JOCKEYS Tom Hamilton and Nick Orpwood both completed victorious doubles at a well-supported Duke of Buccleuch's Hunt point-to-point last Saturday, where close finishes were the order of the day.

Tom and fellow jockey, Sam Coltherd, then dashed off from Kelso's Friars Haugh course to ride in the last at Newcastle.

Kalastar, under a well-judged ride by the Hawick teenager, produced an impressive performance to head the Connolly Red Mills Precision Nutrition intermediate race.

Kelso's Buccleuch Cup is the intended target for the winner. "He's a really special horse," enthused Galashiels-based Katie Scott, whose mother, Sylvia, trains the gelding for Strathaven owner, Kenny Telfer.

The 17.2hh is one of two pointers in the yard, although Katie joked he could be 'pinched' to join the five horses she currently has in training.

Tom also gave The Gotfor Man a peach of a ride to secure the second leg of his double with a short head victory in the Turcan Connell NPPA Club members' race.

He justly gained praise from Yetholm trainer. Clive Storey, who had saddled the gelding to win at Corbridge a week earlier.

"He did a star job," enthused Clive, who bought the eight-year-old privately from Tom Malone's yard, after winning a couple of bumpers and a hurdle race.

"This is my only pointer," explained a clearly delighted winning owner. Hans Gier, from Jedburgh.

However, Nick Orpwood's two successes further extended his lead over Tom in the Northern Area men's championship.

The Northumberland jockey got off the mark in the opening A Hume Duke of Buccleuch's Hunt members' race, where 2014 runner-up Banoge went one better for 'Snippet' Innes.

The 13-year-old got the judge's call in a close finish, snatching victory by a short head over Selkirk jockey, Sam Coltherd and the fast-finishing Damiens Dilemma.

The winner is due to travel south with his owner's daughter, Laura, who gets married next month. "I'm going to do the Golden Button cross-country ride with him," explained Laura, whose husband-to-be is based in the Grafton country.

The winner gave Laura her first point-to-point winner when scoring at the Morpeth meeting last year but, with her impending wedding, Nick Orpwood took over the ride.

He has been regularly hunted with the host pack by Laura's mother, and was schooled prior to racing by Clive Storey.

Nick's second win came aboard course specialist Splendid Blue, who has won all four of her four starts at Friars Haugh for Morpeth owner, Joanna Boswell.

The pair came home three-lengths clear of Nickwillis in the Bonhams Men's Open race. "I would have run her at the Jedforest meeting, but she suffered an injury in the field in the summer, which set her back a bit," explained Joanna. "Nick gave her a great ride."

Another to clearly enjoy Friars Haugh is Ockey De Neuilliac, who cruised home 10 lengths clear in the Brewin Dolphin ladies' open race in the hands of defending Northern Area ladies' champion, Catherine Walton - a contender for this season's national title.

It was the gelding's 10th win from 13 runs for West of Yore owner/trained Neil Mechie, who has changed his charge's training programme since his last run.

Ockey De Neulliac produced an exemplary jumping display, aptly described by his trainer as "poetry in motion."

The Dawson family celebrated success in the Scotty Brand Jockey Club mares maiden race.

Their home-bred seven-year-old Lady's Favourite, trained by Chris and ridden by brother, John, scored by three lengths over Nelly La Rue, depriving Tom Hamilton of a treble.

The victory brought John Dawson just two short of completing his half-century.

Paddy's Wish got the better of Whatsthestoryman to land the concluding CKD Galbraith open maiden race, in the hands of 18-year-old Harry Reed.

The victory rewarded the perserverance of trainer Jane Hollands, who co-owns the seven-year-old.

Racing was preceded by a thrilling 21-strong cross-country ride, won by Joanna Walton from Hawick riding Just A Gin.