The Scottish Borders was shocked to hear of the untimely death of Michael Dun, at the age of 54, on February 1, less than 24 hours after commentating at the West Percy point-to-point, where he had been his usual exuberant self.

Michael was born on May 6, 1960, the son of Robin and Sheila Dun and brother to Gordon. He was educated first at Blacksheils Primary, then boarded at Merchiston Castle School, before attaining an HND in Agriculture at Auchencruive College.

As a young boy, Michael was a member of the East Lothian Pony Club and took part in Prince Philip Cup games and tetrathlon - excelling in the swimming and riding phases.

From this he progressed to riding in point-to-points and rode his first winner at Mosshouses in 1976 aboard Carndonagh, at the tender age of 15. He won the Northern Area men's championship in 1979 and again in 1993, and his career tally included 52 between the flags and 14 in hunter chases.

One of his career highlights was in 1979, when aged 19 he won the BMW Men's Final at Chepstow aboard Carndonagh, winning a BMW car and £4000 in prize money. He also rode Nijanna to land the Heart of All England Hunter Chase, at Hexham, in 1987 and partnered Davy Blake to finish fourth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, in 1995.

While still riding, he took out his permit to train and enjoyed success with Coqui Lane - bred by his father-in-law George Hutchinson - and River Alder, which he bought for 2600gns and went on to amass more than £50,000 in prize money.

More recently, Michael deployed his knowledge of racing as an excellent commentator at many fixtures in the Northern Point-to-Point Area.

Michael had not only a good eye for horses, but sheep as well. He built up the Gilston flock of North Country Cheviots and won the championship at the Royal Highland Show in 1993 with a home-bred tup, Gilston Protector, and again in 2004 with a home-bred ewe.

His natural ability to pick a winner or a breeder's tup took him all over the country to sales, which included Builth Wells, Lairg, Dingwall and Thurso. Locally, he sold tups at the Borders North Country Cheviot Sale, firstly at Hawick, then St Boswells, before it moved to Lockerbie, where he judged the show before the sale in 2014.

He was well respected as a judge and officiated at the Royal Highland, the Royal Welsh and the Royal, in England, as well as at many county shows.

His ability in dressing sheep was second to none and, recently, he had been passing on these skills to his nieces and nephews who affectionately called him Mad Mick. Only last year, at Peebles Show, his nephew, Hamish Weir, won the regional young handler competition, under Michael's guidance.

Michael served on the North Country Cheviot Society Council and was president in 1994 along with being a member of the Scottish committee of the NSA.

Three years ago Michael was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia, but, as with everything he did, faced the situation head on.

He is survived by his wife Jane, children Graham and Charlotte, parents Robin and Sheila and brother, Gordon.