THEY are good sports in Selkirk, and now they have the surface to prove it.
On Friday the great and the good who have championed, campaigned and fought for an all-weather pitch in the town gathered for the grand opening of the Selkirk High School 2G pitch.
Up-and-coming sporting stars Emily Newlands and Nyle Godsmark were given the honour of cutting the ribbon.
And many politicians, community leaders and teachers joined around 100 pupils to witness the occasion.
Emily, 19, who has recently been selected for the GB Under 20s hockey team, told the Border Telegraph: “It is fantastic, and about time, that we have a facility like this in Selkirk.
“I had to travel to either Tweedbank or up to Edinburgh when I was a schoolgirl looking to improve as a hockey player.”
Although the new pitch can accommodate football, lacrosse and even rugby training, the sand-based surface is predominantly suited to hockey.
Current senior team captain at Selkirk High, Caitlin Scott, explained that her team were only able to play two home games throughout last season due to water-logging.
And she also revealed that the school seniors won their very first match on the 2G pitch, the previous weekend against Duns.
Caitlin told the gathered guests: “For me and everyone else who lays hockey, the pitch is already making such a difference.
“Hockey is much quicker now and we need a surface like this perfect our skills.
“We had to travel to Tweedbank is the past to train - now we don’t have to worry about transport or our carbon footprint.”
Scotland’s 172-times capped hockey player Janet Jack was amongst the guests on Friday.
The regional hockey development officer, who has children at Selkirk High, said: “I my day we only had grass pitches in the Borders and I had to travel to Edinburgh.
“If we are going to keep improving in sport we more of these 2G and 3G pitches.
“This is a fantastic facility here in Selkirk and I plead with the community to come and use it.”
The new pitch at Selkirk High School has been used for PE classes since the pupils returned after the summer break.
Knowepark Primary has already booked the facility for its pupils to enjoy its benefits as well.
Staff from Borders Sport and Leisure will operate the facility outside school hours to allow for further community bookings.
And new changing facilities have been developed in part of the school to allow for evening use.
Ewan Jackson from the Leisure Trust said: “This pitch is an exciting addition to the growing range of sports facilities available in the Borders. We are looking forward to working with local clubs, groups, schools and residents to make sure that everyone has the chance to benefit from the new opportunities that the pitch offers.”
Scottish Borders Council splashed out £500,000 for the all-weather pitch.
And a further £250,000 came from sportscotland.
Local councillor Vicky Davidson, who is the executive member for sport, told us: “Artificial pitches are the way forward for all of our schools.
“Selkirk’s hockey team regularly had their games cancelled because of the condition of the old grass pitch and they had to often go elsewhere just to practice.
“This facility is long overdue in Selkirk.”