ROSS MacLeod hung up his rugby boots and replaced them with a bow and arrow.
And ever since, instead of being involved in scrums, line-outs and rucks, he has been hitting the target in the world of archery.
Indeed, he has been doing much more than this. For in the recent East of Scotland Indoor Championships, staged at Las
swade, Ross hit the bullseye big time by lifting the coveted title.
An excellent achievement, but even moreso when you consider that Ross is more or less a newcomer to the sport – as two years ago he had no thoughts whatsoever about taking up archery.
Ross MacLeod is aiming to achieve further success in the national championships. Photograph: Alistair Learmonth
He told the Hawick News: "Rugby was great and I enjoyed my playing days, but I was never a great player and I guess the best thing I did in rugby was to get my older brother Scott to start playing the game, for he went on to play rugby as a professional and get capped for Scotland."
Fate was to cast its hand though, and, reflecting on his switch from rugby to the flight of the arrow, Ross said: "I used to drive past the Eastcote Archery Centre, near Denholm, quite a lot when I was out in the work's van.
"The sign would always catch my eye and I began to think, I wouldn't mind a shot at that.
"So I booked myself in on a six-week course of lessons, and I've been doing archery ever since."
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