FORMER champion conditional Craig Nichol – whose recent achievements were recently recognised in his Borders homeland – enjoyed a victorious start to December, with three wins in two days.

The Hawick jockey, who rode 17 winners last month, was crowned Roxburgh 'Sports Personality of the Year'.

His weekend wins have further enhanced his target to ride 40 winners this jumps season.

At Newcastle, on December 2, Nichol rode Coole Hall to win the novice hurdle race, providing Alnwick trainer, Rose Dobbin, with the second leg of an across-the-card double. She had earlier saddled Attention Please to a 6-1 victory at Doncaster in the conditional jockeys handicap.

Last Sunday, at Carlisle, Nichol also celebrated a double. He rode Uncle Alastair, in the colours of St Boswells owners, Paul and Clare Rooney, to win the opening novice hurdle race, before partnering the Rose Dobbin-trained Monfass to a 10-1 win in the two-mile handicap hurdle race.

“Forty winners is my goal,” said Craig, “but as long as I can keep riding consistently well and getting rides and wins, I’ll be happy.”

Of his award, he added: “It’s nice to be recognised in your own community on a sporting front.”

On a successful afternoon for Scottish connections at the Cumbrian track on December 3, Coylton trainer Ian Duncan saddled Finaghy Ayr to an 8-1 victory in the three-mile handicap chase.

Selkirk jockey, Sam Coltherd, also notched the 29th win of his career aboard the Susan Corbett-trained Ebony Rose to win the three-mile handicap hurdle race.

Grand National-winning trainer, Lucinda Russell and jockey, Derek Fox, teamed up again to land the concluding 2½-mile handicap chase with Forest Des Aigles.

Willoughby Court gave Borders couple, Paul and Clare Rooney, a winning start to December with an impressive success in a valuable novice chase at Newbury.

The Ben Pauling-trained gelding stayed on strongly to land the Grade 2 Berkshire novice chase, collecting a first prize pot of £23,000.

Also enjoying a winning beginning to the month was Iain Jardine, who scored on the all-weather at Southwell with Restive.

The four-year-old, which also went on to win on the all-weather at Southwell three days later, posted a comfortable success in the opening 1m 4 f handicap for his in-form Carrutherstown trainer, who also owns the gelding.

That evening, Nakeeta secured the Hetland Hill team the Flat trainer award at the Magic Moments in Racing Northern Racing Awards dinner.

Jardine continued his victory trail at Newcastle on December 2, where Plus Jamais headed the 2½-mile handicap chase under Ross Chapman.

Fife-based trainer, Nick Alexander, won the novice handicap chase with 5-1 chance Lake View Lad.

Langholm trainer, James Ewart, also had a winner at the south Yorkshire track, when Ettile De Sivola landed the concluding bumper.

Breaking Free landed a 6-1 victory in the one-mile maiden handicap on the all-weather at Southwell on December 4, in the hands of Hawick jockey Jason Hart.

Hawick trainer Alistair Whillans ended November on a winning note, when he took the opening handicap hurdle race at Musselburgh with 3-1 chance Court Baloo.

The second division went to Lady London, a 9-1 winner for Alnwick trainer Rose Dobbin.

Another Hawick-born trainer in winning form at the East Lothian track on November 30 was Carluke-based Keith Dalgleish, who won the maiden hurdle race with Silver Concorde.

Hawick jockey Jamie Hamilton rode Trust Tom to win the two-mile handicap chase.

At Taunton, Lovely Job won the novice handicap chase for owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

On the all-weather at Newcastle the same evening, Glasgow handler Jim Goldie posted a 12-1 win in the seven-furlong apprentice handicap with Lotara.

Langholm jockey Jamie Gormley had a winner on the Flat on November 28.

He rode Good Time Ahead to score on the all-weather at Southwell, heading the 1m 4f handicap.

Over the jumps, 21-year-old Harry Reed from Northumberland rode Dieg Man to win the conditional jockeys’ novice hurdle race.

The following afternoon, there was a mother and son victory at Wetherby.

Harrisons Promise - trained in Northumberland by Susan Corbett and ridden by her son James - was the 5-1 winner of the bumper.