LUCY Alexander has been crowned 'Lady Jockey of the Year' for the second year running.

The Fife-based rider retained her title at the prestigious Professional Jockeys Association's 24th annual awards ceremony.

Lucy collected three Stobart Lesters at a glittering ceremony in Birmingham shortly before Christmas, where she also received her 2013 lady jockey and conditional jockey awards.

Lucinda Russell began 2015 with a double after Uisge Beatha and Reaping the Reward both won at Musselburgh on January 1.

The Milnathort trainer saddled Uisge Beatha to head the 2½- mile handicap hurdle race, and half-an-hour later was back in the winner's enclosure after Reaping the Reward landed the 2½-mile handicap chase.

The victories also provided Hawick jockey Craig Nichol with a New Year double.

Reaping the Reward, owned by Ray and Anita Anderson Green from East Lothian, beat stablemate Quito Du Tresor, carrying the colours of the Kelso Lowflyers, by a short head.

"I thought both of them had a chance but did just favour Reaping The Reward," admitted Lucinda.

"He has been a little unlucky," she explained. "He needs to be produced late and the race worked out perfectly for him. My dad Peter is maybe not so happy as he has a share in the second and it looked as if he was going to win."

East Lothian jockey, Mikey Ennis, rode out his 7lbs claim to win the two-mile handicap hurdle race on Ruacana.

On a good afternoon for Scottish connections, the Rose Dobbin-trained Purcell's Bridge won the three-mile handicap chase in the hands of Hawick jockey, Wilson Renwick.

Fly Vinnie produced scored an impressive success in the concluding three-mile handicap hurdle race for Greenlaw trainer, Sandy Thomson.

Lucy Normile also began the New Year in winning form after the Fife trainer notched a double at Ayr, on January 2.

Cadore was the 14-1 victor of the two-mile handicap hurdle race in the hands of Adam Nicol, before stablemate Silverton cruised home to head the 2½-mile handicap chase.

St Boswells owners, Paul and Clare Rooney, saw their colours carried to victory by Hester Flem in the opening novice hurdle race at Newcastle on January 3.

At Southwell the following afternoon, Irvine jockey, Danny Tudhope, rode Lucky Mark to win the six-furlong handicap, while Crakehall Lad made a victorious stable and all-weather debut to land the concluding 1m 4f handicap for Carluke trainer, Keith Dalgleish.

The Rooney colours made a rapid return to the winner's enclosure after Blackwater King won the two-mile handicap chase at Musselburgh on January 5.

Lucinda Russell took the opening maiden hurdle race with Stylish Chap - a 25-1 winner for Scottish owners, Michael and Lady Jane Kaplan.

Hawick handler, Alistair Whillans, saw Claude Carter produce a gutsy display to head the two-mile handicap hurdle race.

At Lingfield the same afternoon, Hawick conditional, Kieron Edgar, celebrated his first double, riding Boardwalk Empire to a 33-1 success in the opening novice hurdle race, and Join the Navy to win the handicap hurdle.

Selkirk trainer, Stuart Coltherd, celebrated Boxing Day with a winner when Amethyst Rose - raised 9lbs for her Hexham win - headed the two-mile handicap chase at Sedgefield, in the hands of Langholm jockey, Dale Iriving.

Lucinda Russell also had a victorious Boxing Day after Itstimeforapint won the three-mile novice handicap chase at Wetherby for Hawick jockey, Craig Nichol.

Jedburgh jockey, Callum Bewley, was also in winning form at the meeting, when No Planning was left clear in the 2m 6f handicap hurdle race. "I got lucky but that´s horse racing," he admitted, after the leader fell at the last.

The win was Callum's 20th, reducing his claim from 7lbs to 5lbs.

Upsilon Bleu, victorious in a decent hurdle race in France last time out, followed up that success with an impressive chase win at Wetherby on December 27.

Trained at Capheaton by Pauline Robson for East Lothian owners, Ray and Anita Anderson Green, the six-year-old made a winning return to chasing to land the two-mile handicap chase.

The gelding will now be aimed at the prestigious Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, where he finished runner-up last year. "It is nice when a plan works out," explained Ray.

"It is hard to win handicaps when they get to this level but he is still improving," he added.

Hawick jockey, Wilson Renwick, was also in winning form at the fixture, riding Saints And Sinners to head the novice handicap chase.

On the all-weather at Southwell the same afternoon, Rita's Boy headed the five-furlong handicap in the hands of Irvine jockey Danny Tudhope.

The in-form Callum Bewley added a further win to his tally when riding Macgillycuddy to victory in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle race at Catterick on December 28.

The 9-1 chance seemed to appreciate the step up in trip, and is trained by Perth clerk of the course Harriet Graham for Jedburgh owner, Michael McGovern.

"He seems to stay well, although at one point we didn´t think he did," said Harriet, who also bred the winner.

"He worked well the other day so we were hopeful," she added.

The Donald McCain-trained Frederic made a victorious hurdling debut in the first division of the maiden hurdle race for St Boswells owners, Paul and Clare Rooney.

Northumberland-based Michael Smith saw Brunello land the concluding handicap chase, in the hands of Adam Nicol.

Wolverhampton is proving a happy hunting ground for Iain Jardine, with the Hawick handler saddling another winner at the track on December 19.

Archipeligo was always prominent to land the concluding handicap - justifying the long trip south from the Scottish Borders.

Kingswell Theatre cruised home for a comfortable success at Newcastle on December 20, landing the staying novice hurdle in convincing fashion for Milnathort trainer, Lucinda Russell.

At the same fixture, Habbie Simpson secured his first victory over fences under an accomplished ride from Hawick jockey, Tom Hamilton, who previously partnered him to hunter chase success.The winner is now trained in Northumberland by Pauline Robson for Glasgow veterinary professor, Sandy Love.

On just his second ride since a lengthy break through injury, Jedburgh jockey Gary Rutherford rode the Susan Corbett-trained Virnon to win the concluding bumper.