Kelso horsewoman Henny Cooper has successfully completed her first ever 2* event at the prestigious Burgham Horse Trials.
Riding Valentino III (aka Boots), owned by Miss Sammi Wirdnam, the former British Young Rider dressage squad member returned a good score in the dressage test before completing the showjumping round, over the challenging Di Boddy designed course, with just four penalties the following day.
The substantial cross-country course was beautifully built by David Evans and required a bold rider and horse. It brought its fair share of problems but Henny and Boots completed the course clear. This result has qualified them to take part in a CCI 2* at Osberton in October.
Henny rode before she could walk, initially being an active member of the pony club, moving to competing in dressage and Working Hunter. Now her passion is eventing, and she operates a yard in the Borders.
Sporting digest
Bowling
Abbotsford
The A team had two matches last week, starting with a home match against Earlston. Each of the five Abbotsford rinks finished ahead for a convincing 102-45.5 victory. Highest up rink were Taylor Johnston, John Purves, Tommy Mann Jnr and Gordon Bowers.
Two nights later the team travelled to play Kelso. This was a closer affair, but in the closing ends Abbotsford gain-ed enough shots for a 76-88 victory.
Meanwhile back at Abbotsford the B team were playing their last league game of the season against Waverley B and finish-ed with three rinks ahead for a comfortable 74-49.5 victory. Highest up rink were Charlie Ferguson, Bill Philip, Rob Simpson and George Kerr.
The seniors had an away match against Selkirk/Ettrick Forest. There was little to separate the two teams until the last two ends when the home team obtained the shots needed for a 61-51 victory.
Later on Tuesday evening the ladies were are home to Selkirk and in a close match each team finished with one winning rink, but Abbotsford clinched a 3-2 victory thanks to a 28-26 shots advantage.
The area qualifiers of the Border Championships were played on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Rob Simpson, Stuart Aitchison, Tommy Mann Snr and Tom Boyd lost out to St Ronans in the senior fours, while Robbie Johnston was defeated by Liam Nicholson from Waverley in the youth singles.
On Saturday, Abbotsford’s representatives competed in the remaining play-off matches but it was only the triple of Jim Thomson, Tommy Mann Jnr and Colin Hancock that succeeded in qualifying for the finals with a victory over Waverley. In the singles, Keith Campbell lost to Gary Thorburn from Waverley while in the youths Taylor Johnston lost to Liam Nicholson. In the pairs, Gordon Bowers and Tommy Newall were defeated by St Ronans. In the fours, John Hardie, Kevin Stanners, John Manczak and Andrew Hancock lost to Waverley while Alan Howlieson, John Purves, Graham Prentice and Kenny Johnstone lost to Melrose after an extra end.
Hawick
Kicking off a busy week for the gents, the A team played their rearranged game with Gala Waverley. The rink scores made for some interesting reading with three ending in draws, but the Gala men came away with a good win by 84 shots to 61.
The seniors played host to Peebles and enjoyed a very good game before emerging as winners by 61 shots to 41. Top rink for the Hawick side was the Tony Anderson skipped rink, ably supported by William Wells and Charlie Logan.
Playing their second game of the week, the A team travelled to Earlston. In a game that was expected to be close, the home side emerged as winners by 96 shots to 66. The only rink that was up for the Hawick side was the Scott Clarkson skipped rink, ably supported by J. Darling, N. Anderson and C. Spalding.
Cycling
Kelso Wheelers
It only took four months of the racing season for Kelso Wheelers to contest a time trial in glorious sunshine for the first time.
The 20 Mile Club Championship was the occasion, and to mark the appearance of the sun Kenny Darling scorched round the St Boswells course in a new course record 44.44. Dave Burgher, Wayne McIntosh and William Thomson all recorded pbs, as did ladies champion Audrey Power.
The youths’ championship is to be run a later date as most participants were at Sports School.
Times: K. Darling (Men’s Champion) 44.44 pb; D. Burgher 45.43 pb; C. Stevenson 46.48; J. Smith 47.48; W. McIntosh 48.54 pb; R. Ure 49.22; M. Burgher 49.38; D. Richardson 49.50; D. Robertson 50.44; R. Connell 53.02; G. Ford 54.16; A. Power (Ladies Champion) 56.16; A. Ker 60.49; D. Whitecross 61.19; R. Smith 61.52; S. Onley 62.30; J. Sinton 63.29; W. Thomson 65.59.
Golf
Galashiels
John Scott (Plumbing & Heating) Seniors August Stableford: Winner: R. Gill 19 points.
Shish Tandoori Shield: 1, P. Seggie Snr & D Wallace 72 points BIH; 2, N. Moffat & K. Moffat 72.
The next competition is the Ramsay Millar Open. Late entries can be made by calling 07807 975913.
Earlston
Twenty-eight members of Earlston Golf Club travelled to Minto on Sunday to play the Campbell Claret Stableford.
In a fine day for golf Michael Fairbairn emerged a convincing winner with 41 points. Runner-up was Grant Cannon on 37 points with Liz Bain third on 33 points.
Nearest the pin in one was Gordon Marshall, nearest pin in two went to Craig Douglas, wtih nearest pin in three and longest drive going to Mark Reilly. Thanks to Mark Reilly for his generous sponsorship.
The next event will be The Society Quaich at Monksford on Saturday, August 22, then the Brotherston Trophy on Sunday, September 6 at Hawick.
Melrose
Burts Hotel Challenge Trophy: 1, G. Hogg 74 (6) 68; 2, S. Ervine 82 (12) 70. Scratch: 1, G. Hannah 72; 2, I. Ramsey 75. Nearest the Pin (12th): K.Haldane. Longest Drive (11th): C. Creamer.
Lady Captain’s Prize: Winner: A. Fleming(14) 37pts.
Royal Bank Trophy (Ladies): Winner: C. Dalgleish (19) net 70.
SLGA Medal: Winner: A. Fleming (14) net 73. Scratch: L. Wallace (14) 95.
Minto
Iain Oliver, the Minto competition secretary, emerged the overall winner from a very large field in the Gents Senior Open with an excellent net score of 65 (gross 70). Iain also took the Group 1 prize.
Minto players were to the fore in the other sections as well. John McFarlane won the Group 2 competition on 86 (20) 66 whilst Jim Geatons led Group 3 91 (22) 69. Roddy Finlay of The Roxburghe won the scratch competition on 74.
Janice Elliot added the August Medal to the Lady Captain’s Trophy she won recently, beating Carolyn Oliver on countback. Both players had net 67.
Fifty-six members from all sections of the club gathered on Friday evening to pay their respects to past Junior Captain, Zach Fox, with the first playing of the trophy in his memory. The emphasis was for the evening to be fun and inclusive, two characteristics associated with Zach.
Teams of four, each made up of adults and juniors, with buggies for the youngest and the oldest, played one ball in turn, allowing the competition to be completed in good time. Three teams managed to break 100.
The winners of the Ryder Cup design trophy were Ross Nichol, Sam Allott, Mary Towers and current junior captain, Angus Brown, with junior convenor Angus Towers. Luke Smith, Richard Allott, Oscar Smith and Lily Towers in second. Oscar was playing in his first golf competition at the grand old age of six.
Angus Towers paid tribute to Zach, recalling Zach’s pride at being the club junior champion and junior captain.
Gents August Medal (Fox and Hounds Competition 8 and David Marchbanks Trophy): 1, S. Paisley 79 (12) 67 (after countback); 2, R. Pringle 77 (10) 67; 3, M. Scott 79 (11) 68.
Competition at West Linton Golf Club on Saturday for the Minto Ladies Outing Trophy was very close but Janice Elliot won on 32 Stableford points, just one ahead of Gill Cartwright and Irene Middlemiss.
The winning team of Irene Middlemiss, Sena Paterson and Karen Telfer, with 72 points, was two points ahead of Gill Cartwright, Janice Elliot and Flora Kerr. Janice made it a hat-trick of prizes being nearest the pin in two (17th) with Mary Towers nearest the pin (9th). The ladies would like to thank West Linton for their hospitality.
St Boswells
Junior August Medal: 1, A. Smith 104 (36) 68; 2, G. Dodds 100 (31) 69; 3, S. Murdoch 81 (12) 69.
Ladies 9-hole Stableford: 1, J. Reed (16) 14 points; 2, J. Aiston (13) 11; 3, J. Crombie (13) 8.
Ladies Club Trophy (4): 1, F. Melrose 89 (18) 71 lowest gross; 2, V. Shirra-Giibb 93 (22) 71; 3, M. Allen 93 (20) 73.
Seniors August Medal: 1, J. M. Ross 75 (10) 65 lowest gross; 2, J. Forsyth 76 (11) 65; 3, J. Cumming 83 (15) 68.
Ladies Captain’s 9-hole Stable-ford: 1, N. Burnyeat (14) 11 points; 2, J. Heard (14) 9; 3, J. Crombie (13) 8.
Ladies Captain’s Stableford: 1, J. Oliver (21) 37 points; 2, K. Hardie (27) 36; 3, W. Davidson (35) 32.
Homing
Galashiels
Members sent 118 pigeons to Ridsdale, a distance of 43 miles. Result: 1, W. Hopewell 844.469; 2, J. Wyper 840.269; 3, 4, 5, Douglas & Ward 785.894; 6, G. Irvine 766.363; 7, K. G. Lawrie 745.518; 8, 10, J. Ramage 740.118; 9, A. Smail 731.478.
Members sent 80 pigeons to Tow Law, a distance of 71 miles. Result: 1, 3, K. G. Lawrie 940.719; 2, 4, 6, Douglas & Ward 935.583; 5, 7, A. R. Lindores 818.393; 8, 9, J. Ramage 787.114; 10, W. Hopewell 706.723.
Earlston & District
Two members sent 33 birds to Tow Law, liberated at 0840 into a south-west wind. Result: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, A. Bain 1050.34; 5, S. Martin 765.10.
Langholm
A total of 89 birds were liberated by the Langholm Homing Club from Sedbergh last Saturday. Result: 1, 2, 3, D. Nordon 1377.296; 4, 5, A. Henderson 1344.066.