ETTRICKBRIDGE TO
BAMBURGH CHARITY CYCLE RIDE RAISES £5,000
Cheered on by well-wishers, the four cyclists head off from Ettrickbridge. From left – Andrew McKerracher, Shirley
Houston, Kenny Houston and Ann McKerracher .
Journey’s end – Shirley, Kenny, Ann and Andrew celebrate their completion of Saturday’s 63-mile cycle in the lee
of Bamburgh Castle.
Selkirk rugby player Jack Houston and his girlfriend Kerry Sandilands accompanied the cyclists from Bowden to Kelso.
(Photos – JOHN SMAIL)
THE magnificent edifice of Bamburgh Castle provided
a fitting backdrop to the completion of a 63-mile charity cycle undertaken at the weekend by two Borders couples,
writes JOHN SMAIL.
Selkirk Rugby Club committee member Kenny ‘Skip’ Houston and his wife Shirley, along with friends Andrew and Ann
McKerracher of Ettrickbridge, had originally planned to take part in April’s Etape Loch Ness cycling event, but
its cancellation meant a complete rethink.
Having already raised over £3,000 in sponsorship for the cancelled cycle, on Saturday the friends completed
a similarly distanced route from the McKerrachers’ home in Ettrickbridge to the Northumberland village of Bamburgh
(entitled ‘Etape Brigend to Bamburgh’).
As well as finishing the 63-mile route in record time (riding time 4 hours, 15 minutes), what made the cyclists’
achievement even more remarkable was the fact their sponsorship total has now rocketed to £5,000.
The money will go to the Katie McKerracher Trust, a charity established in 2009 in memory of the McKerrachers’
11-year-old daughter Katie, who died on January 27 that year from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a brain
tumour on her brain stem.
Since its formation in 2009, the trust has assisted DIPG patients and their families in numerous ways - sending
out copies of the trust’s DIPG information booklet, assisting with practical day-to-day issues, and working with
health professionals to seek to improve the treatment of DIPG patients.
Skip, a retired police officer, chose the Bamburgh route as his mother Rhona hailed from the nearby village of
Belford. At the end of the ride he said he had been “absolutely humbled” by the number of people who had taken
the time to support and sponsor the quartet’s efforts.
“The sponsorship total has now increased to almost £5,000, while the original aim had been to raise less
than half of that. It’s a brilliant total to go to the Katie McKerracher Trust, which is a cause very dear to our
hearts.”
Kenny’s wife Shirley, a support officer at Hawick Police Station, said the cycle ride had been hard work but great
fun. “The last eight miles was very hilly, but up until that point I couldn’t believe how quickly we’d been going.
The favourable weather conditions helped, so all-in-all things couldn’t have gone any better.”
Friends, family and well-wishers gathered at Bamburgh to cheer the four cyclists across the finishing line, and
the champagne flowed as everyone toasted the riders’ superb efforts.
“Everything went pretty much according to plan,” said Andrew McKerracher, whose parents Donald and Moira travelled
down from their home in Perth to set up feed stations for the cyclists at Kelso and Ford.
“There was plenty of good banter among the four of us - especially during the hilly climbs!” added Andrew, who
is vice-president procurement & supply chain with Galashiels-based pharmaceutical firm Kyowa Kirin International
plc.
“We are very grateful to everyone who supported us on the day, and also to the many kind individuals who’ve made
such generous donations. The money raised will be invaluable in helping to further the trust’s work.”
Skip and Shirley’s son Jack, who plays rugby for Selkirk, along with his girlfriend Kerry Sandilands supported
the fund-raisers by getting on their own bikes to accompany the four cyclists from Bowden to Kelso.
Skip’s fund-raising exploits are well-known throughout the Borders and beyond. Diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2013,
and having undergone five major surgeries over the past five years, in 2015 he organised a dinner & auction
in support of the BGH’s Borders Cancer Centre and the Katie McKerracher Trust, with each organisation receiving
a sum in excess of £10,000. Last April he staged a dinner-dance & auction in Selkirk’s Haining House,
raising a further £11,000 for the Borders Cancer Centre.
“I’m delighted the four of us are raising funds for the Katie McKerracher Trust. Shirley and I were extremely fond
of Katie, and the trust has done an amazing job of supporting DIPG patients and their families over the past 11
years.”
Anyone still wishing to make a donation can do so by following this link –
FIRST RUGBY TRAINING
RUN-OUT AT PHILIPHAUGH ENJOYED BY SELKIRK YOUNGSTERS
Selkirk’s young players enjoy Thursday’s touch rugby training session at Philiphaugh.
Selkirk Youth Club player Cameron Easson bursts upfield.
Scrum-half Finn Mallin gets ready to offload as defenders close in.
Selkirk Youth Club and age-grade coaches keep socially-distanced at Thursday’s training session. From left – Craig
MacDougall, Alan Wheelans, Scott Easson, Mark Easson and Ewen Robbie.
(Photos: JOHN SMAIL)
AFTER a gap of 19 weeks,
Philiphaugh hosted its first rugby action last Thursday when Selkirk Youth Club players, and those in years S3
& S4, were put through their paces at a carefully structured training session.
Complying with Scottish Rugby’s ‘return to rugby’ stage 3 guidelines, the 27 youngsters took part in a series of
touch rugby games on the main pitch, supervised by Selkirk Rugby Club’s Covid-19 Safety Co-ordinator, Ewen Robbie,
and Youth Club’s four coaches – Scott Easson, Alan Wheelans, Mark Easson and Craig MacDougall (who also coaches
Selkirk’s u-16 team alongside Robbie).
Players were required to arrive at the ground on Thursday at specified times, register their contact details and
use the hand sanitisers provided before and after the session. On-field rugby activities were limited to groups
containing a maximum of 10 players.
“A fair bit of work has gone into organising tonight’s training,” said Craig MacDougall. “We had a Zoom meeting
last week, and Alan’s probably been the person who’s done the most by getting the risk assessments in place and
organising the sanitising stations.
“Because of certain issues we can’t use the Youth Club’s own pitch at the moment, so we’re grateful being allowed
to come along to Philiphaugh instead.”
Although games of touch rugby are allowed for school-age and under-18 players, permission for full body contact
is still some way from being given by the rugby authorities.
“At this stage full contact isn’t really an issue,” added Mark Easson. “This is the players’ first get-together
in over four months, so the main aim of tonight’s session is to get them back enjoying themselves.
“Just handling a rugby ball again is a step in the right direction, and right now the main thing is for everybody
to have a bit of fun. It’s been good to catch up with all the boys, and to see them meeting up again with all their
team-mates.”
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 23 matches): 9 – Henry
Bithray; 6 – Ewan MacDougall, Scott McClymont, Josh Welsh, Ryan Cottrell; 5 – Luke Pettie, James Bett; 4 – Callum
McNeill; 3 - Frazer Anderson, Peter Forrest, Aaron McColm, Jacob Henry; 2 – Bruce Riddell, Sean Rankin, Luca Berte,
Donald Nichol, Andrew McColm, Callum Anderson; 1 – Josh Mackay, Andrew Renwick, Luca Merolle, Jack Houston, Robert
Cook, Michael Waldron, Ross Purves, Nathaniel Armstrong. Tries scored: 80. Tries conceded: 70.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 23 matches): 99 – Aaron McColm (3 tries, 10 penalties, 27 conversions); 55 - Henry
Bithray (9 tries, 5 conversions). Total points scored: 540. Total points conceded: 495.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 23 matches): 23 – Luca Berte; 22 – Peter Forrest; 21 – Luke Pettie, Ewan MacDougall, Luca
Merolle, Josh Welsh, Scott McClymont, Callum Anderson, Ryan Cottrell, Bruce Riddell; 20 – James Bett; 19 – Aaron
McColm; 18 – Frazer Anderson, Henry Bithray, Andy Mackay; 17 – Ross Nixon, Sean Rankin; 12 – Josh Mackay, Donald
Nichol; 9 – Callum McNeill.
‘A’ XV
(up to & including March 7th, 2020)
P 20 W 13 L 6 D 1
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 20 matches): 9 – David
Cassidy; 8 – Nathaniel Armstrong; 5 – Jy Griffin, Kieran Monks; 4 – Lewis Martin, Robert Cook; 3 – Michael Waldron,
Ross Purves, Matthew Francis, Andrew Renwick; 2 – Robbie Reilly, Clark Young, Mark Rutter, Liam Blair, Gary Robertson,
Donald Nichol; 1 – Rory Hamilton, Matthew Brass, Andrew McColm, Matthew Mackay, Callum McNeill, Ryan Cottrell,
Josh Bain, Liam Cassidy, Grant Forrest, Peter Forrest, Bruce Riddell, Henry Bithray. Total tries scored: 72. Total
conceded: 58.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 20 matches): 126 – Scott Clark (14 penalties, 42 conversions); 37 – David Cassidy
(6 tries, 1 penalty, 2 conversions); 35 – Nathaniel Armstrong (7 tries); Total points scored: 460. Total points
conceded: 365.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 20 matches): 18 – Liam Cassidy, Nathaniel Armstrong; 17 – Matthew Mackay, Mark Rutter,
Matthew Francis; 16 – Kieran Thomson, David Cassidy; 15 – Scott Clark; 14 – Harris Macdonell; 13 – Lewis Martin;
11 – Jy Griffin, Robbie Reilly, Jamie Turnbull, Paul Smail; 10 – Harry Aynsley, Ross Purves; 9 - Derry Alexander,
Matty Brass, Michael Waldron; 8 – Moray Haldane, Andrew Davidson, Liam Blair; 7 – Rory Hamilton, Kieran Monks,
Robert Cook, Andrew McColm; 6 – Grant Forrest, Harry Borthwick.
News
SELKIRK RFC’s
Annual General Meeting will take place at 2pm on Saturday, August 8th, at Philiphaugh.
Because of Covid-19 requirements, the club will
need the names and contact numbers of those planning to attend the AGM in advance.
Please email the SRFC Secretary (robharkness@selkirkrfc.com) or text him on 07754 394 522 with your details.
*****
SELKIRK CHAIRMAN SETS OUT OPTIONS
FOR COMPETITIVE RUGBY IN 2020/2021
OVER the past couple of days, the SRU have announced
there may be no competitive league games this season due to Covid 19. Both the Border League and the SRU Council
have canvassed clubs’ views and suggestions, as to what type of competitive rugby could take place.
We already know that the season will not start at the end of August, and that the next alternative dates are in
October or November depending on how the Covid restrictions are lifted. Selkirk Rugby Club officials have held
a number of discussions with the coaches regarding what we could do with a delayed start to the season, and our
thoughts are set out below.
Note: Because we still don’t fully know what will be decided, we’ve split our options into rugby starting in October
and starting after November 7 - this the last date by which a competitive league programme could be played, if
permitted.
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 7 START DATE
If there is to be no competitive league season,
then the club’s thoughts are that we should form a league between the Border League clubs and the Edinburgh clubs
along the following lines;
The 2nd XVs of these clubs could also play against each other, and this league could also include Langholm, Berwick
and any junior Border clubs if they wished to join.
This would give a competitive league with travelling limited to the Edinburgh/Borders area and thus minimising
the possible spread of Covid.
NOVEMBER TO END OF SEASON
If rugby cannot start until some time in November,
and there cannot be a fully competitive league season because of Covid 19 restrictions, Selkirk RFC believes we
should resort to a full Border League structure with home and away fixtures. The club feels we can have an
eight-team league that would be fully competitive in playing terms for the following senior teams -
This would also open up the opportunity for a 2nd XV league comprising teams from all Border clubs, including all
the junior teams across the Borders.
By only playing Border League teams, this minimises the distances to be travelled between clubs and also the costs,
plus there is the potential for attendances to be significantly greater for these games between Borders teams.
Moreover, by playing local sides it limits the potential spread of the virus and, if areas outside the Borders
are locked down, minimises the impact on the league.
Regards,
DENNIS HENDERSON
(Chairman, Selkirk RFC)
Upcoming Fixtures
/ Events
ALL RUGBY CURRENTLY
IN LOCKDOWN
A full list of games for season 2019 / 2020 can be
viewed on our 'Fixtures'
page
07/03 Selkirk ‘A’ 17, Heriot’s Blues 2nds 5 Report
A full list of results and reports for
all games played this season and the past 18 seasons can be accessed by clicking on the 'Results' link above.
.
Apologies for any bad language that
may be heard during this recording.
.
.
*********
TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP
P
W
L
D
Pts
Marr RFC
16
14
1
1
69
Currie Chieftains
17
13
4
0
67
Hawick
16
12
3
1
60
SELKIRK
18
9
7
2
49
Aberdeen Grammar
18
8
10
0
39
Jed-Forest
18
6
12
0
36
GHA
18
6
12
0
34
Musselburgh
18
5
11
2
34
Glasgow Hawks
17
5
12
0
32
Edinburgh Accies
16
4
10
2
27
*****************************************
BOOKERS BORDER
LEAGUE (Pool ‘B’)
P
W
L
D
Pts
SELKIRK
3
2
1
0
11
Hawick
1
1
0
0
4
Peebles
1
0
1
0
1
Kelso
1
0
1
0
0
*****************************************
TENNENT’S RESERVE
LEAGUE EAST 1
P
W
L
D
Pts
Hawick Force
16
15
1
0
77
Musselburgh 2nds
16
12
4
0
63
Stew/Mel. 2nds
18
10
8
0
60
SELKIRK ‘A’
17
11
5
1
60
Edin. Accies 2nds
16
7
8
1
53
Heriot's Blues 2nds
15
7
7
1
45
Biggar 2nds
16
7
9
0
44
Currie Chieftains ‘A’
16
5
11
0
38
Boroughmuir 2A
16
3
10
3
33
Jed-Forest ‘A’
16
1
15
0
15
Sponsors
.
.
.
.
.
.
3
LOOKING to celebrate in style? Selkirk Rugby Club’s
Philiphaugh Function Suite offers free room hire… and more! Professional DJ and party planner LAYLA ANDERSON is
available to hire for your party requirements. Photos can be projected on the suite’s big screen via our personalised
photo projection package. If you would like to book an event don't hesitate to get in touch with Selkirk Rugby
Club’s bar and events manager LAYLA ANDERSON on 07563 617 471.
… AND A GREAT VENUE FOR WEDDINGS!
The Philiphaugh Function Suite at Selkirk Rugby
Football Club is available to hire for weddings and receptions. Affordable and competitive rates. Professional
wedding decoration design and DJ hire also available. If you would like to book, don't hesitate to get in touch
with Selkirk Rugby Club’s bar and events manager LAYLA ANDERSON on 07563 617 471.
Photos and content of this site are the property of
Selkirk RFC website and photographers named or unnamed. Any material from this website should not be copied or
redistributed without the owner's prior written permission. Thank you. (Copyright 2000-2017)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
