot’s

national league division one (2pm)

Aberdeen Grammar v Stewart’s Melville FP

GHA v Watsonians

Jed-Forest v Hillhead Jordanhil (3pm)

Kelso v Peebles (3pm)

Marr v Dundee HSFP

Selkirk v Biggar (3pm)

national league division two (2pm)

Aberdeenshire v Kirkcaldy

Cartha Queens Park v Musselburgh

Greenock Wanderers v Livingston

Haddington v Ardrossan Academicals

Hamilton v Howe of Fife

Whitecraigs v Falkirk

national league division three (2pm)

Dumfries Saints v Dalziel

Dunfermline v West of Scotland

Hawick YM v RHC

Irvine v Preston Lodge

Murrayfield Wanderers v East Kilbride

Perthshire v Lasswade

east league division one (2pm)

Berwick v Linlithgow

Dunbar v Dalkeith

Duns v North Berwick

Hawick Linden v Langholm

Portobello FP v Hawick Harlequins

east league division two (2pm)

Edinburgh Northern v Forrester

Leith v Earlston

Liberton FP v Lismore

Penicuik v St Boswells

Trinity Acads v Inverleith

east league division three (2pm)

Bo’ness v Ross High

Gala YM v Queensferry

RDVC v Walkerburn

borders semi junior league (3pm)

Hawick PSA v Jed Thistle

Hawick Wanderers v Selkirk Youth

Kelso Harlequins v Gala Wanderers

Melrose Wasps v Berwick Colts

Peebles Colts v Tynedale Colts

sunday, december 7

border under-16 league (at gala)

Berwick v Gala Red Triangle 
(Hayward Pavilion, 10.30am)

Duns v Selkirk (3G Arena, 11.50am)

Melrose v Jed-Forest (Hayward, 1.10pm)

Hawick Albion v Peebles (3G Arena, 2.30pm)

A cookbook produced by a team of Minto Golf Club ladies is selling fast.

In only three weeks, two thirds of the Fairway to Food print-run have been sold and the team is delighted with the response.

All proceeds from the book will go to club funds, as all printing costs were covered by donations and sponsorship, for which the team expressed their gratitude.

Tribute was also paid to club members, staff and visitors who contributed favourite tried and tested recipes to the book, the appearance of which was enhanced by Judith Welch’s delightful illustrations. The team also acknowledged the help they received from their proof readers, Ian Mayo of Footeprint in Jedburgh and a Minto member who helped to produce a book of which they are proud. Further details are available from the club on 01450 870220.

Cookbook team (back row from left): Freda Robertson, Karen Telfer and Sue James. Front, Gill Cartwright, Marilyn Adams and Judith Welch.

Sporting digest

Curling

Borders Ice Rink

In the latest round of the Agrii Border League, Ayton Castle went down to Yester and Coldstream were beaten by holders Glendale, who have a hard row to hoe if they want to retain the trophy.

These games were in A section where Duns is in control with St Boswells in close pursuit. This week’s games are all in A section, namely Jedburgh v Greenlaw, Ayton Castle v Teviotdale, Glendale v Foulden, and the big one, Duns against St Boswells.

The B section games saw Earlston’s defeat of Selkirk putting the Rhymers on top of the table, while Swinton’s win over Lees eases them up to joint third spot.

Thursday afternoon was the time for a visit by three rinks from Murrayfield in the annual inter-city get-together, which resulted in a 2-1 victory for the visitors, with scores that don’t bear repeating.

The irrepressible Peter Bowyer put out his wide running dog to gather up rinks from all around the country with a smattering of Welsh, Irish and English curlers involved for the Mixed Invitation competition, with many Scottish participants, mainly from the west with a wheen o’ Borderers thrown in. All played one game on Friday afternoon, two on Saturday and one on Sunday, deciding high and low roads.

Michael Sutherland’s local rink came out on top in the high road with Cullen’s Rhymers in second. Luigi Massari’s virgin rink (the first time they had curled as a team) took the low road title. Both evenings saw Joe Wright and his team feeding the multitude with copious quantities of the best of fare and on Saturday evening Tommy Grieve had the crowd dancing the night away.

There were some runaway wins throughout the weekend’s games. One notable occasion was the opening two ends of one game yielding a 7 and a 6. No names, no pack drill, though.

Golf

Galashiels

John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Winter League: Winner, I. Casson net 37.

Lauder

Warm sunshine and cloudless skies were the order of the day for the field of hardy Winter League competitors on Sunday.

They were joined by a new member, ex Natal Sharks and current coach of Lasswade Rugby Club, Bernard Hennesy. He wore a long-sleeved shirt and jumper, but ex-Earlston RFC player George Cessford was in short sleeves. Earlston are tougher than the Sharks?

Scoring continued to impress with Micky Dunne pushing Billy Hunter’s net 65 into second place by way of a better inward half; Tom Hogarth claimed the last place on the podium with a credible net 66.

Result: 1, Micky Dunne 74 (9) 65 BIH; 2, Billy Hunter 76 (11) 65; 3, Tom Hogarth 81 (15) 66.

Sandy Thompson and Ronnie Malcolm shared the twos sweep; Ronnie’s came at the quarry hole first time round with Sandy holing out at the 15th. Winner of the best score in November was Keith Hutchison with his net 62 from two weeks ago.

This week’s Soup-a-thon was a very fancy affair with a favourite from last year, Janice Whiteford’s ‘Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato’, but this year accompanied by homemade ‘Wholemeal Seeded’ and ‘Tomato and Garlic’ bread. Accompanied by a ‘Donaldson’s Pie’ it was a 100 per cent Earlston affair. Our new South African recruit looked totally confused ... surely this would be his first scotch pie.

Melrose

Belhaven Winter League (Week 5): 1, K. Haldane; 2, I. Ramsey; 3, D. Page.

Minto

Minto Golf Club members held a successful AGM in a packed clubhouse.

With increased membership and generally fine weather, the members discussed what has been a bumper year of stroke play, match play, Stableford, Texas scrambles, knock-outs and fun competitions.

The successes of the flourishing junior section was highlighted, as was the ladies’ and gents’ achievements.

The club captain, vice-captain, ladies’ captain and juniors’ captain were elected for the coming year.

Last Saturday, the Christmas Fair, organised by the Minto Golf Club Ladies’ Committee, got the festive season off to a great start.

The event was very well supported by members and non-members alike, with all of the stalls and competitions doing very good business. The home baking and preserves stall sold out in an hour and a half!

Visitors to the fair enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies while they took a break from competitions and buying the fare on offer.

Sue James, the lady captain, paid tribute to all who worked tirelessly during the morning at the fair and thanked all who had made donations to and supported the stalls and competitions. She said the fair had been very enjoyable and a great success. The event raised £924.05, which will go towards the club’s development.

Torwoodlee

Stableford (9 holes): 1, S. Stenhouse 19 points; 2, J. Dunbar 18.

Par/Bogey competition: 1, A. Sinton 4 up; 2, K. Rankin 2 up; 3, A. Lawrie 2 up.

This weekend there will be a two-person Texas scramble taking place on Saturday & Sunday. Pick your own partners, six drives per player. Please read noticeboard before commencing play.

Pool

Belhaven League

League Cup, Section A: Fleece A 8 Waverley B 4; Niki’s 7 Fleece B 5.

Section B: Waverley A 12 Ship A 0; High Level 4 Reivers A 8.

Challenge Cup Section A: Ship B 6 Dryburgh 6; Reivers B 8 Red Lion B 4.

Section B: Red Lion A P Bridge P Golden Lion 5 Eildon Centre 7.

Rugby

Gala

The AM PM event catering Kings of the Sevens will kick off the circuit at the 5 Star Taxis Gala 7’s next year.

With the premiership play-offs being played on Saturday, April 4, the date Gala RFC had pencilled in for their sevens, the club decided at its recent meeting to stage the tournament for the coming year on Sunday, April 5, 2015.

The club has also decided to bring the time of the first tie forward to 1pm. It is Easter weekend and a lot of people will be off on the Monday, however, by bringing the start forward it will also allow supporters to enjoy themselves even if they don’t have Easter Monday off.

The club is delighted to announce that 5 Star taxis is continuing its much-valued sponsorship. The Galashiels-based company loves rugby and have been supporting the tournament for a good number of years.

As usual, the draw will be made in the days leading up to the event.

Snooker

Borders

JJ Xpress Border Snooker League results: Selkirk A 3 Hawick Burns Club A 3; Hawick Conservative Club B 2 St Boswells 4; Hawick Burns Club B 4 Selkirk B 2; Jedburgh Legion 2 Hawick Conservative Club A 4.

League standings after 12 weeks: 1, Hawick Conservative Club A 49; 2, Hawick Burns Club B 38; 3, Hawick Burns Club A 37; 4, Jedburgh Legion 35; 5, Selkirk B 34; 6, Selkirk A 34; 7, St Boswells 32; 8, Hawick Conservative Club B 29.

Squash

Galashiels

Club night friendlies: D. Sharratt 2 R. McAleese 1; A. Gill 1 R. Kohler 1; D. Sharratt 2 A. Gill 1; R. Kohler 2 R. McAleese 0.

Fixture: East Of Scotland Squash Conference, Gala v Grange v Collinton – Thursday, December 4, 7pm at Collinton; Gala v Grange v Collinton – Saturday, December 6 at Gala.

Swimming

Galashiels ASC

The second round of the 2014 East District Age Group Championships took place at Glenrothes over the weekend and the representatives from Gala ASC continued where they left off from the first round earlier in the month with some fantastic swimming.

Five Gala members travelled to Fife as part of the BEST Squad for two days of 200m events and at the end of a long weekend can be extremely proud of their efforts.

Bethany Hamilton, Maili Brown, Lindsay Jack and Sarah Frizzel all competed in the breast, back, free and fly 200m events, getting the all-important PBs and reaching some finals.

Lindsay came eighth in the 13s fly final and fourth in the 13s back final.

Sarah was fourth in the 13s breast final, Bethany came eighth in the 15s breast and Maili finished fourth in the 12s back final. Again, not to be outshone by the girls, Andrew Watt also swam the same events in the boys’ section, securing three PBs and sixth place in the 13s fly final. Well done to them all.

Gala ASC would also like to congratulate all the other members of the BEST squad who also competed at Glenrothes, securing PBs, finals and medals, and say a big thank you to performance coach Lauren Jocelyn for looking after the Gala ASC members in a truly memorable weekend for the club.

On November 22 & 23 ,club members Beth Johnston and Finlay Lindores represented Scotland at the British Gas Short Course Championships in Manchester and certainly made their mark.

Beth swam in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and 200 medley, where she gained PBs in three and earned bronze medals for all four.

She also swam in the last leg of the 400 medley relay, where she took away bronze. Finlay swam in the 100 free, where he PBd and won silver, and the 100 back, where he also PBd and gained a bronze medal. Both helped Scotland win overall for the first time in 10 years. A massive well done to both from the club.

It’s tough on producers of basic items, such as farmers producing milk, lamb, beef, grain, potatoes, vegetables, pork and chicken, but the most basic rule of economics applies directly to their livelihoods: when supplies increase, prices come down.

That might not happen immediately and long-term contracts might save some from the worst early effects, but it will happen.

Indeed, it has happened to almost every farm commodity during this year, with dairy farmers hit hardest at present.

China cut back on imports of milk products, Russia has banned European Union products, and British supermarkets are selling liquid milk dirt cheap.

Good news for shoppers, bad, bad, news for dairy farmers, who had in general been increasing production because of better prices last year.

It’s human nature to look for someone else to blame when you’re in trouble. So it was brave of Gary Mitchell of NFU Scotland to point out recently at a seminar for dairy farmers that trying to blame other sections of the milk industry, such as processors, manufacturers and supermarkets, for lowering prices was helping no one.

“Nothing is happening that hasn’t happened before,” he said, “we are in a cycle.”

Predictably, he was not the most popular dairy farmer in the room, or possibly in Scotland. But below the frustration and fear about low prices it is probable that many dairy farmers agree with him.

Those committed and able enough with a sound business structure will survive. And it’s interesting that, so far, Scotland’s dairy farmers have not joined demonstrations outside processors and supermarket depots like those organised in England by Farmers for Action.

I’ve noted before that it is possible to sympathise with farmers hit by low prices, while disagreeing with how some protest.

Farmers for Action have been protesting on and off for about 15 years without effect, and this time won’t be any different.

Only a drop in production, or Russia and China, among others, re-entering the world dairy product market will help.

Or, as more than one commentator has pointed out, if the British public insisted on paying much more than 90p or so for four pints of milk from their supermarket.

And the chances of the average shopper insisting on paying more than they have to for any kind of farm product? Correct.

Mists and mellow fruitfulness of autumn are all very well, but you can have too much of a good thing.

November was a good example of that – wet, misty, mild and mainly miserable.

Water lying, mud deepening, little pleasure in working out of doors.

Coincidence, of course, but the arrival of December and winter has brought colder, drier weather. I’d like it to last.

WOOLER

At their weekly primestock sale on November 26 John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 1190 lambs and 316 ewes.

Enthusiasm was lacking in the ring for the first time in a few weeks. All classes showing a slight decrease in levels.

Leading Prices Per Head:- Tex:- £89 Mindrum Farming Co, £88 South Charlton, £87 South Ditchburn, £85.50p, £85 Greenhead, Reston, £84 South Charlton, £83 Black Heddon, £82.50p Cockhall (2) and South Charlton. Bel:- £83, £80 Chillingham Home Farm. Suff.x:- £81 Kettleburn. Ven.x:- £79 Craigs House. Chev:- £78.50p South Charlton.

Leading Prices Per Kilo:- Tex:- 206.9p The Fleurs, 201.3p, 198.8p Black Heddon, 197.3p Yetlington Lane, 189.5p Shipley Smallburn, 189.3p Black Heddon, 188.5p Village Farm, Seahouses, 186.8p The Fleurs, 183.8p Newstead, 183.3p Cockhall, 182.9p Biddlestone Home Farm, Black Heddon and Lorbottle. Bel:- 200p Ladykirk, 193p Chillingham Home Farm. Chev:- 180p Linhope Farming Co.

Ewes again a flier, more numbers needed.

Leading Prices:- Tex:- £121 Shipley Smallburn, £116 Black Heddon, £111.50p Reavley, £104 Pallinsburn, £103.50p Lorbottle, £102 Pallinsburn, £99 Black Heddon, £98.50p Newstead, £98 Barmoor Red House, £95 Cockhall. Suff.x:- £108 Berryhill, £104 West Longridge, £101 Pallinsburn, £99 Reavley, £98.50p The Fleurs. Char:- £90 Lorbottle. CM:- £91 Reavley. Mule:- £85.50p Berryhill, £83.50p Brockley Hall and Kettleburn, £83 Barmoor Red House and Graden. BF:- £69 Lowick Moorhouse.

Rams:- BFL:- £117 Clennel. Tex:- £113 Pallinsburn.

ST BOSWELLS

At their weekly primestock sale on Monday, John Swan Ltd sold 89 clean cattle, 102 OTM cattle, 2814 New Season lambs and 651 Ewes.

Bullocks (26) averaged 220.7p per kg and sold to243 p (+1.2p on week)

Heifers (63) averaged 223.2p per kg and sold to255 p (+1.2p on week)

102 Beef type OTM cattle averaged 131.6p per kg and sold to 218p (+13.2p on the week)

New season lambs averaged 182.4p per kg (+2p on the week)£76.32 per head and sold to £97.50, top price 2.28p per kg for Texel.

Ewes averaged £65.85, and sold to £111.50 for a Texel

Heavy ewes averaged £72.97, Light ewes sold to £64 for Blackface and averaged £54.29.

Principal Prices per Head: Humbie Mill £1513.92; Lurdenlaw £1510.40; Bee Edge £1506.96, £1468.80; Jedderfield £1478.40; Upper Nisbet £1477.44.

Principal Prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.55, 2.52 WTS Forsyth & Sons, 2.46 Shaws of Lauder, 2.44 Worsley Wholesale Butchers; Humbie 2.49 WTS Forsyth & Sons, 2.41 Shaws of Lauder; Mosstower 2.45 Charles Wilson Butcher; Saughland 2.45 M/s J Gilmour & Co Ltd; Upper Nisbet 2.43 Colin Peat; Wester Ulston 2.41 Malone of Edinburgh; Traprain 2.41 Linton Butchers; Longnewton 2.40 Worsley Wholesale, Butchers, 2.38 M/s J Saunderson Ltd; Redden 2.39 M/s J Gilmour & Co Ltd.

Bulls: Kirkton £1213.62 (113p)

Cows per head: Willowford £1341.36, £1264.80, £1213.02; Smeaton Shaw245.58, £1180.80; Mosstower £1290.30, £1205.76; Nisbet £1242.60; Howden. S £1229.60, £1150.78; Kersknowe £1220.10, £1168.86; Ramrig £1200.94; Woodhead. L £1176.38; Redden £1157.86.

Cows per kg: Nisbet 2.18; Smeaton Shaw 2.17, 2.05; Crookhouse 2.09; Redden 2.09; Humbie Mill 2.08; Willowford 2.07(2), 2.04, 2.01; Dunslaw 1.89, 1.85; Lighthouse 1.79; Woodhead. A 1.67; Mosstower 1.65; Howden. S 1.63.

A good show of quality lambs forward, with heavy lambs a similar trade and export lambs sharper on the week. Also forward 223 ‘light lambs’ selling to a top of 217.6p p/kg or £74 Crookston & averaging 170p/kg overall.

Lambs per head: Bel;- £97.50 Sydenham, £90 Wester Ulston, £87 Crookston & Sydenham, Tex;- £97 Legars, £92.50 Holylee, £90 St Leonards, £89 Lower Ashtrees, £88 Legars, Suff.x;- £90 The Lee, £88.50 Howden. S, £88 Meigle, £87 Howden. S, Threeburnford & Blackburn, Chev;- £81 Stobshiel Mains, £80 Gospelhall, £79.50 Whitehill & Gospelhall, CM;- £76.50 Gospelhall, , £75.50, £75 Lylestane, Char;- £84, £74 Stirches Mains, HB;- £77.50 Stobshiel Mains, BFL;- £74.50 Newbigging Walls, EC;- £74.50 Addinston, Jac;- £73.50 Ruletownhead, SM;- £79 Threepwood, £78.50 Burncastle, £75.50 Scamblesby, BF;- £75 Oneholmes.

Lambs per kg: Tex;- 228.6 Bedrule, 209 Wester Ulston, 207 Lower Ashtrees, 206.3 Lochside, 206.1 Craighouse, Bel;- 225 Threeburnford, 223.1, 220.8 Crookston, 216.7 Sydenham, 212.5 Craighouse, 210.5 Crookston, 209 Lylestane, Suff.x;- 197.5 Wester Ulston, 194.7 Elmbank, 193.9 Blackburn, Chev;- 191.5 Ruletownhead, 189.3 Whitehill & Gospelhall, CM;- 191.3 Gospelhall, 186.3, 184.2 Lylestane, EC;- 186.3 Addinston, SM;- 184.2 Scamblesby, 181.9, 178.1 Burncastle, BF;- 187.5 Oneholmes, 175.9 Toxside.

Cast Ewes & Rams – Trade for all classes of Ewes sharper on the week to average £65.16 overall with Tup prices slightly easier on the week.

Ewes: Tex;- £111.50 Hermiston & Legars, £104 Tannage Brae, £100.50 Sydenham, Suff.x;- £103 Hermiston, £100 Upper Huntlywood, £96.50 St Leonards, Suff;- £94.50 Dere Street, HB;- £77.50 Blackhill, CM;- £83.50 Hermiston, £82.50 St Leonards, SM;- £78.50 Blackburn, £76.50 Lumsdaine, Lle;- £80 Colmslie, Chev;- £66 Saughtree, £65 BQ Farming, BF;- £58.50 Toxside.

Rams: Bel;- £113 Craighouse, Tex;- £100 Craighouse, Chev;- £90 Woodside, BFL;- £110 Meigle, BF;- £60 Eckford.

LONGTOWN

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart plc had forward 26 prime cattle, 4 young bulls, 16 over-30 month cattle, 5,997 prime lambs and 4,595 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, November 27.

A better show of prime cattle saw trade sharper on the week. Top price to 221.5p for a Limousin heifer sold by W. & W. Faulder, Houghton House, others to 219.5p from J. & N. Blaylock & Son, Hallburn.

Young bulls sold to 188.5p for Charolais from Enzieholm. A mixed offering of cast cows met a similar trade.

Sunday sees Kelso racecourse host its richest meeting of the autumn season, with a total prize pot of almost £90,000.

Feature race of the afternoon is the £30,000 Scottish Borders National, sponsored for the second year by Persimmon Homes.

Last year’s runner-up, Scotswell, bids to go one better for Jedburgh handler Harriet Graham. David Pipe’s Smiles For Miles is on a hat-trick after recent wins at Wetherby and Chepstow, while another possible southern raider is the Venetia Williams-trained Union Jack D’ycy.

Another exciting race on a great card is the £23,500 Champion Chase, sponsored by the John Wade Group.

Kruzhlinin, owned by St Boswells-based Paul and Clare Rooney, aims to defend his crown after an impressive triumph last year.

Scottish businessman Ronnie Bartlett – owner of top chaser Simonsig – backs the £16,000 novice chase.

Recently-retired Ryan Mania landed this race 12 months ago on Coverholder for Sue Smith, who bids to win it again with Wakanda. James Ewart may run home-bred Ueueteotl.

Michael Wares, renowned for his Cater Hire business and previously the Carters Rest, has reached a memorable age and is sponsoring a race to celebrate his three score years and ten. Michael and his wife Valerie will be on hand to judge the best turned-out horse and then present the memento to winning connections after what is sure to be a hotly-contested novice hurdle race.

Scotland’s leading jumps trainer Lucinda Russell is triple-handed here with Alizee De Janeiro, Just For Pleasure and This Thyne Jude. Tim Easterby’s Attention Seaker went close in a mares’ hurdle at Newcastle recently.

Kevin Oliver, a regular supporter at Kelso will be getting into the Christmas spirit early with his sponsorship of the two-mile handicap hurdle race.

Pauline Robson, who won a valuable race at Auteuil in France on Monday, has entered Teo Vivo and Scimon Templar. Middleham trainer Simon West could go close with Slipper Satin.

James Ewart has his Langholm yard in great form, and jointly sponsors the final race with London art dealer Cameron McMillan.

The Ewart stable is represented by Snuker, successful over fences at Hexham two weeks ago. In-form Kapricorne could be a rare Kelso runner for Gloucestershire trainer Sophie Leech.

Gates open at 10.20am, with the first race under orders at 12.20pm.

A scenic but challenging riverside route greeted the 295 runners who travelled to Haylodge Park in Peebles for the third round of the Borders Winter Cross-country series on Sunday.

Many runners enjoyed the proximity of the Tweed to wash off the mud post-race and recover from a lung-busting hill climb under blue skies.

Forty-four Gala Harrier juniors and 32 seniors put in some excellent all-round performances, with some high category placings yet again.

In the junior race, Jamie Logan (8 minutes 29 seconds) repeated his top place from the previous round, closely followed by Callum Tharme (8.31) and Andrew Hogg (8.52), with Corri Campbell (8.59) finishing strongly in fifth.

Other excellent performances from the junior boys, giving them a good age category result, came from Gregor Collins (9.27 and first in his category), and Ruaridh Woodland-Broome and George Godfrey-Faussett (both 9.28/second). Susannah Godfrey-Faussett came home as the first girl in 9.11, with some well-deserved second and third age-group placings for Katie Rourke (9.44), Harriet Woodland-Broome (10.16) and Cara Hogg (10.24).

The massive field of 198 seniors included many Gala runners who consolidated their good performances from the earlier rounds. The top places were dominated by Lothian clubs, but first across the muddy line for the Harriers was Fergus Johnston who was 10th overall in 28.11. Dianne Lauder secured first overall placing for the ladies in 28.52, and there were high category positions for Kirstin Maxwell (30.44), Chrys Murphy (32.57/1st in 60+), and Andrea Pogson (37.13).

Galashiels swimmer Beth Johnston has won a prestigious Young Star sports award at a ceremony in London hosted by Gabby Logan.

Beth, 13, was one of 12 nationwide winners and was the Scotland & Northern Ireland victor. The awards are sponsored by OCS and several sporting heroes were in attendance, including David Gower and Rory Underwood.

Nominated for the award by British Swimming, the Galashiels Academy pupil is a S10 Para-Swimmer and has been a member of the national squad for two years. She is ranked eighth in the UK (under-18) and currently holds the junior Scottish records in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 200 IM.

Beth, who swims with BEST, Gala ASC and Border Barracudas (disability-specific club) would like to thank the Rowan Boland Memorial Trust who have supported her from the very beginning, helping her financially to travel long distances. Beth has also received support from Club Sport Ettrick & Lauderdale and Scottish Borders Disability Sports Group.

The Scottish Borders Athletics Development Group (SBADG) has received a prestigious national award for its partnership working.

The group, which includes representatives from Borders Sport and Leisure, sports governing bodies and clubs, was named Partnership of the Year at the annual Scottish Athletics Awards held in Glasgow on November 22.

Instrumental in developing initiatives including a coach mentoring scheme, the organisation of the Borders Schools Cross-country Championship and assisting with Run, Jump and Throw programmes, the SBADG works with partners and stakeholders to provide opportunities for athletes, coaches, volunteers and clubs to participate in athletics activities.

Tommy Finkle, chairman of SBADG, said: “This is superb news for athletics in the Scottish Borders and it is great to see the hard work and efforts of everyone involved with the group recognised in this way by Scottish Athletics.”

Borders Sport and Leisure chief executive Ewan Jackson added: “The group has worked successfully with partners to provide athletics opportunities for everyone.

“It celebrates the contribution made, not just by this group, but by everyone involved in the development of athletics in the region.”