JUNIOR sport in Peebles is set to benefit to the tune of £7,364 after another successful Odd Shaped Ball took place at Peebles Hydro last Saturday night.

Having waited three years since the last event following two COVID-enforced postponements, the sell-out crowd of 200 guests made the most of their night.

This was the eighth time the event had taken place since starting out back in 2013, and the funds raised on Saturday took the total amount raised to more than £55,500. To date, the junior sections of eight local sports clubs, the three Peebles primary schools and Peebles High School’s sports teams have benefited from the Odd Shaped Ball’s support.

Performers from the award-winning Fiona Henderson School of Dance got the event off to a sparkling start, and the crowd were also treated to a rousing half-time show from Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band, before the band Grooveline raised the roof as revellers danced the rest of the night away.

Among the star auction prizes were tickets for George Ezra’s forthcoming concert at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow; rounds of golf at North Berwick and Gullane Golf Club; a pizza party from Wood Oven Wonders, and a Rangers shirt signed by football legend Ally McCoist, with auctioneer Mark Thomson ramping up the bidding.

A fantastic selection of prizes was also up for grabs in the raffle, including dinner at Osso Restaurant, the new Scotland rugby shirt, a £100 voucher from Atticus Interior Design, cheese and wine from Milne & Pickles, and an 1881 Gin experience from hosts, Peebles Hydro.

Event organiser Ross Duncan said: “It was great to be able to put our event on again after all the challenges of the past two years, and the crowd at Saturday’s Odd Shaped Ball were certainly keen to make up for lost time. It was another fantastic night, and we were delighted to raise so much money which will be given out to support junior sport.

“Everyone involved in running the event is very proud to have taken our fundraising past £55,000 in the eight years we have been doing this and it’s great to see sport flourishing across many of the sports we have supported, such as rugby, golf and netball, and sports teams in the schools. We couldn’t have done it without the support of everyone who buys a ticket, the local companies who donate amazing prizes, and some of the bigger national organisations and brands who have given us their support too.”

“There are so many volunteer coaches and teachers who do a great job at developing sport in the local community and its important we keep supporting them, even more so after the lack of fundraising events in recent years."

Other prizes donors included: Rugbystuff.com, Cullen Kilshaw, Evolution Bottling & Packaging Solutions, Go Ape Glentress, Forsyth’s of Peebles, Hair by Studio One, Flash Weeds, Nairn’s Oatcakes, Border Biscuits, Boe Gin, FirstPoint USA, 20:20 Opticians and Cross Fit INRZ.

To find out more, visit the OddShapedBall Peebles page on Facebook.