New generation 'look after' street sport played since 1704

In the Borders town of Jedburgh there are no fears of its historic hand ba' game dying out any time soon - unlike so many others already have across the UK.

The Uppies and the Doonies have done battle once again on its streets on the first Thursday after Shrove Tuesday just as they have for centuries.

Former provost Len Wyse said young people were "more enthusiastic than ever" to take part in proceedings.

Many other similar street sports have been stopped due to the property damage and disruption they cause but he said it remained a popular pursuit in Jedburgh.

The first record of the Jedburgh event is in 1704 - although it was not held in 1901 when it clashed with Queen Victoria's funeral.

An attempt was made to stop the contest in 1849, citing the town's cholera outbreak, but that was overruled at the Court of Session.

"Hand ba' has gone on for many, many years - some people are not exactly sure how many," said Len.

"It originated - some say - from when we were fighting the English and got the Englishman's head and we used to roll it about the town.

"That might not be true."

Whatever its origins, it remains a popular pursuit.

"We have got these small leather balls made and they have got ribbons on them depicting different things," explained Len.

"Like if it is somebody's wedding anniversary - like a ruby wedding - we will put ruby coloured ribbons on."

The two teams fight for possession of the ball and look to take it to opposite ends of the town.

"The Uppies are going up the Castlegate and they throw the ball over the castle railings and that is their score," said Len.

"The Doonies, they go 'doon the toon', and they roll it along the road and there is an underground stream that they roll it over and that gives them a score."

The sport is an easy one to learn and has remained the same for centuries.

"There is only one rule and that is you don't kick the ball - you are only meant to throw it, smuggle it, whatever," he said.

"There is nothing really changed.

"The shopkeepers board up their windows because it is played on the High Street - they don't stop traffic or anything.

"Fortunately the A68 got diverted many years ago so it doesn't go through the middle of town."

Although his playing days are behind him, Len has fond memories of one sneaky move for his team.

"I scored one a few years ago for the Uppies," he recalled.

"I was quite fortunate - it rolled out the maul and I just picked it up and nobody saw me so I just put it in my pocket, walked up to the Castlegate and I scored."

He said he was confident its popularity would last for years to come with competitors coming from other areas which still have similar games.

"There are a great deal of folk play in it," he said.

"It brings them in from other towns too. We get folk from Ancrum, Denholm and Bonchester - that's three places that all have their own ba'."

He added that the next generation seemed keen to maintain the tradition.

"The school let them away early to play - you get a great deal of youngsters turning up, they are more enthusiastic than ever," he said.

That means he is confident that it will not follow other events which have died out down the years.

"It won't because there are a lot of youngsters taking it up - playing it, but also looking after it," he added.