A FORMER Selkirk Standard Bearer has been crowned Auctioneer of the Year.

Greg Macdougall won a public vote to win the national Farmers Guardian competition last week.

The 32-year-old, who is based in North Yorkshire, will travel down to Birmingham next month to collect his trophy at a gala dinner.

Greg was shortlisted with three other leading auctioneers by the magazine earlier in the summer.

But following the vote it was the Richard Turner & Son employee who came out on top.

A delighted Greg told us: “I was honoured just to be nominated so it was a thrill to have actually won.

“I was nominated last year as well, and wasn’t all that confident about winning this time so it was a nice surprise when I got the call.

“We’re in the middle of a really busy few months – there’s sales almost every second day just now – so it’s good to have the awards to look forward to.”

Greg began working in the sales rings before he’d left school, gaining summer holiday experience at the St Boswells Mart.

And after graduating from Selkirk High he walked into a trainee job.

In 2012 Greg joined Richard Turner & Son to work under Senior Sheep Auctioneer Stephen Dennis.

Steady progress with the gavel led to Greg becoming one of the most respected auctioneers in the south of Scotland and north of England.

His work has led to record numbers of sheep and lambs coming under the hammer at Richard Turner & Son.

And this was recognised with back-to-back nominations for the national title.

Greg, who returns to Selkirk every weekend from his base in North Yorkshire, added: “Although I’m based down here most of the time I try to get home as much as I can.

“It’s only two hours between work and Selkirk.

“We’re doing more and more business in the south of Scotland which always gives me an excuse to head up the road.”

Greg will be presented with the coveted UK Auctioneer of the Year Award in Birmingham on October 6.