Despite the apparent strong support of people who voted in the straw poll for the bypass, a Selkirkshire councillor is keen to back the result up by holding a secret ballot.

Councillor Gordon Edgar wants to make sure there can be no doubt about the level of support in the town for a bypass.

He told us: “It would have been better if the Selkirk Regeneration Company had talked to us first before organising a straw poll.

“There is a possibility that people might not have wanted to sign their name against a bypass when there were so many people there voting for it.

“The only way to properly gauge public opinion is through a secret ballot.”

So he has organised for ballot boxes to be based around the town over the last two weeks in August, and has asked the Wee Paper to print ballot papers over these two weeks.

The Wee Paper has agreed to do this – the ballot papers will appear in the paper in two weeks’ time (August 19).

The Wee Paper has also offered for its offices to be used in the count, which is pencilled in for Friday, September 2 – when we would film and publish the result on our webpage.

Mr Edgar said: “If the result is as strongly in favour of the bypass as the straw poll was, there will be a strong case, but it has to be done correctly.”

Selkirk residents voted overwhelmingly in support of a bypass last Thursday and Friday in a straw poll conducted by the Selkirk Regeneration Company.

Almost 97% of those taking part voted in favour of a bypass around the town.

The poll, held at a pop-up shop in Tower Street, was a response to Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf’s request for more information on how many people want the proposed bypass before committing any Government funds to the project.

The possibility of a bypass being built through Selkirk was first mooted in 1936 as the number and size of vehicles using the main road through the town was deemed to be too high even then.

However, though cars and lorries became larger and more numerous, the issue of the bypass was continually shelved as being too expensive.

But several recent accidents and a visit to Holyrood by the A7 Action Group to meet with the new transport minister two months ago has seen the idea gain fresh momentum.

Of the 582 people who took part in the poll – more than 10% of Selkirk’s population – 563, or 96.7%, were in favour of a bypass and 19 were against it, with one voter being undecided and one form being spoiled.

Regeneration company chief Lindsay Neil sent those figures to the minister, saying: “The result was emphatic support for a bypass.

“There can be no doubt of what Selkirk wants.

“Selkirk’s people can legitimately ask for a better level of safety for its citizens, and the Government transport department needs to be made aware of the facts.

“As if to emphasise the public safety improvement that a bypass would confer, on the Friday, a young Selkirk mother, Kerrie Renwick, was knocked head over heels and injured by the tail end of an articulated lorry negotiating the Tower Street/High Street right-angled bend going south [see story, page 1].

“She was walking quite legally on the pavement with her family and the driver would have been quite oblivious of having hit anyone. The biggest lorries have to use both carriageways and the pavement in order to get round this corner and the driver would have been unsighted.

“Last year, a lady was killed in Selkirk on the A7, and a few years ago, a schoolgirl was killed.

“The danger to pedestrians and local citizens is getting steadily worse, and many incidents go unreported as the traffic volume increases, the vehicles become larger and pollution and danger increase.”

A Selkirk woman who admitted shouting and swearing at medical staff in the accident and emergency department of Borders General Hospital has been fined £500 at the town’s Sheriff Court.

Jade Cameron, 31, had been found intoxicated near her home in Park View on March 26 and taken to the Melrose hospital due to concerns about her condition.

She fell asleep in one of the bays and when a staff member tried to wake her up, she started shouting and swearing at staff.

The court was told that a small child being treated in the next bay was distressed by the disturbance.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “She was demanding a needle be taken out of her arm and was shouting and swearing, and heard by everyone. Eventually she was taken into custody.

“On being cautioned and charged, she said ‘I am really sorry’.”

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said the offence was out of character. He explained she had just come out of a long-term relationship and had not been eating or sleeping properly.

He added: “She completely lost control.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said conduct of this nature at the hospital was unacceptable, but added it was unlikely to happen again.

James Hogg’s great-great-grandson is publishing a book about recreating the travels of the 19th century Ettrick Shepherd.

Bruce Gilkinson lives in New Zealand but is currently in Scotland to launch the book.

He said: “I followed these journeys over the past couple of years. I found that, in the minds of many leading current-day writers such as Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh, as well as many others, Hogg and these journeys are still very much alive and relevant in the 21st century and are particularly so in the Borders.”

Gilkinson says he is as fascinated by landscapes and travelling as his famous ancestor.

In the book, the author takes in the rolling hills of Hogg’s early years in Ettrick – looking at how the countryside had helped form the poet’s love of the outdoors, and of writing.

The book goes on to explain why Hogg set out from Ettrick on horseback to find a suitable farm to lease in the Highlands.

The road led him north into the Grampians as far as Dalnacardoch, and into the Cairngorms, taking in towns such as Tomintoul, Braemar and Glenshee.

Hogg’s travels also took in the Western Highlands and islands, such as Lewis and Skye – and the book records his highs and lows.

Gilkinson quotes his ancestor directly, giving an insight into the mind of the people of the time, as well as the Ettrick Shepherd himself.

The official launch of Walking with James Hogg: The Ettrick Shepherd’s Journeys through Scotland takes place at an Ettrick-based exhibition about the man himself, on Sunday, August 14.

Also, the author has been invited to speak at the MacArts Centre in Galashiels on Tuesday, August 23, at 5.30pm as part of the book festival.

A Scottish Government Reporter will decide if a businessman should be allowed to build 19 holiday lodges at a leisure complex near Selkirk.

Ayrshire-based Alan Williams, who bought the Whitmuir Hall mansion and its estate in 1989, was refused outline consent for the development by Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee in April.

But this week, he has lodged an appeal against that decision with Scotland’s Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA).

A Reporter will be appointed and will visit the site, with a final determination expected in October.

Mr Williams is taking issue with the committee’s assertion that he did not provide “sufficient economic justification” for the venture.

His agents will stress that Mr Williams requires consent in principle for the lodges – on undulating pastureland to the north east of the mansion – to “pump prime” the required investment in the wider estate.

They will also cite the submissions of SBC’s local planning officer Andrew Evans and of the council’s own economic development department.

Both had recommended approval of the application at the April meeting, with the latter noting that, if built to a high standard, the proposed lodges would address a shortfall in such holiday accommodation for tourists.

Mr Evans concurred, concluding that the proposal would “result in the extension of an existing tourist facility and would positively contribute to the local economy”.

But the nine-strong committee of councillors disagreed, along with 42 members of the public who had submitted objections.

Many of these dissenters focused on the impact of the development on nearby Whitmuir Loch, a sanctuary for wild birds and a designated site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

It is not the first time Mr Williams has sought consent to provide extra holiday accommodation on his estate.

In 2012, SBC’s planning committee rejected his outline application for 28 chalets – a decision upheld the following year by a DPEA Reporter.

To mark the start of a new Scottish football league season this weekend, test your knowledge of grounds around the country by identifying who plays at them from these aerial photos.

But be careful, there may be a red herring in there ...

A study has claimed to have found the 21 most popular jokes in the history of the Edinburgh Festival.

The list was compiled by scouring through end-of-festival best joke lists dating back ten years.

Do you think these entries are worthy of Festival folk-lore?

1- Mark Watson

“I saw a poster for Mission Impossible III the other day. “I thought to myself, it’s not really impossible if he’s already done it twice.”

2- Joe Lycett

“Life is like a box of chocolates. It doesn’t last long if you’re fat.”

3- Patrick Monahan

“My dad is Irish and my mum is Iranian, which meant that we spent most of our family holidays in customs.”

4- Adam Hess

“Did you know Kinder Surprise is German for unwanted pregnancy?”

5- Laura Lexx

“My boyfriend and I used to argue over the duvet. I liked to sleep all stretched out like a starfish and he liked to sleep with a blonde lady called Leanne.”

6- Chris Turner

“I bought a muzzle for my pet duck. Nothing flashy, but it fits the bill.”

7- Jimeoin

“Two aerials on a roof fell in love and got married. The wedding wasn’t great but the reception was fantastic.”

8- Hayley Ellis “I was very naive sexually. My first boyfriend asked me to do missionary and I buggered off to Africa for six months.”

9- Mark Nelson

“Jesus fed 5,000 people with two fishes and a loaf of bread. That’s not a miracle. That’s tapas.”

10- Joel Dommet

“People who like trance music are very persistent. They don’t techno for an answer.”

11- Harriet Kemsley

“I’m allergic to nuts, which means that if I ever want to commit suicide I can do it by Ferrero Rocher.”

12- Lou Sanders

“You have to think positively, for example, I don’t have a drink problem. I have a drink opportunity.”

13- Tom Neenan

“Did you know if you count the number of stars in the universe and compare that to the number of grains of sand on a beach, you can ruin a holiday?”

14- Rob Auton “I was quite an upbeat child, I used to think CCTV was a very, very positive Spanish television channel.”

15- Fin Taylor “My name is Fin, which means it’s very hard for me to end emails without sounding pretentious.”

16- Juliet Meyers

“Bonsai lovers are very tolerant people: they hate bigotry.”

17- Gary Delaney

“Dave drowned. So at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it’s what he would have wanted.”

18- Chris Coltrane

“The good thing about lending someone your time machine is that you basically get it back immediately.”

19- Darren Walsh

“Went to my allotment and found that there was twice as much soil as there was the week before. The plot thickens.”

20- Josie Long

“When I was a kid I asked my mum what a couple was and she said: ‘Oh, two or three’. She wondered why her marriage didn’t work.”

21- Matt Winning

“Never date a tennis player. Love means nothing to them.”

Peebles RFC made a bold move by switching its sevens tournament from the traditional late April date to the first weekend in August.

But, at the end of an afternoon of compelling competition, the new formula was judged a notable success.

Not all went smoothly, however. A couple of late call-offs meant ‘fill-in’ sides were required to make up the list of 16 clubs in the competition, prompting calls for a format rethink.

“We thought about making it a 12-team tournament and will consider that for next season.” said Peebles club president Bob Hogarth. “That would allow us to operate a pool system which would guarantee each club a minimum of two games – and that’s what you want at this time of year.”

Rob Chrystie, coach of winners, Melrose, concurred: “I think it’s brilliant for the boys. The best place to train pre-season is on the pitch. You can’t replicate this intensity in training. It also takes some of the pressure off the end of the season. In the spring season, it becomes a real challenge to try to get boys out week in, week out.”

With victory over Watsonians in a tense and thrilling final, Melrose made an emphatic statement about their 2016-17 Kings of the Sevens title ambitions, albeit with eight months before the competition resumes.

The unseeded draw, which drew criticism from some, meant both finalists had to battle harder than usual through the first and second rounds.

Melrose went to extra time before defeating the Kings of the Sevens title holders Jed-Forest 17-12 in a tight first round tie, while Watsonians were pushed all the way by Selkirk in a 20-19 win.

Then, in the quarter-finals, Melrose scraped past Gala by a single score to win 10-5 and there was a similar battle for Watsonians, who edged out Hawick 19-17, the Greens having paid the penalty of a yellow card shown to Bruce McNeil. Meanwhile, hosts Peebles had ignited excitement in the home support by reaching the semi-final but, against Melrose, the Gytes men succumbed to a powerful second-half performance to bow out of the tournament with a 5-22 defeat.

In the second of the semi-finals, Watsonians were matched in the first half by a Powerbombs side that had shown up well in last season’s Kings of the Sevens competition. But second-half tries by Scott McKean, Euan McKean and Rory Steele allowed the Myresiders to cruise to a comfortable 33-19 win.

The final promised much and, in the event, it delivered.

Melrose established a 17-7 interval lead with tries by David Colvine, Ali Grieve and Fraser Thomson to a try for Watsonians by former Selkirk flanker Angus Duckett. But tries by Rory Steele and Euan McKean for the city side levelled the scores.

Then, in injury time, Melrose clinched the Peebles title with a winning try from their new recruit Ross McCann.

Results: Gala 26, St Boswells 7; Jedforest 12, Melrose 17; Kelso 48; Earlston 7; Peebles 29; President’s V11 5; Biggar 12; Powerbombs 31; Edinburgh Accies 33; Select VII 14; Selkirk 19; Watsonians 20; Berwick 0; Hawick 55. Quarter- finals – Gala 5, Melrose 10, Kelso 19, Peebles 24, Powerbombs 24,Edinburgh Accies 7, Watsonians 19, Hawick 17.Semi-finals – Melrose 22, Peebles 5; Powerbombs 19, Watsonians 33. Final – Melrose 22, Watsonians 17.

Melrose – N. Irvine-Hess, R. Knott, A. Grieve, M. McAndrew, C. Jackson, A. Lockington, F. Thomson, G. Wood, R. McCann, D. Colvine.

A Borders band helped celebrate the rebirth of the world’s most famous train by rocking the National Railway Museum last month.

Wedding and function five-piece outfit Pulse were tasked with providing entertainment worthy of the Flying Scotsman, for the final day of its stay at the museum, in County Durham.

The ‘Shildon Shed Bash’ closed a week of celebration, with enthusiasts travelling from across the country to see the historic locomotive – providing the band with once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities with the renowned train engine.

Drummer Duncan Neilson, from Selkirk, said: “It’s been a great year for us so far and we’ve had some great home gigs, including the Selkirk Appointment Dance and the Duns Reivers Ball.

“So to add to that this amazing gig to celebrate the Flying Scotsman is a real honour and privilege.

“We learned quite a number of early 60’s songs specifically for the big night and we simply had to play Locomotion!

“But it wasn’t just a day to celebrate old music and historic trains – the new renovation of the Flying Scotsman meant we also had license to play some up to date tunes too.”

Duncan added: “It was a great night and the guys loved the opportunity to climb aboard the beautiful engine and get some unique photographs that we’ll all treasure and look back fondly on.”

Willy Christison, lead vocalist, said: “To play a party in the presence of the Flying Scotsman was something I and the rest of the band will never forget.

“Our stage for the evening was flanked by stunning trains from throughout the ages – making for a dramatic backdrop quite unlike anything we have ever played.”

For more information on the band, visit www.pulsefunctionband.com

Border College student Connor Gillon was top of the class at Lauder Games on Saturday.

The 17-year-old Tweedsider indeed reached great heights through a top-notch show in winning the main event on the Lauder programme – the 90 metres handicap.

Coached by the well-­respected Adie Gray, Kelso Quins rugby winger Gillon earned himself a place in the final of the event when surging to a heat victory in 9.87 seconds from a mark of seven metres.

In his second season as a senior, having graduated from the youth ranks, where he had considerable success, Gillon was up against Corey Wilson of Hawick (10m), Graeme Armstrong of Edinburgh (16.5m), Kevin Turner of Dalkeith (18.5m) and TLJT pair Greg Gillan (6.5m) and Cameron Caldwell of TLJT (5.5m) in an intriguing-looking final.

Gillon was the man, though, in giving a five-star show that saw him blaze in ahead of Wilson and Turner in 9.46 seconds.

A thrilled Gillon said of his win: “I won a few races when I was a youth in the Borders as well as the Highland circuit. Since I became a senior, I have only won a novice sprint until winning Lauder.

“I was pleased to get into the final of the Jed Games sprint the other week and this gave me a boost in confidence. I felt good in my heat and then just went for the final.”

Victory in the 800 metres handicap went the way of Hawick’s Derek Scott. Going from a mark of 90 metres, he clocked up a winning time of 1 minute 59.14 seconds.

New face Gavin Bryson, of Edinburgh AC (60m), gained the honours in the 1600 metres handicap in 4 minutes 28.72 seconds. In the 200 metres handicap, Edinburgh veteran Tom Bradley (54m) dug in deep to hold off challenges from the back to cross the finishing line in 22.08 seconds.

Apart from conjuring up some exciting races, the youth events on the Lauder card produced some performances of the highest calibre.

Aidan Bambrick of Jed AC (19m) soared to an excellent win in the final of the youths’ 90 metres ‘A’ race handicap, while Molly Noble of TLJT (28m) buzzed home in the final of the youths’ 90 metres ‘B’ race event.

Following her victory in the youths’ sprint at Langholm Games, Tamzin Scott of TLJT (45m) got into the winning frame again by triumphing in the youths’ 200 metres ‘B’ race handicap.

Sam Archibald of Leithenburn (29m) hit top form to take the youths’ ‘A’ race 200 metres handicap in fine style, while Hawick’s Thomas MacAskill (165m) gave a fine account of himself to win the youths’ 800 metres handicap.

Scotrail says it is continuing its efforts to improve on its service to customers after its own figures showed a very poor percentage of on-time trains coming into Tweedbank in June.

In the four-weeks to June 25, only 42.2% of trains made it on time, while the Scotrail target is 64.8%.

Scotrail uses two measurements to detect late trains. The “on-time” measurement defaults if a train is more than 59 seconds late, while the “public performance” measurement kicks in when a train is more than five minutes late, or is cancelled.

In this latter category – the industry standard measurement, the stats do make better reading, with 86.1% of trains into Tweedbank complying, with the target being 93%.

The train company says that for the four weeks in question, it experienced two points failures, plus one instance where a train had to be removed from service due to a fault with one of the doors.

On another occasion, a train was cancelled due to a driver being unavailable at short notice due to illness.

These four incidents generated the most delays in that period.

A ScotRail spokesman said: “We believe customers should have access to on-time stats as well as the industry standard figures, so we publish both on our website and at stations.

“We do our utmost to keep passengers moving and only cancel trains when we have exhausted every alternative.

“On this occasion, we did not meet our targets, but will continue our efforts to improve.”

Rachael Hamilton, South of Scotland MSP said: “Clearly, a journey as important as this needs to run on time and provide a consistent and reliable service.

“Unfortunately the only thing that customers know is that it is more likely they will arrive late than on time.

“Action needs to be taken to get this journey to meet the 93% target before customers stop using it.”

It has been a tough couple of months for the service – as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union fought plans to have drivers instead of guards operate the doors, and went on strike on named days, which severely condensed the timetable.

However, further action has been suspended as union leaders have restarted talks with Scotrail bosses.

Local MSP John Lamont will this week hold his 1,000th advice surgery.

On Friday 12th August, Mr Lamont will host his 999th surgery at Glen Douglas Community Hall near Jedburgh, before travelling to Foulden in Berwickshire for his 1,000th.

He said this week: “It’s really important for me to make myself available to everyone I represent and make it as easy as I can for people to ask for help. Particularly for elderly residents who might find it difficult to travel to Edinburgh or Hawick I like to make the effort to visit them in their own communities. I also think it’s really important to do this all year round and not just as one-offs.”

This week’s big DVD release takes us back in time to the eighties and across the Irish Sea to Dublin for the enjoyable and uplifting coming-of-age movie Sing Street.

The film follows the life and loves of the 14-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) as he faces up to a growing list of difficult domestic situations. Money is tight at home, he’s been forced to move to a tough new school, and his parents Penny and Robert (Marie Doyle Kennedy and Aidan Gillen) are on the verge of breaking up.

Into this unhappy mix comes the cool, glamorous Raphina (Lucy Boynton) who offers a glimmer of hope to a smitten young man. When Conor invites this mysterious young lady to perform in a music video for his band he’s delighted when she accepts, but also left with a problem. He doesn’t have a band.

The rest of the film details Conor’s efforts to pull together a band, and the chaos which often ensues as he uses music to both escape and change his situation. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable movie which manages to portray the reality of tough times but still comes off as seriously feel-good.

A large part of the film’s success lies with the music itself. The soundtrack and original songs are both great, providing a whistlestop tour of eighties trends through the prism of the impressionable young man.

As Conor is introduced to different sounds by his stoner brother Brendan (Jack Raynor) the noise of his band and the content of his wardrobe change to reflect each new style.

The contribution of 
the cast is also significant and they provide a fine ensemble performance which contains many standout moments.

The result is a celebration of the sound and culture of a specific time which manages to avoid tipping over into schmaltzy nostalgia.

It’d be hard for any Irish, music-heavy film to avoid comparisons to that classic of the genre, The Commitments.

Happily any comparison with Sing Street is favourable and the film is well worth watching.

A St Boswells campaigner has been recognised for a lifetime raising awareness of MS with a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Anne Elizabeth Campbell received the BEM from the Lord-Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew, for services to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in the region at a ceremony held in Scottish Borders Council’s headquarters on Friday.

Mrs Campbell has worked for the MS Society for over 60 years, first in Northern Ireland and then in the Borders, as a committee member, chair and now president.

Under her leadership, the Borders branch has become one of the strongest and most effective in Scotland and is held up as a model to follow.

She said: “Borderers are very good at rallying around for people, and I think that the thing they like about the MS Society is that all of the funds we raise are spent in the area.”

Mrs Campbell is the leading branch fundraiser, raising of thousands of pounds by making and selling tablet to an old family recipe.

The Lord Lieutenant said: “Mrs Campbell richly deserves the British Empire Medal, not only for her important work with the local Multiple Sclerosis Society in raising substantial sums of money but also for the way in which her commitment, hard work and dedication has been an inspiration to everyone with whom she has come into contact. She leads by example and has inspired those with and without MS to be the best they can.”

Fans of blocky graphics and shonky, repetitive sound rejoice.

You can now relive your gaming youth from the comfort of your web browser.

The Internet Archive, an online repository of millions of free books, movies, software, music and websites has just made thousands of classic Amiga games available to play for free online.

The Amiga in its various guises was the successor to the massively popular Commodore C64 and took home computing to a new level for millions of users.

While technically you could do your homework or business accounts on an Amiga, everyone knew it was really for games and over the course of its lifespan thousands of now-legendary titles were released.

Among those now available to play online are classics such as Double Dragon, Project X, Bubble Bobble, Alien Breed 3D and Batman: The Movie, along with less well-remembered titles such as Peter Beardsley’s International Football and Postman Pat.

It’s been a good couple of months for those who grew up in the 80s and 90s, with Nintendo and Sega announced relaunched versions of their iconic NES and Mega Drive console.

Now those who scorned the consoles in favour of “proper” computers can get in on the nostalgia trip too.

Selkirk hosted table-toppers Drummond Trinity on Saturday in an event where just four points would guarantee safety in ESCA Division 3.

However, as reflected in the attitude of this side all season long, they would not be content with just gaining those four points. Victory was the only aim.

Bowling first, the Selkirk outfit contained the opposition batsmen and limited them to a total score of just 89. This would be chased down in just 35 overs and give the watching Philiphaugh crowd something to cheer.

Captain Rory Banks was pleased when the toss resulted in his side taking to the field first, allowing opening bowlers Kenny Paterson and Jordan Reid to set the tone for the day.

Bowling a tight line with fielders working hard to limit the scoring, the Drummond Trinity innings was suffocating under a blanket of slow run rate. After 9 overs, the score sat at 15 for 2, with the wickets of Nasir and Kumar having fallen.

The former skyied one off the top edge, caught by Banks from Paterson’s bowling, and the latter also edged behind, caught at slip by Stuart Skeldon against the bowling of Jordan Reid.

Nagi was the next batsman to go when caught behind off of Greg Fenton’s rising delivery for four, before McCallum was sent back to the pavilion by Ian Gardiner’s well-held catch, giving Banks a wicket of his own.

Kumar then found himself also on his way when Jordan Reid sent his stumps flying with a pinpoint throw in the field.

Awan came and went for four, caught and bowled by Banks, before another top drawer piece of fielding, this time from Kenny Paterson, saw top scorer Khan run out for 20.

Jordan Reid returned to the attack to dismiss Davidson; another stunning catch came from Greg Fenton for this wicket. Blaine Gillie came on to pick up the wicket of R. Awan, before he caught Kwagi’s skied shot against Jordan Reid to leave the visitors all out for 89.

Greg Fenton and John Graham once again opened the batting for Selkirk, settling themselves down nicely, until Graham was bowled in the sixth over with the score just 8-1.

The returning Stuart Skeldon came in at three to join Fenton and played exactly the role he needed to – seeing off the good bowling and scoring the easy runs when they came. Skeldon would eventually be given out LBW for 12 to the bowling of Kumar. Skipper Rory Banks entered the fray in the 19th over with his side 39-2 and 51 required for victory from 122 balls.

Greg Fenton raced along to 26 before he was dismissed by a brilliant catch from M. Awan. Jordan Reid scored a quick six before an upward shot went straight down the throat of mid-off to send him on his way. Kenny Paterson joined Banks at the crease and the pair took Selkirk to 85 before yet another incredible, this time one-handed, catch dismissed him for 18. Ian Gardiner took his guard and appeared free from nerves as he finished the game off with a blistering cover drive for three runs, finishing three not out, with Paterson the same for a score of five. The tally of 91-5 after 35 overs meant a splendid victory by five wickets for a deserving Selkirk side.

A couple of great individual performances were vital to the Selkirk win. Greg Fenton produced once again with the bat and Rory Banks took important wickets also.

Jordan Reid, however, impressed the most. Bowling with energy and working hard all through the innings, to finish with figures of 6.2-3-3-6, he was named man of the match.

The curtain comes down on the Border games circuit with the staging of Morebattle Games on Saturday.

It’s the last throw of the dice for a long list of runners, from senior to youths, to be hitting the track.

And it’s been a season in which Border athletes have been well to the fore in chalking up wins in abundance at the various meetings.

Selkirk’s Craig Bruce, who has been knocking at the door in recording a win throughout the term, bids to put this into rights in the 110 metres handicap.

Representing Hawick Sprint Club, Bruce goes from a mark of nine metres and is more than liable to show up well.

Also in with a big chance of getting into the winning frame is Craig Gillan, of TLJT, from his handicap of eight metres.

Kelso’s Connor Gillan, the recent victor of the Lauder Games, is on 8.5 metres. John Fleming (12m), David McKay (17.5m) and Fraser Neil (9m) also represent Kelso.

Other Border sprinters set to be in action include Glyn Desport (8.5m), Cameron Grieve (10m), Euan Pettigrew (9.5m), Peter Denholm (10.5m), Angus Johnstone (15m) and Terry Marshall (8.5m).

Back markers in the 800 metres handicap are Rory Anderson of Hawick and Nathan Cox of Morpeth Harriers, who both compete from 15 metres.

Colin Welsh (20m), Kobe Stevens (20m), Andrew Thomson (35m), Matt Dougall (40m), Fraser Garrett (50m), and lady runners Ishbel Inglis (162.5m) and Lauren Corbett (167.5m) also run in the half mile.

bonchester

Speed shear

The Horse and Hound Inn welcomed a huge crowd last Saturday night for the annual speed-shear competition. Organised by Geordie Bayne,the event provided both entertainment and excitement. The first final saw two Englishmen and two Scots compete for the senior trophy – the Howahill Shield – and when the favourite, local lad Neil Sandilands, who was the fastest qualifier in 34.85sec., was red-flagged, Yorkshire’s Jonathon Easton posted a time of 34.20 to win the title. Runner-up was David Gray (Selkirk) and third was David Corbett (Rochester). Although Willie Dixon’s record time of 21.83 was never threatened, the open final once again proved to be as exciting as ever. When last year’s winner, Una Cameron, and Jedburgh man Alex Riding were both red-flagged, the crowd were on their feet for local boy Glen Wilson as he took on Wilson Wylie, a Scot now living in Norway, for the coveted John Falla Trophy. Glen made a valiant effort, but his time of 31.29 only secured him the runner-up spot when Wilson fleeced his Texel cross lamb in 30.26. The event raised in the region of £420 which went to Cancer Research UK.

An Innerleithen electrician has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to a customer after a bust-up over an unpaid bill.

Ex-police officer Gill Durrington, 54, claimed Nick Silk booted her West Highland terrier Duncan up in the air, causing the dog to run off and threw an ornamental stone at her before assaulting her.

Silk, 35, denied any of that happened and alleged Mrs Durrington threw the stone at his van, causing dents to the bonnet. He said he only seized her by the body in self-defence to prevent her from throwing another stone at the vehicle.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that Silk turned up at Mrs Durrington’s home in Buccleuch Street, Innerleithen, on April 24 to ask why a £1,500 bill for work to her house had not been paid.

Mrs Durrington said she would not be paying as she had to get other tradesmen in to finish the work, and he would need to speak to her estranged husband.

Silk said he would take the matter to a small claims court.

That is where the accounts given by the pair at trial vastly differed.

In a statement to police, Mrs Durrington said: “Nick kicked him (Duncan) so fiercely he was catapulted down the grass. It was horrible.”

And in her evidence at the trial, she said: “I just heard the sound of a thud, and the dog gave a loud yelp. I saw the dog flying across the front grass.”

She then said she picked up an ornamental stone to protect herself and Silk lunged at her, placing both hands round her neck and pushed her over.

Mrs Durrington said Silk then threw a stone which she was worried would hit her other West Highland terrier, Charley, who had been barking at him and it missed her by a couple of feet.

She added: “He was shouting and swearing. He said, ‘You are a f*****g hoor’. He then drove off in his van. I noted the registration and telephoned the police.”

Mrs Durrington told the court she called her neighbour, Susan McAusland, round who took photographs of red marks on her shoulders and neck.

Mrs McAusland’s husband retrieved Duncan from a stranger’s house near a caravan park about half a mile away.

Silk’s lawyer, Ed Hulme, described Mrs Durrington’s evidence as exaggerated and doubted her credibility and reliability in this case.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said there was no corroboration for kicking the dog, throwing the stone and shouting and swearing, and found Silk not guilty of that charge.

But he convicted the electrician of assaulting Mrs Durrington by seizing her by the body and placing his hands around her neck to her injury.

Silk was fined £300 and ordered to pay Mrs Durrington £100 compensation.

JAILED FOR DISTURBANCE

A Hawick man involved in a disturbance near his home has been jailed for five months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Craig Robson, 23, of Hillend Drive, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by banging on a door and shouting and swearing.

The offence happened in Silverbuthall Road, Hawick, on May 8.

CRASH DRIVER LOCKED UP

A 23-year-old man has been jailed for eight months at Selkirk Sheriff Court after crashing a car into a Berwickshire cottage, causing serious injury to his passenger.

Conor McCallum pleaded guilty to driving the BMW away from an address in Bonnyrigg without permission and then driving dangerously on the A1107 Coldingham to Eyemouth road on the evening of September 22 last year.

He collided with a Mini car and the BMW struck a house. McCallum’s passenger was taken to hospital with serious, leg and head injuries after fire fighters had to cut the roof off the BMW to free him.

McCallum, of Straiton, Edinburgh, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for other offences.

He also admitted having no insurance and failing to give a specimen of blood at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after being suspected of being under the influence.

The eight-month jail term will run concurrently with the three-year sentence.

OBSTRUCTED POLICE OFFICERS

A Kelso woman refused to leave a car which was being seized by police as her partner had allegedly been driving it with no insurance.

Unemployed Donna Lauder, 39, admitted obstructing two police officers, refusing to exit a vehicle and shouting and swearing outside her Orchard Park home on July 7.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told that Lauder had only recently bought the car for £250 and she was upset that it was being seized. After the police managed to convince Lauder out of the driving seat where she had refused to budge, despite numerous requests, the argument continued and she was arrested.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “The incident happened at around 11.45am when police saw the accused’s partner driving without a licence and insurance, and the vehicle was seized.

“The accused was also present and would not allow the vehicle to be taken away. Due to the hostility she was showing, extra help was required.

“She sat in the driver’s seat and refused to get out despite repeated requests. She swore at them and indicated they would have to drag her out. She was arrested for obstructing the police.”

Mr Fraser went on: “Once outside the vehicle she was shouting and swearing at them and it was not helped by her partner’s conduct throughout this.”

The court heard that the car remains seized as she does not have the money to get it back.

Her lawyer told the hearing that Lauder was originally told that if she organised a trailer she could take the vehicle away, but police changed their mind and informed her the vehicle would be seized.

He said: “She accepts tempers were running high.”

She was fined £150.

GALASHIELS LAGER LOUT

A Galashiels teenager caused £500 worth of damage to a police vehicle after being arrested during the early hours of last Thursday, Selkirk Sheriff Court was told.

Liam Scott, 18, of Kenilworth Avenue, was found in the Gala Park area of the town and at the time it was thought he was breaching his bail conditions.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said Scott became violent and damaged the perspex screen in the van and because of the sharp edges left, the vehicle was out of commission.

Scott also told police he had consumed 14 pints of Carlsberg lager and a number of ecstasy tablets.

He appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to the vandalism offence, but a not-guilty plea to breaching his bail was accepted by the crown as it was found that he was just outwith the area he was banned from.

The court heard he was on bail with a condition to stay out of Gala Park Court due to an allegation of a domestic nature.

Defence lawyer Fiona Hamilton said her client had reacted badly as he believed he had not breached his bail and was being unlawfully arrested.

She added he had been drinking, which contributed to the way behaved.

Sheriff Peter Paterson enquired how someone who received around £60 a week in benefits could spend around £50 on 14 pints of lager.

He ordered Scott to pay £200 compensation to Police Scotland for the damage to the vehicle and fined him £100.

OFFENSIVE POPE COMMENTS

A drunken Hawick man who repeatedly telephoned 999 when there was no emergency and shouted sectarian remarks at the operator has avoided a jail sentence at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Jamie Gent, 27, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at his home in Fairhurst Drive on December 19.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused had been out on the night of December 18 – known as Black Friday – and the emergency services were at breaking point answering calls.

Police officers spotted Gent at around 1am “being a bit of a nuisance” and he was asked to calm down.

From 1.25am, the emergency services received three calls from his mobile phone.

Mr Fraser said: “He was chanting and singing and making offensive comments about the Pope and the police, and repeatedly used the word ‘Fenian’.”

Gent was later traced and was apologetic, saying he was drunk and accepted that his behaviour was unacceptable.”

Mat Patrick, defending, said: “We went through the recordings and he was pretty disgusted at what he heard.

“He has been consistent in his position that these are not beliefs he holds and I would describe his behaviour as moronic.”

Mr Patrick said his previous conviction of a similar nature coincided with him attending Rangers football matches when he was heavily intoxicated and getting completely carried away, adding: “The real concern is the alcohol abuse.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson told the accused: “One of the benefits of the Scottish Borders is that this sort of sectarian nonsense is very uncommon.

“If it happens again, you will end up in jail.”

He imposed a 12-month community payback order with supervision as an alternative to imprisonment.

HARE GANG MEMBER

A third member of a hare-coursing gang will be sentenced at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on August 22.

Anthony Bassford, 31, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, admitted hunting a brown hare and a mountain hare with three dogs, along with two others, at Killpallethill, Mayshiel Estate, near Longformacus, Berwickshire, on April 6.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for Bassford to provide evidence that the two dogs he owns – a lurcher and a spaniel – were now microchipped.

He said he would consider banning him from owning any other animals on August 22.

Sheriff Paterson said that wildlife offences were a serious matter and warned him of the consequences if he offended again.

At previous hearings, Jason Ellis, 27, from Stoke-on Trent, was fined £300 and John Wilson, 23, of Bedlington, Northumberland, was given a six-month community pay backorder involving 70 hours’ unpaid work.

ATTACK VICTIM KNOCKED OUT

A Selkirk man who knocked a man unconcious in a local pub has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work at the town’s sheriff court.

Michael Young, 33, of Forest Road, pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching Allan Beattie on the head and knocking him to the ground.

The victim was rendered unconcious during the attack.

The incident happened in O’Malley’s Sports Bar on May 30 last year.

Young was ordered to carry out the unpaid work over the next 18 months as an alternative to a custodial sentence.

MOTORING ALLEGATIONS

A Hawick man has been charged with driving while disqualified and with no insurance in various streets in the town.

Darrell Potts, 24, of Chay Blyth Place, is alleged to have committed the offences on August 29 last year.

His first hearing was continued until August 15 at Selkirk Sheriff Court for more in ormation to be provided to the court.

Raider chased by victim

A Hawick woman who staged a break-in at a house in the town was pursued by the householder through gardens after he disturbed her.

Claire Condie, 27, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to a housebreaking charge and was given a 10- month restriction-of-liberty order keeping her in her home at the Loan between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said the property was left unoccupied by the householder at 7.10pm past last July with the lights out.

He said: “About half an hour later, neighbours were moving around in the area and noticed suspicious activity in the area, including the accused.

“At about 8.20pm, the householder came back and went round to the back of the house and saw the accused and another person.

“They were carrying large and bulky bags, and the householder immediately became aware the house was broken into, and it was raining torrentially at the time.

“The householder fell after slipping and other neighbours joined in after seeing him giving chase as he was distressed.

“Food items were dropped as she ran ran through the gardens. Eventually, they dropped the bags at his feet, and the accused said, ‘You have got your stuff back. Lleave me alone’.”

Mr Fraser said police later traced Condie.

The prosecutor added that the householder had since passed away from a terminal illness. He pointed out that the incident had not played any part in his death but added: “It made his life more unhappy than it already was.”

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said: “She feels awful about this. There was a full recovery of the items from the house.”

He explained that at the time, Condie was experiencing a chaotic drug-misuse lifestyle but was in a more stable position now.

BAIL BID IS REJECTED

A 31-year-old man has been locked up after being accused of 10 counts of contacting witnesses in a forthcoming court case on social media and sending abusive and threatening messages.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the alleged recipients of the messages included his former partner and an 11-year-old child.

Jamie West denies sending the messages on the Facebook and Plenty of Fish social media sites from his home in Beech Avenue, Galashiels.

He is also charged with breaching a bail order by repeatedly approaching his former partner between June 28 and August 3.

West also pleaded not guilty to throwing paint over a car parked in Tweed Terrace, Galashiels, on July 14 and breaking a double-glazed window in Croft Road, Kelso, last Wednesday.

A trial date was fixed for September 6, with an intermediate hearing on August 22.

Sheriff Peter Paterson refused a motion for bail and West was remanded in custody.

ORDERED TO STAY AT HOME

A financial agent who fraudulently obtained more than £3,900 never carried out the unpaid work she was sentenced to for committing the crime.

Lorna Waddell, 39, of Orchard Park, Kelso, claimed she was suffering from depression, anxiety, back pain and an ankle injury, and was unable to complete the work.

Instead, Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a restriction-of-liberty order, keeping her in her home between 9pm and 5am for the next eight months as an alternative to imprisonment
at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Waddell was working as an agent for Provident Financial Management Services Ltd when she obtained £3,936.82 by fraud between February 1, 2012, and February 20, 2013. She also admitted embezzling £697.75 from the company between November 1, 2012, and March 12, 2013.

Sheriff Paterson described the crime as a “substantial breach of trust”.

TRIAL DATE FOR MOTORIST

The trial of a Jedburgh motorist accused of endangering the safety of emergency services personnel by ignoring road-closure signs during heavy flooding will take place on September 8.

Jane Brewis, 50, is accused of committing the offence during a period of severe flooding in the Borders.

She maintained her not-guilty plea to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct on December 6 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

It is alleged she ignored road-closure signs as she headed towards Kelso and she had to be rescued from the River Teviot after her vehicle was washed into the water before becoming wedged between two trees.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER JAILED

A motorist from Hawick has been jailed for four months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after driving while banned and with no insurance.

Steven Gorman pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified on the A68 and with no insurance on July 16. He also admitted driving dangerously at excessive speeds in a car he had just bought for £300.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said police received a report expressing concern about the way a car was being driven from Hawick to Jedburgh.

Police pursued the car, but Gorman accelerated away and at one stage was driving at 60mph in a 30mph limit in Jedburgh. The pursuit ended when Gorman lost control and hit a farm building .

Mr Fraser said: “He ran away but was quickly caught by the police.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said Gorman, 22, of Wilson Drive, bought cars and after repairing them sold them. He added: “He knows it was a massive risk he took.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Gorman he had a “flagrant disregard” for court orders and said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

The jail term was backdated to July 17, when Gorman was remanded in custody.