Borderers land awards

Kieran Paxton, centre, and Robert Pickford, left, from Jedburgh, and Kelsos Reece McNaughton, right, picked up Lantra Scotlands annual Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards in Dunblane last Wednesday night.

Eighteen-year-old Reece won the horticulture category and was also overall runner-up for Land-based Learner of the Year, the second highest accolade of the evening.

Robert and Kieran, both 19, were both winners of the CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies) awards, while Kieran clinched runner-up slot in the agriculture category.

Reece has been doing an SVQ Level 3 in amenity horticulture through Borders College while working for Mertoun Estate Gardens.

Robert combined a modern apprenticeship in agriculture through Borders College with employment with TDC Thomson, while Kieran has been doing an SVQ Level 3 in mixed farming through Borders College while working for WE Sanderson.

Lantra Scotland is the sector skills council for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries.

z Pictured, from left, are Robert, Kieran and Reece.