OFFICIALS at Hartree Mill are celebrating this week after the club's youth section has been promoted to the top rung of Scottish rugby.

A full and comprehensive application submitted to the SRU last year has led to promotion into the President's Conference for next season.

Biggar spokesman Al Stewart told us: This puts Biggar alongside both Ayr and Stirling County as the only three clubs to compete at both boys and girls in the top echelon of the youth game.

"This is a fantastic achievement and one which is down to the massive commitment from the youngsters and their coaches at the club – not of course forgetting the mums and dads who do so much in terms of transport and countless other voluntary roles."

The promotion to the President's Conference represents a big challenge for the club.

And work is now being done to ensure that the sides involved – S1, S2, U15, U16 and U18 Boys and U15 and U18 Girls – are all competitive when the competitions kick off after the summer.

The President's Conference will see the Biggar youngsters playing some top sides.

But there is a belief around the club that the youth section is more than able to compete.

Mr Stewart added: "Any youngster who wishes to play rugby should get themselves down to Hartree Mill and get involved.

"There can be no better time to pick up the game as locally and nationally the game is top box office."

The age-group teams train midweek with games played on Sundays.

Other sides involved at President's Conference are Hamilton, Currie, Boroughmuir, West of Scotland and Highland boys teams as well as Biggar, Ayr and Stirling County.

And Murrayfield Wanderers, Hillhead Jordanhill and Caithness along with Biggar, Stirling County and Ayr make up the girls' tournament.