A home grown biofuel and fencing business owned by the Duke of Roxburghe has the first company in the Borders to provide logs and wood fuel from its own woodlands.

Established originally as a fencing business utilising timber from the Roxburghe Estate woodlands, Floors Forestry, which has recently started trading at Bowmont Forest on the Roxburghe Estate, decided to expand in a new direction to take advantage of the environmental and cost saving benefits of using sustainable timber from the Estate for woodchips.

In 2008 the installation of a 720kw biomass boiler to supply heat to Floors Castle used wood chips grown and produced on the estate and this led to development of a new market for the Estate’s lowgrade roundwood timber.

Floors Castle made huge savings in cost and in carbon emissions they were producing. By switching from an oil-fi red heating system to a biomass boiler they saved 500 tonnes of CO2 a year, the equivalent of heating 10,000 houses for a day!

“Following on from this initiative it was decided to roll out the supply of woodchips to the Borders from this locally grown sustainable and environmentally friendly resource.

Peter Darling, Floors Forestry’s Manager said: “We are delighted to be able to offer fencing products and biofuel to customers in the Scottish Borders. We are in a unique position of being able to supply wood chips and logs that are sourced solely from timber grown on our Estate. With a significant investment in storage capacity and in the latest high specification wood chipping machinery this will allow us to produce premium wood fuel for the local market as well as offering a contract chipping service for farmers and other property owners.”

The Duke of Roxburghe said: “This is an exciting new venture on the Roxburghe Estate and we look forward to seeing the sustainably produced timber from the estate converted into competitively priced products for the local market. Timber has been grown in the woodland at Bowmont Forest since 1815 when the forest was thought to have been planted by soldiers returning home after the Battle of Waterloo.”

MSP Christine Grahame has cleared up reports that Scottish Enterprise may be interested in taking over Robert Noble Mill in Peebles as office space as “crossed wires”.

The troubled mill is set to close by the end of 2015, with the loss of 87 jobs.

Ms Grahame said: “Scottish Enterprise did try to explore whether a third party taking over part of the site for training purposes was an option, but Nobles wanted the whole site utilised or not at all.”

Meanwhile, Jim Hume, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for South Scotland, branded business secretary Fergus Ewing’s response to the closure of the mill in Peebles as “incredibly disappointing”.

Mr Hume said: “At the end of June I asked the business secretary to step in and assist the company find a buyer for this hugely important local company, but in his reply to me he simply says that PACE [Partnership Action for Continuing Employment] will support staff through their redundancy.

“Whilst of course any support for staff is vitally important and welcome, it’s incredibly disappointing that the Minister has chosen not to take the step of assisting the company in finding a buyer ... the Scottish Government should be doing all it can to keep this business going.”

Ms Grahame said there was a limit to what the Scottish Government can do to help a private company.

She added: “My understanding is that if a buyer could have been found, they would have found a buyer.

“I’ve been told that the demise of the business was due to cheap production competition from China, plus the exchange rate.”

The Molyneux family from Kelso presented a cheque to Marie Curie nurse Margaret Cleghorn. The money was raised at a Blooming Great Tea Party held near the town in memory of Phil Molyneux, who received end-of-life care from the cancer charity.

The money was raised at a Blooming Great Tea Party held near the town in memory of Phil Molyneux, who received end-of-life care from the cancer charity.

The average price of a house in Scotland over the last three months was almost £168,000, the highest figure recorded for the quarter, according to official statistics.

But in the Borders, while prices dropped by 5%, there is a higher number of homes being sold.

The Registers of Scotland (RoS) report shows a 3.5% rise in prices covering April to June compared to the same period last year.

The average price of houses in Scotland being sold is £167,765 – the top figure registered for these three months since RoS began compiling quarterly statistics in 2003.

The total value and volume of sales across Scotland was up compared to the previous year to more than £4.14billion. Nationally, flats showed the biggest increase in average price and sales volume as prices rose, while detached and terraced properties both saw decreases in average price and volume.

But in the Borders it seems houses are selling for less.

Ron Hastings, of Hastings Property Shop, said: “Property is selling well in the Borders and despite recent comment on average prices recorded being down, the reality is more are selling at the lower end and this clearly has a dramatic effect on the average price.

“With an increase in sales of around 30% over the same period, it clearly shows there has been a huge increase in the level of activity.

“The prices recorded are also based on sales that have actually been registered, and generally, with a 2-3 month lag between the agreed sale and the transaction going on the Land Registry in a fast moving market, the prices reported are already out of date.

“From our perspective at Hastings Property Shop, we have seen an increase in prices and total values sold over the last three months in a row and conditions have not been as good since 2006.”

He added: “The market activity has also produced sales across the range with a strong surge in traditionally slower selling areas. Whatever the weather, it’s clearly not dampened the enthusiasm of the buyers.”

Fears that the Peeblesshire restaurant bought last year by celebrity chef Tony Singh will turn into a “rock pub” have been dismissed by a lawyer representing the eatery.

And, last week, The Old Bakehouse in West Linton was given leave to put on occasional live music events – but only once a month and as part of a dinner-dance.

Friday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Licensing Board heard that the current operating plan for the premises in Main Street did not include provision for live music. But up to May this year, several such events had taken place, prompting near-neighbour Hannah Amos to complain to Scottish Borders Council about excessive noise “into the wee small hours”.

She was one of nine West Linton residents who objected to Tony Singh Ltd being granted a live music permit.

Solicitor Stephen McGowan, representing the company, said his clients “apologised unreservedly” for not observing the operating plan, claiming this had been “a genuine oversight”.

“As soon as this came to light, the live music stopped … and there is emphatically no intention now to turn it into a rock pub,” said Mr McGowan.

He said restaurant manager Ian Smith, who lives above the premises, had already attended this month’s meeting of West Linton Community Council and spoken to other neighbours to explain that he wanted to put on a dinner-dance on one Saturday a month and that the live music would cease at 11pm.

After Mr McGowan agreed to give a written undertaking to this effect and to explain how the volume of the music would be monitored, the board agreed to amend the restaurant’s operating plan accordingly.

“If the neighbours are happy, then we’re happy,” observed board chairman Councillor Willie Archibald.

Each year I take my life in my hands (to do with my brother, Tony, at the wheel of a caravanette) to tour the communities of my constituency, which runs from the Eildon to the Pentland hills.

This year, as per usual, we stopped, among other places, at Oxton, Lauder, Earlston, Newstead, Melrose, Tweedbank, Clovenfords, Walkerburn and Innerleithen.

The weather was, to say the least, variable, but as usual we had constituents at nigh on every stop, and so there is a deal of work to do in the coming weeks.

What always strikes me is how bonny our towns and villages are, and usually on account of the effort the communities make. Some of our city dwellers could learn a thing or two from them about pride in your community.

This year, by way of trial and error, I made a video diary which I shall have put onto my Facebook pages – but bear with me, I’m no technocrat, so it’ll take a wee bit whiley.

Border Union Show

Mair rain. Where is it all coming from?

Anyway, I spent Saturday at the show and not being au fait with tractors, admired the livestock, especially the horse and carriages.

I had a chat at the Alzheimer’s stand. It is a horrid and sad affliction. I have a friend who has fallen foul of this and no longer recognises that she is the creator of the lovely water colours I have.

I then had a chat with Borders Pet Rescue, having a soft spot for our furry companions. I chair the parliament’s cross-party group on animal welfare and have my own wee rescue pal, Mr Smokey. Anyway, I hope to visit its rescue centre at Earlston soon.

Then there was the constabulary. I chair not only the parliament’s justice committee, but the policing committee and so was keen to chat about local issues.

There appears to be little crime at the show – a wee bit boisterousness later once the drink had taken effect. But nothing too bad.

Traffic control was the main issue.

RHET

What is that, you ask? Well, it’s the Royal Highland Education Trust and I bought a wee book of recipes from them, including such delights as Granny McCallum’s Potato Scones.

All recipes are provided by individuals. The book is £6 and proceeds go towards the RHET teaching our children the goodness of Scottish produce and even basics, such as where eggs and tatties come from!

Over 550 animals were killed or injured by dogs on Scotland’s farms in the last five years with the Borders one of the worst affected areas.

Dog owners who let their animals loose in the countryside have been responsible for the deaths and injury of hundreds of Scottish livestock in recent times. Over the last five years, there have been more than 550 incidents of worrying in Scotland, and NFU Scotland took to the Royal Highland Show to raise further awareness of the problem.

Figures obtained from Police Scotland under a Freedom of Information request show that over the last few years, on average, there have been around 100 cases of livestock worrying in Scotland annually, where the incidents have been reported to police.

In total there have been 566 cases over the last five years.

The breakdown revealed that in 2010 there were 109 cases; 2011, 132; 2012, 132; 2013, 100 and in 2014 there were 93 cases recorded.

Over the period there were 62 cases in the Lothians and Borders and last year there were 15 reported cases with only the Highlands having a higher number.

Between January 1 and May 21 this year there have already been five animals killed in the area and a further three injured.

Gemma Thomson, legal and technical policy manager for NFUS said: “With increasing access to the countryside, NFU Scotland members report that instances of livestock worrying are occurring far too frequently.

“There have been 566 reported cases in Scotland from 2010 to 2014, but a lot of instances are not reported, so the real number is likely to be far higher.

“Each instance leads to immediate financial loss, additional ongoing financial harm, and emotional stress at the death and suffering caused to their livestock.

“In some instances the same dogs are allowed to worry livestock on a number of occasions.

“Farmers have little recourse against perpetrators.

“This is one of the worst forms of irresponsible access. We are also working with Keep Scotland Beautiful to address the issue of dog fouling on agricultural land.

“Access to the countryside is only exercisable if it is responsible, and livestock worrying is a wholly unacceptable part of that right to access. It is a serious issue, a growing one, and one which can have consequences for the dog and/or owner as well as the farmer affected by it.

“We need to push for dog owners who are not exercising responsible access to change their habits.

“Better safe than sorry and we would urge dog owners to keep their animals on leads when out in the countryside, that you keep your dog out of fields with livestock, and even if you can’t see livestock in a field, exercise caution as they may be out of sight.”

Viasystems, the US-printed circuit board manufacturer which axed over 1,000 jobs in the Borders at the end of the 1990s, has been taken over by a rival company.

It has been acquired by California-based TTM Technologies for $927m, the bulk of which – around $542m – is required to pay off Viasystems’ huge debt mountain.

As a result of the takeover, Viasystems’ common stock has ceased trading on the NASDAC stock market.

Whether the brand will survive the buy-out will be clarified next month when TTM says it will provide “further information on the acquisition”.

The Viasystems file for 2014, lodged with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, reveals that its chief executive officer is David Sindelar and that, last year, he had total earnings, inclusive of stocks and bonuses, of $3.634m.

Mr Sindelar is well known to those who fought unsuccessfully to save the former Exacta Circuits factories in Selkirk and Galashiels which closed within 18 months of being acquired by Viasystems in 1997.

Mr Sindelar was Viasystems’ chief finance officer at the time and one of the key architects of the asset-stripping move – still considered the biggest economic disaster to befall the Borders.

However, the TTM acquisition should hold no fears for Mr Sindelar who, according to the file, is entitled to up to $9.1m if his employment is terminated or there is a “change of control”.

Viasystems’ workforce of 14,000 in 2014 was down from the 22,000 it employed eight years earlier when it opened a series of new PCB factories in China and Mexico to take advantage of cheap labour costs.

The company’s zeal for cost-cutting appears to be undiminished.

“With anticipated changes in minimum wage laws in China, we expect our labour costs will increase,” states the file. “We have begun reducing staffing in certain of our Chinese plants.”

The 2015 minimum wage in China varies from £106 a month in Guizhou province to £188 a month in Shanghai.

Graeme McIver, who was a senior shop steward at both Borders plants, commented: “It comes as a no surprise to learn that Viasystems are still treating their workers as expendable.

“The owners of Viasystems were casino capitalists who deliberately and systematically abused and exploited weak employment laws and government grant assistance to facilitate the asset stripping of the Borders plants.

“They have since been exploiting the low regulation, poor health and safety provision and poverty wages of workers in Mexico and China to keep the cash rolling in.

“To me, they are beneath contempt and remind me of those speculators and bankers whose greed brought the global economy to its knees in 2007/08.”

Figures from the BBC show where speed cameras in the Borders are catching motorists out.

I take the view that where cameras improve road safety, they are to be welcomed. However, the location of some in this region makes me think that sometimes they are being used as a way of making money.

The statistics show that the A7 is the Borders’ most dangerous road, a fact which was recently highlighted by a tragic accident. Yet the A68 is a close second, with almost as many accidents and more serious injuries than the A7.

These two roads see roughly the same number of accidents, yet the A68 is plastered with speed cameras. If cameras were improving road safety, like they are supposed to, surely we would be seeing fewer accidents on the A68.

I’d like to see speed cameras placed in residential areas and in and around schools, not on the straights of the A68.

Until then, the overwhelming impression will remain that they are simply being used as a way to rake in even more money from motorists.

Number 120 Bus

I’m pleased that local community councils are helping out with the campaign to keep the number 120 bus.

Funding for this important lifeline service – linking Kelso, Jedburgh and Hawick – is due to be axed by Scottish Borders Council on August 15, and I agree that this is the wrong decision.

Lots of people have spoken to me about the importance of this service, particularly during my summer surgery tour. Elderly residents who don’t have a car, or who think they might soon stop using their car, need this service to travel into town from the surrounding villages. Others use it regularly for work and are worried about their jobs if the service goes.

While plenty of funding is being found for other projects in the central Borders, it is important that the other towns are properly linked by public transport.

Surgery Tour

I have just finished my summer surgery tour, which saw me visit 70 village halls across the Borders, from the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys in the west to the Berwickshire coast, and

plenty of places in between.

Over 300 residents came out to see me at some point, either to ask me for help with something, bring an issue to my attention or just have a chat.

And the same issues did come up– the importance of protecting local services and local jobs, challenges faced by farmers and fear of another referendum and campaign to break up the UK.

Just because my tour is over, it doesn’t mean I’m not available. You can get in touch via my constituency office on 01450 375948.

Border Search and Rescue Unit (BSARU) has been awarded £1,000 and named as a “rural community champion”.

Last month Kelso agronomy business Agrii named BSARU as one of three regional finalists in its national search for rural community champions.

The unit was picked as a regional finalist from over 100 nominations. Since that announcement, Agrii customers have been voting for their favourites at Agrii iFarm events this summer, with the BSARU coming out on top when voting closed after the last event.

Agrii launched the rural community champions competition in January, asking the farming community and general public to send in nominations as part of its nationwide campaign to celebrate the people who make a real difference to rural communities.

The volunteers provide mountain rescue assistance in the Borders, and are permanently on call. Many juggle working full-time in agriculture with their volunteering duties. Police Scotland rely heavily on the team as a resource to search for missing people in rural areas, and members of the unit are trained to the same standard as specialist police units.

Stuart Fuller-Shapcott, team leader and volunteer for 24 years, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this competition.

“All of our team members give up their time for fundraising, training and call-outs when needed, so they are very grateful to receive this acknowledgement.

“We now need to replace one of our 4x4 ambulances, at a cost of at least £50,000, so every penny helps us towards this.

“We have spent the last few weeks providing first aid cover at a large number of local events, so it’s fantastic to have this recognition from the public. On behalf of all the team, we would like to sincerely thank everybody who voted for us.”

Steve Forrest’s side look to be gelling together nicely, with a 2-0 victory over Edinburgh University in the first game of the season.

The Souters looked as comfortable as you can get at half-time, even though they held a slender 1-0 lead, thanks to Phil Addison’s (pictured) stunning curling free kick.

And although the Students threatened on more than one occasion to equalise, Selkirk held their nerve and managed to release the pressure eight minutes from the end, as new signing from Berwick Rangers, Ross Gray, watched the ball be threaded into the box and picked his spot.

Also in the Lowland League, Vale of Leithen went down 2-1 on the road to Dalbeattie Star – J. Combe netting for the Innerleithen men – while Gala Fairydean beat Preston Athletic 3-0 at Pennypit Park, goals coming from David Bonnar, Dean McColm and C. Galbraith.

East of Scotland results

Qualifying League Section A

Civil Service Strollers 5 Tynecastle 4

Burntisland Shipyard 1 Eyemouth United 1

Qualifying League Section B

Lothian Thistle HV 3 Craigroyston 0

Peebles Rovers 0 Hawick Royal Albert 1

Qualifying League Section C

Spartans 7 Duns 2

Qualifying League Section D

Coldstream 1 Leith Athletic 3

Ormiston 4 Heriot-Watt University 3

It’s a long way from Jedburgh to sharing a Spanish cave house with 12 rescue dogs, but that’s the adventure described in a new book.

A Butterfly in December is the debut book by former Jedburgh Grammar School pupil and ex-journalistic contributor to The Southern, Megan Johnstone-Fairbairn.

Born in Edinburgh in 1981, Megan grew up in Jedburgh. After dabbling in journalism, she spent a short spell at Abertay University in Dundee, before she says she “accidentally” moved to Spain in April 2005, where she still resides.

“Initially I just intended to visit my parents for the summer, but ended up falling in love – with a Spaniard and the country – and staying,” Megan told us.

“As for the dogs, I originally rescued Shiloh in 2005 – she’s the scruff I sent you a photo of and is still going strong – and the others have just been poor little abandoned souls I’ve found wandering the streets and countryside.

“I keep saying I won’t rescue any more, but I can’t ignore the ones who are really suffering. Fortunately, the strays wandering the streets are few and far between, nowadays.

“The last one I rescued was at the end of March, and she’s called Sally. She was a bag of bones, her skin was flaking off, her eyes were so infected she could barely see, and she was so emaciated that she could barely support herself on her back legs.

“It turned out she has a horrible disease called leishmaniosis, so had been thrown out by her owners. Four months later, she’s a different dog.”

Megan, who makes a living teaching Spanish, as well as organising food and music events, was originally living in the southern Spanish region of Almeria, but now resides in Granada.

“I moved to north-east Granada province three-and-a-half years ago, which is known as Granada’s lake district and must be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

“We’re surrounded by turquoise lakes, huge mountains and Granada city itself is only an hour’s drive from my house.

“So how did a girl from Jedburgh end up living in a cave house in the south of Spain with 12 rescue dogs? I ask myself this frequently!

“All the way through school, I was convinced I would be the next Kate Adie. I then grew up and realised that I’m a complete wimp who faints at the sight of blood, so would never cut it in a war zone.

“Instead, I turned my attention to rescuing and caring for the many stray dogs here in Spain. Fortunately, over the past 10 years, there has been a huge leap forward in animal welfare and education here, so that’s just great.

“My lifestyle certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s incredibly hard work, but my dogs, most of whom are 10 and older now, have been worth it.”

Megan says the inspiration for her book came from real life: “The best thing about it is that there was really no inspiration needed. Everything that happens in the book actually happened to me and my family.

“I just sat down one day and decided that my life has been far too bizarre, unlucky and funny not to write it all down.”

Megan is aiming for the sequel to a Butterfly in December to be released this December and says she hopes it receives as positive a reaction as her first book .

“I’m so stunned by how well my wee book has done so far, and by all the amazing reviews it’s received.

“ To publish a novel has always been one of my main ambitions, and the fact that people are enjoying it and getting a good laugh is amazing.”

Megan, who is currently four months pregnant with her first child, admits she seldom get the chance to return to the Borders, due to having so many dogs.

“However, one of my closest friends, Louise, is getting married in Kelso next May, so I’ll definitely be over for that and I can’t wait.

“ Being pregnant has made me realise how much I miss home, so I would imagine that within the next four or five years, once the hairy bairn numbers diminish, I’ll probably head back to Scotland for good.”

Scottish Borders Council has been taken to task for inviting public comments on plans for a £6million visitor centre to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland during the school holidays.

The council has formally submitted a planning application for the two-storey facility in protected woodland close to the new rail terminus at Tweedbank, and if approved, construction work is due to begin next March, with the centre up and running in the spring of 2017.

The public has been given until August 20 to respond and the bid could go before SBC’s planning and building control committee as early as September 7.

“This is unseemly haste for such a large and controversial development,” said Brian McCrow, the Innerleithen community councillor whose 4,300-signature petition, calling for the project to be scrapped, is not due to be considered by the council’s petitions and delegations committee until October 1.

“It is hard to escape the conclusion that this is being pushed through ahead of the petition and at a time when many Borderers are away on holiday.

“In the absence of the kind of public consultation which a project of this scale surely warrants, I urge Borderers to look at the plans and make their views known.”

Mr McCrow’s petition calls on councillors to overturn their decision, made in December last year, to allocate £3.5million in capital spending – repayable at over £200,000-a-year for 30 years – to the Tweedbank venture. The balance of the costs will be met by the Scottish Government.

“By having a large number of objections, we can force SBC to reject this application or at least refer to the Scottish Government for determination,” said Mr McCrow.

A spokesman for SBC told The Southern: “A tapestry application could go to the planning committee meeting on September 7, but is more likely to be decided on October 5.

“The date of August 20 is the minimum time the council must provide for people to comment on this application from its submission date.

“However, comments can still be made up until the day a decision is made.”

A new retail outlet, helping young people in Peebles turn the produce they’ve grown into food they can sell and preparing them for the world of work, is proving a hit with customers.

The Leaven Deli in Newby Court is the latest project spearheaded by PeeblesCAN, a social enterprise created in 2011.

With a 12-strong team of staff and trainees, the shop produces a range of value-added breads, soups, sandwiches and cakes and, next month, it will launch a home-delivery service.

Sophia Nicholson, PeeblesCAN’s food co-ordinator, said: “Since we started four years ago, our community garden, local food market and food waste project have all been very successful.

“We also run a youth enterprise project which, thanks to funding from Community Jobs Scotland [CJS], has allowed us to employ five young people.

“Earlier this year we decided a deli would help us generate an income to keep the youth project running, and it, too, has been a great success.”

Selkirk athlete Colin Bruce turned on the heat at Langholm Games on Friday to take the 90 metres Sprint title along with it’s bumper £1,000 first prize.

Fifty year old Bruce, who has his own running school which is based in Hawick, looked the part when surging home in his heat in 10.04 seconds from a mark of 13 metres.

He followed this up with a cross tie triumph in 9.98 seconds which earned him a final spot along with Jed AC pair Martha Douglas (19m), Scott Richardson (8.5m) and Hawick twosome David Hush (20m), David Lauder (12.5m) plus Cameron Grieve of TLJT (8m).

There was nothing to choose between the six finalists in the way of times and it looked anybody’s race.

A twice winner of the Selkirk Games sprint as well as a twice winner of the Jedburgh Games sprint, Bruce got off to a perfect start and hit full throttle down the track to break the tape in 10.04 seconds.

Hush emerged second and Lauder third.

Prior to Bruce’s success Berwick flyer Cameron Tindle had burned up the Castleholm track in giving a blistering display when winning the Border Athletics 90 metres sprint championship in 10.03 seconds.

Jordan Taylor of Hawick (55m) excelled in winning the 800 metres handicap in 2 minutes 20.59 seconds.

In form Rory Anderson (40m) made it a double for the Corbett camp when coming out on top in the 1600 metres handicap in 4 minutes 49.08 seconds.

Council bin man Drew Bryson of Hawick cleaned up the opposition in the 200 metres handicap in 22.44 seconds.

Wallace McGowan of Sauchie (55m) who chalks up the miles in hitting the road to Border Games meetings during the season, chalked up a win in the 400 metres handicap with a winning time of 1 minute 51.21 seconds.

Youngsters from Jed AC stole the show in the youth’s events with an excellent hat trick of wins. Aimee Cardwell (21m) did the business in the youth’s 90 metres handicap while Olivia Rodden triumphed in the youth’s 800 metres handicap. Jack Amos (140m) also did coach Brian ‘Chico’ Woods proud with a victory in the youth’s 1600 metres handicap which was his fifth of the season.

Making her games debut, Longtown’s Mollie Kettrick (16m) won the junior 90 metres handicap.

Victory in the youth’s 200 metres handicap went the way of stylish Carlisle girl runner Megan Busby (24m).

Scotland under 18 rugby internationalist Darcy Graham of Hawick hit the high spots when soaring to a win in the High Jump.

In total contrast to the previous day Lauder Games started off in brilliant sunshine before the heavens opened and some heavy showers descended.

Never-the-less spirits weren’t dampened in the slightest and the large turnout of spectators were rewarded by some highly entertaining contests it the public park.

None more so than the feature sprint races which saw Hawick veteran David Hush, from the David Grieve running stable, go one better than at Langholm the day before to take the 90 metres Open title.

After some blistering heats Hush lined up in the final against TLJT pair Jenna Gillan and Mark Mathison, Daniel Elliot and Ryan Elliot, from Hawick, and Kevin Turner from Dalkeith. With only Gillan in front of him Hush flew out of the blocks and into the lead, a position he managed to just hold onto with judges needed at the end to make a decision on a photo finish. Hush was eventually given the nod with Ryan Elliot in second and Turner third.

“After taking second at Langholm yesterday I really felt I could go one better today,” said Hush after the race.

“I thought I would be a wee bit tired after running two days on the trot but I actually felt quite good and was nice and relaxed for the final.

“I just managed to do enough and I’m really chuffed to have won. I started the season with a few niggles but halfway through I came onto some running.

“Hopefully there will be more to come.”

In the 90m Youths final there was a one, two, three for the Tweedbank-based TLJT club with Philippa Robertson, from Hawick, showing great form winning her heat and cross tie and then taking the final in 10:05. Siblings Molly and Daniel Paterson took second and third respectively.

Having picked up three titles at the Castleholm track Jed AC coach Chico Woods was looking for more success from his young runners and was rewarded with another win when 10-year-old Max Johnstone took the Youths’ 200m title.

“I must be kicking them in the right places,” joked Woods.

“It took a while to get there but they have really came on as the season has progressed and are finding some good form now.”

Success at the Alva Games in the middle of July drove Innerleithen mechanic Dean Whiteford to look for more titles and on Saturday he went up a gear to take both the 800 and 1600 metre honours.

Chirnside’s Isla Taylor won the 800 metre Youth’s race while Broughton veteran Gordon Eland took the 200m Open title.

A major new summer show in the Borders later this month is set to be a sell-out, with exhibitors coming from across central and southern Scotland and the north of England.

Organisers are confident that the Scottish Borders Summer Craft Show will provide a real boost for the local economy and promote the quality and diversity of Scottish arts and crafts to a wide public audience and trade buyers.

The Scottish Borders Summer Craft Show will be held at Springwood Hall, Kelso on Saturday August 22 and Sunday August 23, with well over 50 exhibitors from the Scottish Borders, the Lothians, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and the north-east of England showcasing their work – some for the first time. Anyone wanting to know more should contact Working Events at www.workingevents.co.uk or phone Lucy on 0777 933 0684.

Stirling University (EOS) 1 Kelso United 1

United got the season started with a good display to earn a point in the first match of The East of Scotland Qualifying League.

It was a game that went with the weather fairly drab in the first half played in torrential rain but brightened up considerably in the second period with glorious sunshine.

United were first to have an effort on goal as new signing Josh Stewart just fired wide from 20 yards. The home side replied quickly and United keeper Willie Stewart was seen to good effect diving to his left to stop a shot from University striker David McCaughie.

A good run down the right by Shane Bonnington midway through the half saw the wing man weave past a couple of defenders before delivering a cross to the back post where the ball just went over the head of Daniel Gillie.

The students were awarded a free kick after 35 minutes and winger Liam Allison stepped up to fire the ball past the wall but keeper Stewart was able to thwart the attempt on goal. United defender Ben Herdman then rattled the bar with a header but was adjudged off side by Denny referee David Williams.

United started brightly in the second half and a snap shot from 35 yards by striker Jordan Hopkinson saw University keeper Tim Hughes at full stretch to fingertip the shot round the post. Five minutes later a shot from Stewart was goal bound until it deflected off the back of student Allison and away to safety.

United keeper Stewart then was called into action diving to his right to halt a shot from Allison. The visitors could have gone in front after 70 minutes when the ball was worked from the right touchline to the left wing where Gillie was left in space. The youngster ran through on goal and found himself one on one with the keeper however the new signing pulled his shot wide.

The home side took the lead with twelve minutes of the game remaining. University midfielder Rory MacEwan picked up the ball on the half way line and drove forward before shooting from just inside the box and although keeper Stewart got a hand to the shot it settled in the bottom corner of the net.

Instead of heads dropping from the visitors it seemed to spur United into greater effort and got their reward after 85 minutes. A long throw from the left touchline by Herdman was flicked on by the head of Darren Bowie and Hopkinson supplied the finishing touch with a neat lofted shot over the head of the keeper.

Kelso almost took the honours in the penultimate minute as Bonnington lifted a free kick from the right touchline into the box where Bowie rose above the home defence and it was only a great save from Hughes clawing the ball away which prevented the goal.

Peebles Rovers 0 Hawick Royal Albert 1

This East of Scotland League Qualifying Cup encounter began in bright sunshine and finished in torrential rain.

As far as Hawick Royal Albert were concerned however the sun was out when the whistle went to end the game.

For thanks to a last gasp goal and going by last season’s results and performances the Hawick outfit had pulled off an unexpected win.

The game opened at a lively pace with both teams looking adventurous and passing the ball about well.

Apart from Rovers Chris Taylor rifling a Jason Darling pass wide and Hawick defender Mark McEwan robbing Shaun Meikle of a scoring opportunity with a spot on timely tackle, there were few goalmouth incidents.

Sam Campbell then almost broke the deadlock for the visitors when heading a Craig Robertson cross past the post.

Rovers replied with a well struck Darling free kick that dipped narrowly over the bar.

Play remained even and lively and after latching onto a Gavin Pettigrew pass, Craig Robertson unleashed a shot that looked a goal all the way until Peebles keeper Darren Walker had a say in matters in pulling off a superb fingertip save.

Back came Peebles and Robert Boyd came to Albert’s aid in clearing a Scott Sutherland header off the line from a Kenny Munro free kick.

Hawick keeper Kyle Rankin then denied Rovers a strike with a save right out of the top drawer when pushing a thundering Taylor drive over the bar.

Neither outfit was looking for a draw but a sharing of the points appeared destined until the Albert dramatically broke the deadlock with two minutes remaining.

In a packed goalmouth substitute Bobby Nwanze drove in a shot which was cleared by Jonathon Flockhart.

This brought about a stramash which ended in Ryan cutting the ball to the feet of Boyd who slotted a shot into the net.

Lauder’s Blinkbonney Quarry/Express Tyres sidecar team of Stephen Kershaw and Rob Wilson made the long trip to Hampshire over the weekend for round seven of the British Formula one sidecar Championship at Thruxton.

Lying in fourth place and only three and a half points from the third place team of Roger Lovelock and Aki Alto, three eight lap races would take place on this very fast and unforgiving 2.3 mile circuit.

So with plenty of points up for grabs, and having finished third at the last round two weeks ago, Steve and Rob were confident that they could have another good weekend in this highly competitive Championship. And they didn’t disappoint. Friday’s qualifying saw them take their best ever position on the grid for Saturday’s two races with a superb third place averaging 105 mph.

In race one they started well and went into fourth place and, on lap five, the third place team of Holland and Watson retired so the local pair took full advantage finishing in third place in a race that was won by the Championship leaders Stevens and Charlwood in lap record time.

Saturday’s second race again saw a great start from the team keeping in third place and losing out on second place by less than half a second to second in the Championship Peach and Richardson.

With a few overnight adjustments Sunday’s lunch time’s televised race was watched by a huge crowd basking in sunshine and again it was another superb performance by Steve and Rob. A three way fight for second place saw them narrowly losing out on another podium with a fourth place finish.

Back in the paddock Steve said: “We’ve had another great weekend, the fastest I’ve ever been around here.

“We are now back in third place in the Championship. I just lost out on some grip in the last race or we could have had another podium.”

Rob added: “It is just a killer circuit for passengers.

“You can’t explain the feeling of speed that you get especially down the back of the circuit. It nearly pulls you arms off.

“I’m delighted to have had three really good finishes and still be in one piece after my bad crash here a few years ago.”

The Lauder lads are now back into third place, 38 and a half points ahead of Holland and Watson.

The next round is in seven weeks at the TT circuit of Assen in the Netherlands.