Hand Ba' in the Borders

Full report: Borderers go ballistic for Hand Ba'

The annual Borders tradition of Hand Ba' was held in Jedburgh today.

Centuries ago, it would have involved the use of an Englishman's head, but now uses a ball with ribbons.

Jenny Longden reports:

Shop owners in the Borders have boarded up their windows in true Hand Ba' tradition, ahead of the main competition.

The game of Hand Ba' specifically for younger men is now underway in Jedburgh.

The main event will take place at 2pm.

Shops and houses board up their windows to prevent damage, and the game can go up alleyways, into yards and up streets.

Traditionally, the first ever game was played with an Englishman's head. The ribbons on it symbolise his hair.

There are two games, one for young men, which starts at 12pm, and the second is the adult game, starting at 2pm, which can last for several hours.

The game is always played on the Thursday after shrove Tuesday, or the week after, depending on when the first new moon falls after Candlemas.

The annual tradition of Hand Ba' will take place in Jedburgh this afternoon.

The game, which dates back to 1914, is based on a version of medieval football.

It was once played all over Scotland, but today Jedburgh is one of only a few towns that keep up the tradition.

Two parts of the town, known as the uppies and the doonies, depending on where players were born, have to get the ball to their respective side.

To do this, the ball must be manhandled, often in a moving scrum.