SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jamie Hamilton made a victorious riding debut at Sunday’s Lauderdale point-to-point at Mosshouses, near Galashiels.

The Hawick High School pupil – who was actually born on the point-to-point day – celebrated his birthday just two days earlier, and was having his first ride between the Flags on Waterford.

Jamie proved a popular winner, receiving a rousing reception from the Borders crowd after landing the J Rutherford (Earlston) Border Hunts Club Members race.

It was real family celebration – the gelding trained by the young jockey’s mother, Wendy at their Birnieknowe farm home on the outskirts of Hawick, with Jamie sporting the colours of his grandfather Billy, no stranger to success in the 80s with top chaser Earls Brig.

“He took a fair hold at the start,” enthused Jamie, who spent two weeks riding out at Lucinda Russell’s Milnathort stable.

“He jumped really well though,” he added.

The pair held the challenge of My Final Bid, owned by Jamie’s uncle, Borders livestock auctioneer Gavin Hamilton, for a one-length victory. The Hamilton success continued when Gavin gained consolation in the Brewin Dolphin men’s open race where Lord Who got the verdict by a length in an exciting finish with Boher Storm. The gelding has benefited from treatment by Kate Mactaggart, who recently qualified in equine sports massage.

“I think he jumps better on quicker ground,” explained Gavin, “so we’ll see what the weather does, but probably keep him going.

“He may go to Hexham in a fortnight,” he added.

Another jockey to enjoy his first success in the saddle was 20-year-old Kevin Sinclair, who took the opening Easter Langlee Stables Hunt members race on Little Vantage. Previously with trainer George Forster in East Lothian, Renfrewshire jockey Kevin, is now based in Northumberland with estate agent George White.

The 11-year-old gelding, owned by Jane Fisher from Kirknewton, had taken the field of just three along at a sedate pace in the early stages, and cruised away from Malt De Vergy to win by eight lengths. The winner was celebrating his first success since heading a maiden race at the same track in 2007.

“This is just his second run since damaging a tendon at Hexham three years ago,” explained Jane.

The gelding was winning on home ground – bred at Mosshouses by Ann and Tony Hogarth, and bought by Jane as a four-year-old.

Jane Millar’s Yonder Breeze which finished third, moved up to second after runner-up Malt De Vergy was disqualified and rider Gillon Crow fined £60 for failing to weigh in.

Danny Ockenden has ridden two winners in his first season, but enjoyed his first victory on an outside ride when partnering Davy Boy Legend to win the SPG Security Systems Ltd restricted. The grey, a Doncaster Sales purchase, is owned by Ian Ross from Dalkeith and trained by his daughter Josette.

The Waugh family was another in victorious mood – Morpeth-based owner/trainer Simon completing a double. Amie Waugh had enjoyed a wide-margin win on High Five at Corbridge last time and followed up that success to take the Whiterigg of Melrose ladies’ open race. The 10-year-old, owned by her father Simon, has won three times now this term, and provided his Morpeth owner with the first leg of his double.

He also saddled Pericam, ridden by his brother Adam, a Newcastle stockbroker, to head the R & V Mania Ltd open maiden (division two). The victory proved just consolation for the five-year-old, bought privately last year, who slipped up on the home bend when leading at Corbridge.

The first division – the Newlyn Property developments open maiden – went to Peter Bailey’s It Did Happen. An Ascot Sales purchase, the winner is trained by Russell Ross, and was ridden by Flat trainer Mark Johnston’s son, Charlie, who made a worthwhile trip from Newmarket to take the ride, albeit without the knowledge of his mother.

“After what happened last week, I didn’t tell Mum I was taking the ride,” explained Charlie, who came to grief with the six-year-old at Whittington.

Previously with Michael Hourigan, the gelding ran in a couple of point-to-points in Ireland, and also ran over hurdles.

“He’s an only foal, as Michael had a two-year-old colt which caught the mare,” explained Russell.

Adam Nicol is in good form and added another riding success to his tally when heading the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members’ race for novice riders on Frontier Lad.

The seven-year-old is trained by Elizabeth Smith for the six-strong Blue Foxes Club. The syndicate was named by former Lanark & Renfrewshire MFH Ailsa Russell, who missed the success attending Badminton Horse Trials. The winner is bound for a hunter chase at Perth on Thursday.

“I think the tongue tie has definitely helped him,” explained Michael Smith.

Two competitive pony races preceded the eight-strong card – the Swan & Turner Stakes for 13.2hh and under providing yet another victory for the Duke of Roxburghe’s 13-year-old son George Innes-Kerr, and the 14.2hh equivalent headed by another consistent jockey –12-year-old Henry Morshead, son of Kelso and Perth racecourses’ clerk of the course, Anthea.

LEADINGawards

Hunt members – 1, Little Vantage (K Sinclair) 4-6 fav; 2, Mrs J Millar’s Yonder Breeze 5-2 (A Findlay). Three ran. 8l; 1/2l. Miss J Fisher, Lauderdale (R Morrison). Border Hunts – 1, Waterford (J Hamilton) 4-1; 2, My Final Bid (L Morgan) 1-3 fav; 3, Knocknaboul King (R Green) 9-1 Four ran.1l; 7l. W Hamilton, Jedforest (W Hamilton). PPORA novice riders – 1, Frontier Lad (A Nicol) 11-10; 2, Anns Benefit (Miss J Bond) 4-5fav; 3, Emerald Destiny (Miss R Robson) 10-1. Three ran. 7l;7l. The Blue Foxes Club, Lanarks & Renfrews. (Elizabeth Smith). Ladies open – 1, High Five (Miss A Waugh) 4- 5 fav; 2, Batchelor Boys (M Stewart 20-1); 3, Old Rolla (Miss C Hurley) 4-1. 10 ran. 1l; 5l. S Waugh, Morpeth. Restricted – 1, Davy Boy Legend (D Ockenden) 5-1; 2, Scotch Warrior (M Smith) 7-1; 3, Glen Lord (G Crow) 6-1. 13 ran. 1/2l; 5l. I Ross, Lauderdale (Josette Ross). Mens open – 1, Lord Who (L Morgan) 4-6 fav; 2, Boher Storm (C Johnston) 12-1; 3, Dix Villez (A Waugh) 2-1. Six ran. 1l; 1 ½ l. G Hamilton, Jedforest. Open maiden, div one – 1, It Did Happen (C Johnston) 16-1; 2, Arabian Consort (A Nicol) 7-2; 3, Miss Toozy Betsy (G Cockburn) 6-1. 16 ran. 5l; 1l. P Bailey, Braes (Russell Ross). Div two – 1, Pericam (A Waugh) 6-1; 2, Cool Vic (A Richardson) 4-6 fav; 3, Bucklemyshoe (E Dungait) 20-1. Nine ran. 1 1/1l; 11/2l. S Waugh, Morpeth. Pony races, 13.2hh – 1, Duke of Roxburghe’s Clonross Star (G Innes Ker); 2, J Brown’s Simply Simon (C Tailford); 3, Mrs S Murtagh’s Finnbar (L Murtagh). 14.2hh – 1, A Morshead’s Over to Kerry (H Morshead); 2, D Chapman’s Chuimbo (R Chapman); 3, J Brown’s Surf the Turf (J Brown).