January

KELSO athlete Wayne McIntosh went the extra mile to achieve his Musselburgh dream.
The 31-year-old Tweedsider generated his own heat with a red-hot show to burn up the frozen racetrack, when he won the 1,600 metres handicap race in a time of four minutes and 28 seconds, at the historic and prestigious New Year athletics meeting.
There was no New Year cheer for Borders athletes two days later, however, as Glenrothes runner Cumbie Bowers blew everyone away in the New Year Sprint final.
In what was one of the most convincing wins at the event in a long time – and the fastest finish for five years – Bowers blitzed to victory in 11.24 seconds from his 7.5 metres mark, beating Dunfermline's Gemma Nichol into second place. Borderers did take the next two places – Kelso's Matthew Fleming taking third from his mark of 12.5 metres and Tommy Ashby fourth from eight metres.







BORDERS oarsman Leven Brown received a hero's welcome when after 123 days at sea, he completed his unsupported row from Cadiz, Spain, to Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the month.
The local stockbroker began his epic journey on August 14, 2005, but his water-making kit packed up and after rowing only five days, was forced to land at nearby Rota.
He left the marina on August 26, but again due to technical problems with the equipment and the boat, Brown made a stop-over at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on October 9, after 44 days at sea.
Not one to give up easily, he left Tenerife on November 14 and never looked back.
Brown raised a substantial amount of money for two charities, both with a Scottish focus – The Sportsman's Charity and The One City Trust.

KICKING off what was to be a dream double for Gala, the Academy lifted the Bell Lawrie Under-15 Scottish Schools Cup.
The pupils, coached by Peter Beaton, Ian Miller and Hamish Hunter, dispensed with Robert Gordon's College 22-17 on the international pitch at Murrayfield.

BORDERS domination in the Scottish Youth League Cup continued under the floodlights at Murrayfield when Gala Wanderers became the fourth local side in as many years to lift the coveted title.
The young Maroons, coached by former Gala players Davy Boland and Mowbray Tod, out-scored Dunfermline by five tries to two in a pulsating final at Murrayfield.

February

FORMER Gala stand-off Chris Paterson became the kicking king as he booted Scotland into an 18-12 lead over England, before the hosts staved off some intense late pressure to reclaim the Calcutta Cup.
Starting his first Six Nations match, Hawick lock Scott MacLeod worked tirelessly, winning his share of line-out ball and stealing one, while Kelso hooker Ross Ford showed he had a promising future when brought on for the last 20 minutes.
Scotland regained the Calcutta Cup for the first time in six years in a dramatic match which saw no tries but more than lived up to its expectations as a great spectacle.
Five Paterson penalties and a Dan Parks drop-goal, plus some huge hits in the well-drilled defensive effort, brought the win that sent Murrayfield into raptures when captain Jason White lifted the oldest trophy in international rugby.

JEDBURGH Grammar won the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Bowl final with a rousing performance against Madras College, two days after travelling to the national stadium to watch Scotland's pulsating Calcutta Cup victory.
The Jed youngsters played a mixed game, applying both width and directness when the occasion demanded.
Their powerfully-built inside centre, Ewan Scott, was a worthy recipient of the man-of-the-match award, presented by Bell Lawrie director Marc Wilkinson.
Scott claimed a hat-trick of tries and goaled two conversions to finish with 19 points. Jedburgh's other touchdowns came from Lewis Young, Scott Raeburn and Sean Paxton.

March

BORDERS rugby was dealt a double blow with the news that two of its brightest stars had been lured to Wales.
Scott MacLeod announced that he would leave the Border Reivers at the end of the season to join Llanelli Scarlets, after agreeing a two-year deal. And team-mate Nikki Walker was tempted by a similar offer from Neath Swansea Ospreys.
Both players came through the ranks at Hawick RFC and were instrumental in the club's cup and league double victory in 2002, before going on to join The Borders pro-side.

SELKIRK bowling sensation Joyce Lindores bowed out of the 2006 Commonwealth Games with a silver medal.
The Ettrick Forest heroine and partner Kay Moran, from Glasgow, were beaten 11-7, 14-3 by Australia in a pulsating pairs final at the State Lawn Bowls Centre, Melbourne.
Lindores, 62, produced a terrific personal performance, but the home duo of Lynsey Armitage and Karen Murphy undoubtedly deserved their victory.
A GROUP of football supporters from Denholm opted to buck the trend and spur on Scottish Cup minnows Gretna.
The Denholm Anvil Crew made the trip to Dundee in March for the quarter-final and later in the year were rewarded with a trip to Hampden, where their team lost to city giants Hearts in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Those unable to travel gathered in the village's Fox and Hounds pub to watch on TV. Landlord Stewart Mabon told TheSouthern: "It seemed daft supporting teams 70 miles away when we had a quality team closer."

A DOUBLE success for Gala Red Triangle was the highlight of National Midi Finals Day on the international pitch at Murrayfield.
In the Under-15 final, Gala Red Triangle saw off Stirling County 15-0. Two first-half tries by stand-off Gregor Hunter and right wing Iain Dawtry set the tone for the Borderers, who were slicker on the off-load than Stirling.
The day was rounded off by the Under-16 final, where Red Triangle had to dig deep to overcome a spirited Musselburgh fightback in a
20-12 victory.
Bruce Dick and William Brownlee scored the tries with Graeme Speirs adding two conversions and two penalties.

April

RUGBY in Hawick received a welcome boost when Linden secured their first league title for 20 years.
The Volunteer Park side finally made it to Inverleith's Arboratum Road ground to play their last game of the season following two postponements due to a waterlogged pitch.
An upset was never on the cards as Linden cruised to victory – and the title – in emphatic style and in almost perfect conditions. Final score: Inverleith 0 Hawick Linden 47.

KELSO Ladies hockey team ended their season with a flourish.
Not only were they crowned East Division Two champions on an away trip to Grange, but the ladies kept up their good form to beat Heriot's at home in the last game of the season.
The Tweedsiders travelled to Grange, knowing that a victory would win them the title, and excellent goals from Dawn Carruthers (2), Natasha McLaren (player of the match) and Joanne Laing, helped them do just that. Determination to finish the season on a high led to a 2-0 victory against Heriot's the following week, with Kirsty Hope breaking the deadlock just before half-time and scoring again in the second period to give her team all three points.








IF EVER there was an advert for Border club rugby, then the script would surely be taken from April's Southern Reporter Border League final.
It had everything. The weather, the crowd, the setting, but most of all, it had heart.
Playing for no financial reward whatsoever, 30 players lined up at Riverside Park and played their guts out for just over 80 minutes. The prize? The oldest league cup in rugby history – and pride.
Sadly, only one team could lift the trophy, but as far as pride was concerned, both Melrose and Jed-Forest were able to walk away from this game with their heads held high.
In the end, the cup returned to the Greenyards after a two-year vacation, and following a disappointing season, coach Craig Chalmers was only to happy to take it.
He told us: "We are delighted to win. It's the oldest league in the world and there is a lot of history behind it, so it's a great way to end the season. A lot of these boys are new to Melrose this season and haven't won anything yet, so tonight has been a taste of what it is like and has put a smile on a few faces."
A hat-trick of penalties from Greig Laidlaw, plus a drop-goal from cousin Clark against two Scott Wight penalties, swung the game in Jed's favour at the break.
But 'Rose captain Wayne Mitchell found space to go over after the re-start. Wight added the conversion and two further penalties, before the hosts got back into it with two more Greig Laidlaw penalties.
However, against the run of play, Jamie Murray ran in for the match-clinching try, converted by Wight, to leave the final score at Jed-Forest 18 Melrose 26.







AN EMOTIONAL Michael Hope praised his players for a fantastic defensive show at Innerleithen where the Hawick Waverley coach watched them secure their first South Cup final victory.
He told TheSouthern: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's been a long time coming, but well worth the wait.
Two goals from man-of-the-match Craig Wilson was enough to bring the trophy home to Hawick. However, the defender was a tad cheeky in claiming his first. The ball was already half-way over the line from skipper Chris Monaghan's shot, when Wilson decided to help it on its way.

THERE were celebrations aplenty at The Haugh at the end of the month as Jed-Forest won the 76th Earlston Sevens in cavalier fashion, to claim the Kings of the Sevens title for the first time in three years.
The Riverside outfit emerged as worthy winners after the most exciting final of the spring circuit saw Jed overcome Melrose in a well-contested tie.
Melrose maintained their consistent run with two Mark Robertson tries, either side of one from Alec Clark, who converted twice.
But every time the Greenyards outfit scored, Jed replied likewise, with only missed conversions making the difference. Gary Hill was the first over for Jed, before Jamie McCraw grabbed two. Laidlaw's single conversion left the score at half-time 19-17 to Melrose.
Leading by example, Ross Goodfellow bagged two early tries, with Laidlaw converting both, to seal the victory for his side.
Robertson ran in a late try for Melrose, but the day belonged to Jed. At the end, it was 31-24 and few could quibble as Goodfellow went up to collect the trophy.

May

WITH its many twists and turns and ups and downs, the 2005/06 East of Scotland Football League proved a roller-coaster ride.
It may have ended at Yarrow Park, and not Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but the trip that Selkirk began in August, and the thrills and spills it has brought about on route, ended with a buzz that beat any fairground ride.
The Souters reached the heights they had been searching for throughout the season – by gaining promotion into the premier league.
The game itself was by no means a classic. But then, no-one expected it to be. Selkirk, however, did the job they set out to do, and gained the points they needed to move upstairs.
There were no frills, or fancy stuff to their play, but Selkirk worked hard, played the right sort of game, got their reward, and capped their glory day with two glorious goals from Craig Livingston and Jason Cockburn.






THE Borders' first lady of golf became No.1 in Scotland at a cold and windy Dunbar course.
Playing in her first Scottish Womens' Amateur Golf Championship final, Selkirk's Martine Pow pulled off a surprise victory over favourite Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) to win by 2&1.
In doing so, the 41-year-old businesswoman became the first Borderer to lift the title and the oldest winner since 50-year-old Belle Robertson in 1986.
Pow told TheSouthern that lifting the trophy was a dream come true and one she had almost given up hope of achieving.
She said: "It's taken me a long time to get there but I finally made it.
"It has been a long, hard slog and last week was gruelling. The wind was tough and the conditions were tricky, but it was the same for everyone. I drove the ball well all week and also putted well."
In the final, weather conditions were so severe that apart from an eagle three by Laing at the first, there were no birdies by either player over the 17 holes.
Both were an approximate four over par at the finish – not bad considering the strong wind which had changed direction from earlier in the week.
Pow won the fourth and fifth with pars to square the game before taking the seventh with a par to edge into the lead and Laing missed from three feet at the eighth – only halving a hole she should have won.
Both players were out in two-over 39, before Laing's par at the 10th put her back on level terms. It was her first success since the two opening holes and was to prove the last one she would win in the final. She bogeyed the next three holes, two of which, the 11th and 13th, Pow won with pars to go two up with five to play. Each of them was halved in par, leaving marvellous Martine the winner.

A TEAM of 12-year-olds took Borders football where it has never been before.
Selkirk High School fought off big guns from football communities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Highlands to lift the Coca Cola 7s trophy at Hampden Park on Saturday, winning a nail-biting penalty shoot-out against Grange Academy by four goals to three.
Throughout the day, the Borders boys gained the respect and support of all in attendance and chants of "Selkirk" could be heard ringing out from the national stand as the final took place.
Team coach Irene Logan told TheSouthern the whole day was a magical experience for all involved. She said: "For a tiny wee school in an area that is not renowned for its football, this is a massive achievement."

June

NOT so long ago, Steven Craig of Galashiels was scoring tries with the Scottish sevens rugby squad in such far-off places as Dubai.
But on his return home, he switched his sport to athletics.
And at Selkirk Games in June, the 19-year-old winger stole the show, winning the main event on the Philiphaugh card – the 110m – and its £1,000 first prize.
The British 110m champion showed he had something special to offer, by recording the fastest time of the heats, when romping home in 11.67 seconds.
A final showdown with Selkirk hope Geoff Keen (8m), New Year sprint winner Patrick Swan (4.25m), Graeme Armstrong of Edinburgh (15m), John Paxton of Hawick (15m), and David Gilmour of East Kilbride (8m), was then on the cards.
It looked like being a close affair, but it didn't quite turn out to be as close as expected. Craig saw to this by finding something extra. Hands raised metres from the tape, he surged to a win in 11.54 seconds. The second and third placings went to Swan and Keen.

BORDERS athletes also put on a fine performance at the second Scottish Hammer Grand Prix at Tweedbank.
Competitors from Elgin, Nairn and Forres travelled to the Borders for the event, which attracted 41 athletes, including the country's top throwers.
And after six-and-a-half hours of constant throwing, the infield area of the track was reminiscent of a First World War battlefield.
A total of six Grand Prix records were broken and an impressive 15 personal bests recorded at the event – a result which former Great Britain coach and Reivers Hammer boss Alan Bertram MBE, was over the moon about.
He told TheSouthern: "The standard of throwing has been excellent considering the field includes so many different levels. We have attracted a good entry and a great support here to Tweedbank and the Borders and hope to host many such events in the future."

Kelso Cricket Club claimed victory at Shedden Park to lift the Border Knock-out Cup.
In a game that looked as though it could have gone to the wire, Selkirk failed to contain Kelso's batsmen and couldn't capitalise on some disappointing bowling from the Tweedsiders.
Following a slow, but steady start from the Souters, the first innings was marked by scrappy fielding from Kelso, with 18 extras from bowlers and a further four from the field.
Selkirk's batsmen didn't stand out, but Alan Rathie's 23 and Michael Fenton's 15 helped them on their way to a total of 108 for eight after 20 overs.
In a repeat of the match between the two sides earlier this month, Kelso immediately posed a real threat at the crease. With a strong start from openers Ryan Flanigan (26) and Jessie Morter (45), it looked as though the innings might be wrapped up in 12 or 13 overs.
But Selkirk found some inspiration from Craig Moir, who came in late to bowl two for 15, impressively putting an end to Morter's run and dismissing Jason Gibson for a golden duck in the same over. Despite their best efforts, though, Selkirk were outclassed and Kelso finished on 109 for five in 18 overs.

JEDBURGH triathlete Vanessa Hogg overcame unbelievable weather conditions to claim a bronze medal at the European Championships in France.
Representing Great Britain, the 33-year-old Borderer finished in two hours and 47 minutes to steal third place in the 30-34 age category – and celebrated by spending the evening draped in union flags and sipping champagne.
The event, at Autun in Burgundy, began in scorching 30C heat, but conditions rapidly deteriorated and competitors faced both torrential rain and thunderstorms before crossing the finish line.
French officials thanked the British team for bringing the weather with them.