The formation of the new GB Netball Superleague of eight teams, represented in Scotland by the Glasgow Wildcats, and netball's inclusion as a core sport in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 present talented players with clear targets right on their doorstep.

However, it's at grass-roots level that the national players are groomed and Peebles is punching above its weight in helping to develop the netball stars of the future.

The club was established by sports coach Linda Nicholson in 2006 and within two years has become one of the top junior clubs in Scotland. Of the club's six competitive teams last season, no fewer than four reached national finals.

As the new season starts, Nicholson is optimistic about the club's prospects.

She said: "The primary school netball coaches in the region do a fantastic job in bringing on budding netballers, so by the time they join the club we have a headstart in terms of skill level.

"Assisted by Mel Young, I plan to run six competitive teams again this year from under-13 level to a senior squad and several school teams. I will also coach the Borders District squad.

"Trials for the teams will be held during September and we already appear to have a particularly good crop of under-13 players to choose from this year.

"Amongst these are top defender Lauren Tait, coached previously by Jenny Crowe at West Linton Primary which has produced several great players over recent years, and Lauren Learmond from the strong Priorsford squad, run last year by local coaches Lynn Hudson and Claire Smillie.

"Also showing up well in attack is Lucy Grant, coached previously at Kingsland School by Jean Hammond.

"The Peebles under-15 team showed strongly last year, ending runners-up to Perth in the national club championships.

"However, what originally seemed to be a significant loss this season of the very experienced defence partnership of Faye Nicholson and Hannah Campbell (both Peebles) who move up to the senior netball squad, could well be balanced by up-and-coming Alice O'Fee (West Linton) and the timely return to Scotland of Naomi Symonds (Innerleithen) who performed with distinction on the netball court at primary school level before moving to America.

"Add to the mix the superb attacking skills of Jo Pettitt (West Linton) and the previous national level experience of Sian Evans, Louise Young, Georgia Pawlak and Caillie Douce (all Peebles) and we could have a team which takes some beating on the national circuit.

"Our senior team is something of an unknown as it will take a while for the youngsters moving up from the under-15s to merge with the club's existing senior players and pull together as a team.