Having a Ba' in Jedburgh

Published on Thursday 14 February 2008 18:07

THE townsfolk of Jedburgh squared up to each other yesterday for the annual Jethard HandBa'.

The traditional ball game, which has been played in the Border town for 250 years, pits the Uppies (residents of the higher part of Jedburgh) against the Doonies (residents from the bottom half of the town).

The game uses a leather ball stuffed with straw and decorated with ribbons. It is then thrown into the group of men which gather together in a scrum and then manhandle it through the streets.

The ba' can be hidden on someone's person or thrown for someone to catch and run with. It can move up alleyways, into yards and up streets.

The aim of the game is to "hail" the ball to the respective side of the town. For the Uppies it is the castle and for the Doonies it is the Jedwater.

Over 20 men took part in this years HandBa'.

Legend has it that the origin of this game came from a particularly bloody battle between the Scots and the English, the victorious Scots used the head of a fallen English general as a ball.

Watch the Jethard HandBa'. Click on our video link to view footage of this year's event.