Category: Medieval Sports

Jedburgh Ba Game AD 1548-Present

Report

Jedburgh in the South of Scotland Borders region is one of a few towns where the Ba Game – a Street Handball Game – is played every February on the Thursday after Fastern Eve. There are no limits to the number of players on either of the two teams, which consist of those living North of Mercat Cross and those living South of Mercat Cross in the town.

The aim of the game is to guide a small leather ball – the size of a Gaelic Handball – to one of two “goals” situated at either end of the town. Injuries are common and shopkeepers board up windows in order to prevent damage. The tradition has been played since AD 1548 with the first verified record dating to 1704 according to BBC News Scotland.

The Leather Ball has ribbons attached to it, something which is common across Britain and Ireland in ancient custom, such as the ribbons put on trees in Ireland on St. Brigids Day. Those North of the Mercat Cross – the “Uppies” – try to take the ball to the Town Castle and those South of the Mercat Cross – the “Doonies” – try to take it to the Jedwater.

Jedburgh February 22nd 2018
Jedburgh Ba’ Game, February 22nd, 2018

Royalty-free stock photo ID: 1031964136

Jedburgh, Mercat Cross, UK. 22.Feb.2018. Jed Hand Ba’ The annual game of hand ball takes place every year the Thursday after Fastern Eve. The tradition derives from 1548

R

By Rob Gray Photo

References

Websites

[1] BBC South of Scotland (2016) In Pictures: Jedburgh’s Ba Game, 12th February 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-35558735 [Accessed 23 October 2021]

[2] BBC South of Scotland (2016) In Pictures: Jedburgh’s Ba Game, 8th February 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-47170409 [Accessed 23 October 2021]

[3] BBC South of Scotland (2016) In Pictures: Jedburgh’s Ba Game Battles, 27th February 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-51658789 [Accessed 23 October 2021]

Stock Images

[2] Shutterstock (2018) Royalty-free stock photo ID: 1031964136 Jedburgh, Mercat Cross, UK. 22.Feb.2018. Jed Hand Ba’ The annual game of hand ball takes place every year the Thursday after Fastern Eve. The tradition derives from 1548

R

By Rob Gray Photo

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Derek Walsh and Richard Mulcahy

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | GAA World Archive

Last Updated: 23 October 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You are may quote this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Kirkwall Ba’ Game (Orkney Uppies and Doonies)

About

The Orkney Ba’ game is played on Christmas Day and New Years’ Day each year in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, in the North sea off Scotland. It is a Medieval Football game played with a Ba’ (Ball made of cork and covered with leather). two opposing sides, the Uppies and Doonies (those born to the North of the Cathedral are Doonies and those born to the South of the Cathedral are Uppies).

The Uppie goal is to touch the Ba’ against a wall in the South end of the town. The Doonies have to get the ball into the water of Krkwall Bay to the North of the town. There are no official rules or limit to the number of players on each side although “inappropriate behaviour” is kept in check.

Usually a tight scrum develops around the Ba’ but when the scrum breaks chaos erupts as the team with possession tries to get to their goal as fast as they can. A game can last up to five hours, although there is only one goal scored and the game is up.

Orkney Ba’ Game in Progress
Orkney Ba’ Game in Progress [Reference: 2]

Winners

YearWinnersWinning Player
2017UppiesGregor Dowell
Orkney Ba’ Game Winners [Reference: 3

Reference

Websites

[1] Orkneyjar / Sigurd Towrie (2018) The Kirkwall Ba’ [Internet] Available from: http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/bagame [Accessed 25 October 2018]

Images

[2] Orkneyjar (2018) ba1 [Internet] Available from: http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/bagame/ba1.jpg [Accessed 25 October 2018]

Media

[3] You Tube (2019) Kirkwall Boys Ba Christmas Day 2017 (part 3 of 3) . Uploaded by tomf001 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjx9mt-OTGE [Accessed 8 September 2020]

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Richard Mulcahy and Derek Walsh.

About this document

Researched, Compiled and Written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | GAA World Archive

Last Updated: 18 November 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Cornish Hurling Town v Country Shrove Tuesday at St Columb 1950-2005

Winners 1950-2005

YearShrove Tuesday Winning TeamWinning Player
1950CountryDenis Ellery
1951TownDesmond Stephens
1952TownPat Morris
1953CountryTony Williams
1954TownGeorge Roseveare
1955CountryGraham Wills
1956TownTony Hawkey
1957CountryMichael Weldhen
1958CountryMichael Weldhen
1959TownIvan Smith
1960CountryMichael Weldhen
1961TownTony Hawkey
1962TownMichael Tabb
1963Town & CountryLost Ball !
1964TownGary Hawken
1965CountryMichael Weldhen
1966TownRichard Rundle
1967TownIvan Smith
1968TownDavid Green
1969CountryMichael Weldhen
1970TownAllan Chapman
1971TownGeoffrey Cole
1972CountryMichael Weldhen
1973TownDavid Osborne
1974CountryRobert Weldhen
1975CountryRobert Weldhen
1976CountryRobert Weldhen
1977TownMike Hitchens
1978TownBrian Hellings
1979TownTony Parkin
1980TownTony Parkin
1981TownBill Scott
1982TownStuart Nicholas
1983TownDarren Austerfield
1984CountryRobert Weldhen
1985TownBill Scott
1986TownIain Robinson
1987TownDavid Rogers
1988CountryRobert Weldhen
1989CountryRundle Weldhen
1990CountrySean Johns
1991CountryRobert Weldhen
1992CountryRobert Weldhen
1993TownSid Bennett
1994TownMark Windebank
1995CountryPhilip Ellery
1996CountryAlex Cole
1997TownJamie Lomax
1998TownDarren Hawkey
1999TownSean Johns
2000TownMark Coleman
2001TownMark Coleman
2002TownPhil Morris
2003TownSean Johns
2004TownNick Gregory
2005CountryAdam Ellery

History

Every Shrove Tuesday in St. Columb’s, Cornwall, the game of Hurling is played between ‘Town’ and ‘Country’. The night before resembles a ghost town as all the shops are boarded up and shuttered before the game is played the next day. There are no limits to the numbers of players in the game, with each player playing for either the ‘Town’ or ‘Country’. The game kicks off with the words “Town and Country do your best. but in this parish I must rest.”.

Traditionally, the game was played between the men of St. Columb, but is now played by the children. [3]

The Game can last a few minutes or it can last hours depending on how quickly the winning team can get the ball to the goal. The winning player who carries the ball to the goal has the option of keeping the ball and paying for a new one by a local craftsman. On the 4th March 2003 Sean Johns won it for the ‘Town’, his third time winning it. In 2002 Scot Bennett became the youngest ever winner, at 11-years-of-age. After the match is over another tradition is partaken , when the silver ball is dipped in the winners drink. [1]

The ball is constructed traditionally, out of silver with an applewood core, taken from a local orchard.

References

________________________________________________________

Websites

[1] BBC Cornwall (2003) Hurling at St. columb in the 21st Century [Internet] Available from; http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/villages/stories/stcolumb_hurling.shtml [Accessed 7 March 2018]

[2] The Beehive | Internet Archive (2006) Hurling Winners 1950-2005 [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20060218093026/http://beehive.thisiscornwall.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=661&PageID=73544 [Accessed 13 June 2019]

[3] St. Ives Web Community TV (2013) The St. Ives Feast and the Silver Ball [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20130819100810/http://stivestv.co.uk/whatson/feast_day_2013.htm [Accessed 13 June 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Ciaran Columb.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 10 November 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2020

You are may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.