Common riding
common riding equestrian tradition mainly scottish border scotland male female rider ride town along border commemorate practice th th century frequent raid angloscottish border known border reivers also commemorate scottish defeat battle flodden today common riding rideouts riding march continue annual event celebrated summer border scotland town may many rideouts festival week usually one festival day town reenact historic common riding – although many others wellestablished festival ride cemented within town history common riding town berwickupontweed hawick selkirk langholm lockerbie jedburgh coldstream penicuik west linton lanark lauder edinburgh melrose musselburgh galashiels dun sanquhar peebles tradition common riding date back th th century continual land border war england clan border country custom plunder thieve cattle known reiving historical name robbing commonplace amongst major border family lawless battlestrewn time became practice day local laird appoint leading townsperson would ride burgh’s boundary march protect common land prevent encroachment neighbouring burgh people long ceased essential riding continued commemoration local legend history devoted pageantry singing unique tradition centered around equestrian event current time common riding celebrate border town history tradition midsummer period spanning may september rideouts involve hundred horse often ridden costume evoke passion worthy reivers old hawick traditionally start season annual common riding due fact community captured flag english army alongside true common riding town town hold riding currie penicuik west linton peebles biggar galashiels musselburgh dun kelso jedburgh melrose coldstream yetholm annan dumfries lockerbie kirkcudbright wigtown gatehouse fleet one recently instituted common riding copshaw riding newcastleton formed community start celebration election year principal spring choose amongst community leader community celebration elected end ceremony year community principal manwomanpair honoured figure principal usually unmarried man good character principal lead rideout celebrate town show kinship community often different name nominated leaderprincipal annan cornet lass biggar cornet coldstream coldstreamer currie ensign dumfries cornet lass dun reiver lass edinburgh captain edinburgh lass elected right galashiels braw lad also lass elected right called braw lass gatehouse fleet lad lass hawick cornet innerleithen standard bearer lass jedburgh callant kelso kelsae laddie kirk yetholm scottish border bari gadgi bari manushi kirkcudbright cornet lass lanark lord cornet langholm cornet linlithgow provost deacon court lockerbie cornet lass melrose melrosian musselburgh honest lad also lass elected right called honest lass newcastletoncopshaw holm tub flake peebles cornet lass penicuik hunter hunter lass sanquhar cornet lass selkirk standard bearer west linton whipman lass community festivity last week focused around day others last two week programme consist combination ceremony ride out entertainment traditional scottish sport community spirit ride symbolised burgh flag colourful ceremony bussed recalling day knight lady attached ribbon lance battle whereby ribbon tied burgh flagstaff principal lass colour usually town village instance kelso blue white hawick blue yellow today common riding attract large crowd emigrant tourist gathering around world event take place summer season starting hawick first wednesday may continuing till mid september hawick commonriding first largest border festival celebrates legendary capture english flag skirmish hornshole believed taken place traditional checking boundary town common land election night may saturday tuesday leading commonriding cornet supporter rideout visit surrounding village farm first cornet chase take place uphill nipknowes st leonard hut local publican tasked supply customary dish curd cream soordook refreshment official riding march following week hawick celebrated th common riding hotly fought battle prevent woman rider lost court woman taken many year accepted hawick reluctantly accepts female participation activity hawick common riding although certain diehard woman refuse enter hut woman rode common riding accident led banning allmale common riding committee finally allowed preliminary ride out chase friday’s main common riding day common riding saturday drinking event called hut also open woman despite progression saw renewed hostility towards female participant common riding week sunday commonriding june honorary provost council attends kirkin cornet church service held cornet place worship afternoon cornet party travel hornshole memorial cornet lass lay wreath travel moor inspect racecourse following chase monday tuesday wednesday morning second major chase take place thursday morning cornet carry flag first time later principal visit local school cornet asks child given holiday rest week course granted child parent join singing festival song colour bussing colour bussing take place thursday evening town hall honorable provost magistrate played packed hall drum fife band come lass maid honour cornet lass carry flag front hall attendant “busses” flag tying ribbon head staff flag given cornet reminded embodiment tradition glorious heritage cornet charged ride march commonty hawick return flag unsullied unstained halberdier call burgess ride meiths march commonty begin cornet walk around town supporter stopping way tie ribbon memorial friday mair early following morning drum fife band set rouse town towerdykeside ceremony called snuffin take place snuff dispensed old horned mull town official song singer crowd soon disperses surrounding pub traditional rum milk breakfast followed singing old song door border textile towerhouse principal taking turn sing verse principal along many mounted supporter process around town nipknowes main chase take place concluding song toast curd cream hut rider set via williestruther loch acreknowe reservoir ride march cornet ceremoniously cut sod furthermost point common make way racecourse programme horseracing company remount proceeds millpath proclamation made march duly ridden without interruption molestation kind followed singing playing drum fife flag returned temporarily council chamber displayed later cornet party attend commonriding dinner followed ball dancing continues night seeing dawn summit mote saturday mair saturday town roused drum fife band cornet supporter ride wilton lodge park male principal lay wreath remembrance town war memorial procession head moor horse race held pm cornet mounted supporter leave moor town stopping coble pool river teviot dip flag marking boundary hawick land ancient langlands estate cornet return official duty end ceremoniously return flag hon provost council chamber solemn occasion mark end common riding outside rider stand attention stirrup whilst saxhorn band play invocation cornet display flag last time teribus traditionally sung many occasion festivity selkirk common riding celebration history tradition royal ancient burgh held second friday first monday june ceremony one oldest area – rider selkirk boast one largest cavalcade horse rider europe selkirk still owns common land north south town northern boundary linglie ridden day selkirk common riding commemorates disastrous battle flodden eighty men left town one – fletcher – returned bearing captured english flag legend cast flag head indicate men selkirk cut climax day royal burgh standard bearer craft association standard bearer cast colour selkirk ancient market place standard bearer standard bearer picked eligible unmarried young men town applied post trustee common riding trust successor old selkirk town council disappeared following local government reorganisation normally served time attendant previous standard bearer introduced appointment night last friday april carried shoulder high around town accompanied band crowd local many civic duty follow preparation main event participation town common riding festivity including spur night standard bearer attendant meet principal galashiels galafoot receive pair spur dinner galashiels fiona deacon became first female standard bearer carry exservicemans flag common riding week saturday common riding day marked annual childrens picnic primary school child race sunday see inspection rig town racecourse show sunday recently moved ground haining traditionally souters would meet new finery bought festivity sing song town band event include standard bearer dinner monday lady night wednesday female population takeover bar club evening bravest male venture various bussing concert dinner held craft association night afore morn thursday evening senior burgh officer take street cry burley giving notice population march performed following day naming burleymen four ex standardbearers burgh standard bearer attendant trek accompanied band start west port stopping market place high street back row south port read proclamation ending timehonoured phrase great many ready start sound second drum follows bussing concert incorporation weaver hammermen victoria hall followed act remembrance available exstandard bearer march statue fletcher outside victoria hall wreath placed statue chairman exstandard bearer association exstandard bearer walk around statue order year represented town earliest first list exstandard bearer found pub club get busy old friendship renewed much singing bed preparation full day ahead common riding day day begin dawn selkirk flute band begin march around town wakening turn standard bearer provost follows act remembrance exsoldiers war memorial first drum struck silver band play around town lead singing hail smiling morn alternating first verse hymn lead kindly light band stop outside county hotel rendition exiles’ song bright smile continuing victoria hall meanwhile rider assemble back row installation standard bearer bussin royal burgh flag balcony victoria hall procession form march market place awaiting second drum procession move green behind silver band playing airts pipe band along flag incorporation guild foot follows standard bearer attendant mounted cavalcade behind rider begin ford river ettrick onwards linglie glen cavalcade reach summit three brother cairn highest point ride rest standard bearer attendant sing hail smilin morn remounting continuing ride back selkirk foot procession reform market place leaf shawburn toll led band shawburn toll community singing led band rider return gallop procession reform return market place via bleachfield road high street market square ceremony casting colour turn royal burgh standard bearer followed weaver merchant fleshers colonial exsoldiers cast flag tune wi souters exsoldiers standard dipped end hisher performance follows two minute silence honour town war dead broken silver band playing haunting ballad liltin ceremonial end return burgh flag unsullied untarnished standard bearer provost lunch horse racing rig ball held victoria hall saturday end game – gymkhana professional foot racing town cricket club langholms common riding langholms great day attracts large number langholmite exile also tourist world public election cornet take place may come settlement legal dispute th century ensured langholm people certain common right eg digging peat within set boundary every year boundary must remarked maintain right year become celebration town people although originally ridden check boundary horse extremely important part common riding tradition built around year common riding day preceded rideouts horse hill around town day cornet follower able ride – ride well – gallop kirk wynd get monument erected memory sir john malcolm part checking ancient boundary common riding day last friday july cornet receives flag three cry fair two outside langholm town hall one whita hill fair cryer stand back horse emblem – thistle spade crown barley banna – also important barley banna barley bread nailed wooden platter along salted herring large twaipenny nail common riding day concluded returning castleholm tune auld lang syne dancing polka trunk road handing back flag finally singing god save queen origin common riding lauder lost midst time cannot denied pedigree quite lengthy lauder boundary marked field boundary number cairn burgess rode cairn cairn fell upon newer younger men fill pocket stone place upon cairn turn practice abandoned found pocket contained stone bottle refreshment consumed cairn riding march nevertheless serious business date time intimated tuck drum town drummer failure attend duty could result fine early th century burgess ceremony originally held ascension day land crop affair burgh blessed health monarch toasted later date became king birthday respect recorded minute town council early th century expense celebrating king birthday exceed £ rider used race stirk hill town hall proved dangerous rider bystander alike discontinued many protest day closed dinner town hall practice discontinued year resuscitated celebrate coronation king george v continued ever since exception two war revived common riding today differs little original held commemorate victory english battle like town gala day religious aspect still observed kirkin cornet lord blessing sought week event alteration land sold cornet lead follower around march royal burgh lauder halt refreshment waterin stane toast majesty leaving waterin stane cavalcade make burgess cairn surviving cairn place stone upon return report encroachment burgh land recent time “tom waldies bridge” waterin stane burgess cairn repaired improved ensure smooth running common riding millennium cairn top whiteknowe end erected commemorate regaining burgh charter jethart callants festival founded border game festival committee called meeting discus formation pageant first callant rayon mill worker named charlie mcdonald jedburgh callants festival last two week ceremonial ride place historic interest important ride redeswire close carter bar site raid redeswire timely arrival jedburgh contingent cry jetharts turned apparent defeat men liddesdale rout english callant lead mounted cavalcade ferniehurst castle halt ceremony capon tree survivor ancient jed forest return town final ceremony war memorial saturday commences firing cannon race around town followed jedburgh border game date common riding west linton led whipman old scot word carter carrier annual meeting whipmen benevolent society committee paid formal visit local mansion rest day one holiday year time devoted sporting activity gathering styled whipman play ceremony continued since unbroken except two war revived linton whipman installed invested sash office friday evening first saturday june lead mounted procession village saturday begin ride follows weeklong programme activity sport competition barbecue bonfire braw lad gathering annual summer festival town galashiels braw lad gathering established celebrate town history particular commemorates event gala men defeated english soldier field sour plum marriage king james iv scotland margaret tudor england granting burgh charter town sacrifice made local people world war every year local man woman appointed braw lad braw lass take part ceremony lead ride out hundred people ride town across countryside horseback main braw lad day take place saturday beginning braw lad receives burgh flag ride raid stane netherdale site affray cavalcade cross river tweed stop reception abbotsford house riding back town braw lass mix red white rose commemorating marriage laird gala president gathering exchange parchment celebrating granting burgh barony charter finally party proceeds town war memorial clock strike noon braw lad dip flag mark respect fallen soldier period silence held history edinburgh common riding called riding march date inspection common land continuing demise practice revival special riding march held edinburgh celebrate peace end second world war seventy rider took part large crowd reported approaching royal visit dimension greeted rider royal mile practice revived reestablished held annually ever since growing popularity combined memorial battle flodden riding flodden memorial year shortly new year process begin elect edinburgh captain lass elected principal city represent edinburgh coming summer various common ride town festival celebration also civic event within capital come september captain lass lead edinburgh common ride around boundary city morning represent inspection common land common riding captain lass undertake memorial ride royal mile reenact randolph murray captain city band returning battle flodden bearing recovered blue blanket incorporated trade edinburgh news scotland defeated death king james iv captain lass accompanied ride cavalcade including mounted unit royal scot dragoon guard scottish north irish yeomanry rider local stable riding association rider converge mercat cross royal mile escorted high constable edinburgh pipe band lord provost edinburgh commences minute silence remembrance fallen flodden war visit scotland page hawick callants club lauder common riding website hawick common riding website edinburgh riding march jeremy suttonhibbertss photo essay common riding entitled unsullied untarnished tranter nigel story scotland routledge kegan paul ltd bbc scotland news selkirk common riding june picture