BIKING in the Tweed Valley has received a feather in its cap after scooping no fewer than 12 national awards last week.

The Scottish Mountain Bike Awards celebrates everything good about off-road cycling from every corner of the country.

But no fewer than 12 of the prestigious prizes were awarded to riders, businesses and events dotted along the A72.

It was the first time that Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland had held the awards in the Borders.

Lead Academic for the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and Edinburgh Napier University, Professor Geraint Florida-James said: "We see these awards as another method of highlighting the great progress of Scottish companies across the globe while celebrating the fantastic scene in Scotland.

"It was fantastic that so many of those international guests attend the awards enabling us to showcase the amazing things that are happening right across this sport.”

National champion Isla Short from Cardrona was crowned Scottish Elite Female Rider of the Year at the glitzy bash in Innerleithen's Memorial Hall.

And she was followed onto the podium by Aneela McKenna from Innerleithen who was announced as the Scottish MTB Local Hero of the Year.

The human resources manager at the Scottish Parliament is secretary of the Tweed Vally Trails Association and a hugely-respected mountain bike guide.

Despite having nominations from across the country, the Scottish MTB Club of the Year also stayed in Innerleithen.

The Kids Innerleithen Cycling Club (KICC) grew from its humble beginnings at St Ronan's Primary School to now have 90 junior members and 22 adult helpers based at Glentress - as well as a lengthy waiting list..

Co-founder and chair Chris Bryant told us: "KICC has assisted many young riders who are now racing at a national or European level but they still account for a small proportion of our membership.

"By giving opportunities to develop the whole person and not just the cyclist KICC hopes that our young people are given the skills and confidence to succeed in sport, at school and in whatever they choose beyond school.

"To win Best Club is a fantastic recognition of all the hard work our volunteers have contributed over the years.

"The club would not succeed without the dedication of all our leaders, helpers and of course that of our young people and their parents."

Peeblesshire-based Veloeye won the Best MTB Product Innovation of the Year for its VX GPS/GPRS bike tracking device, which is built into the bottle cage.

The anti-theft device is described as the ultimate in bike security.

Another Tweed-Valley-based company had double reason to celebrate after winning both the Tour Operator of the Year and the Coaching and Guiding provider of the Year awards.

Go Where Scotland, who are based in Clovenfords, operate bike tours from the Outer Hebrides and Wester Ross all the way down to the Borders.

The hugely-popular Transcend TweedLove was the winner of the Scottish MTB Festival of the Year.

The three-day event attracted riders from across the world to Nether Pirn Farm in Innerleithen.

Despite the shortlisted riders, business owners and volunteers at Thursday's awards ceremony hailing from all over the country, it continued to be locals who were called onto the stage.

Murray and Alexandra Nisbet from the Glentress Hotel were awarded the Scottish MTB Friendly Accommodation Provider of the Year.

And the Best Scottish MTB Event to Ride with your Mates award went to the Glentress-based The FNY Collective.

Initially designed to encourage more women into the saddle, FNY has opened the sport up to a whole new audience with its relaxed and friendly approach to mountain biking.

The Scottish National Series of the Year award also remained in the Tweed Valley with Innerleithen-based SXC (Scottish Cross Country Association) collecting the trophy.

Borders College and Glentress-based Dirt School collected the Business to Academic Collaboration of the Year award.

And local graduate Lewis Kirkwood won the Student Project of the Year award.

Although the Scottish Elite Male Rider of the Year went to Inverness's Greg Williamson, the 27-year-old did perfect his sport as a student on the Borders College mountain bike course.

Ed Shoote, who is the Tweed Valley Development Coordinator with Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, added: “We were delighted to be able to host the awards this year here in the Tweed Valley.

"It was amazing that so many local events, people and businesses won awards on the evening, this really showcases how the Tweed Valley is a premier destination in Scottish mountain biking.

"With so many exciting plans for the future, things can only go from strength to strength for the area.”

Student Project of the Year - Lewis Kirkwood and Edinburgh Napier University

MTB Product of the Year - Sender Ramps - Pro (CST) Core Skills Trainer

MTB Product Innovation of the Year - VX gps Tracker

Business to Academic Collaboration of the Year - Dirt School and Borders College BASE

Scottish MTB Tour Operator of the Year – Go Where Scotland

Scottish MTB Festival of the Year - Transcend TweedLove

Scottish MTB Friendly Accommodation Provider of the Year – The Glentress Hotel

Scottish MTB Coaching and Guiding Provider of the Year – Go Where Scotland

Best Scottish MTB Event to Ride with your Mates – The FNY Collective Event

Scottish MTB Photograph of the Year – Gavin Harrower

Scottish MTB Vlogger of the Year – McTrail Rider

Scottish National Series of the Year - SXC (Scottish Cross Country Association)

Scottish MTB Club of the Year - Kids Innerleithen Cycling Club ( KICC )

Scottish MTB Community Project of the Year – Inverness Royal Academy Cycle Hub

Scottish MTB Local Hero – Aneela McKenna

Scottish Elite Female Rider of the Year – Isla Short

Scottish Elite Male Rider of the Year – Greg Williamson