Girls get to join in ba' day fun for second time

Ancrum's annual hand ba' day saw both uppies and doonies victorious this year across the men's, boys' and girls' games.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Mar 2017, 16:02 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 10:06 BST
Juniors played first at the Ancrum Hand Ba on Saturday.Juniors played first at the Ancrum Hand Ba on Saturday.
Juniors played first at the Ancrum Hand Ba on Saturday.

The men’s uppies scooped a clear win at the adults’ hand ba’ as they thrashed the doonies by six to two.

Around 50 men turned out for the game, kicking off at 1pm.

It followed the unders’ games won by the doonies. The first unders’ ba’ was thrown at 11am.

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Callum Liddle from Bonchester tosse the Ba' to his team mate.Callum Liddle from Bonchester tosse the Ba' to his team mate.
Callum Liddle from Bonchester tosse the Ba' to his team mate.

Each side battled it out in drizzly weather to each hail the ba’ to the other side of the town. The doonies battled to hail each ba’ down and over the mantle wall near Ancrum Mill while the uppies fought to tap the Old Manse wall near the village hall.

This year also saw a girls’ hand ba’ included for the second time, thanks to sponsorship by John and Jane Bathgate.

It was hailed up by Kayley Heard and down by Eilidh Heard.

The men’s event included James Dick’s 60th birthday ba’, hailed down by Jack Amos, and Sandra and Harry Jeffrey’s golden wedding ba’, hailed up by Martin Routledge.

Jamie Amos breaks from the pack for a free throw at Ancrum.Jamie Amos breaks from the pack for a free throw at Ancrum.
Jamie Amos breaks from the pack for a free throw at Ancrum.

Others were Lilliard Gin’s, hailed down by Scott O’Brian, the Cross Keys pub’s, hailed up by Keith Davis, Ancrum Bowling Club’s, hailed up by John Messner, Ancrum Football Club’s ba’, hailed up by Stewart Ramsay, the Bonjedward Garage ba’, hailed up by Stewart Ramsay, and painter Graham MacDonald’s ba’, hailed up by Lee Notman.

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In the 12 and under event the village ba’ was hailed down by Max Johnston, Iain and Ivor Heard’s ex-captains’ ba’ was hailed down by Finlay McLellan and the Lizzie Smart memorial ba’ was hailed up by Angus Bell.

The 16s and under games included the Ancrum Pantry ba’, hailed down by Jamie Ferguson, the Ruari Heard birth ba’, hailed down by Finlay Grieve, and an Alistair Maxwell-sponsored ba’, hailed down by Jack Amos.

During the day, a minute’s silence was held in remembrance of the late Billy Barnes, an enthusiastic ba’ supporter. The Sunny Brae resident had died on Sunday, February 12, after becoming unwell while giving a talk about the event at Ancrum Primary School.

The event was traditionally held on a Wednesday, but since its revival during the 1970s after a 20-year hiatus, it has shifted to Saturdays.