Would be Hawick-revellers urged not to meet at moor in absence of common riding this weekend

Ordinarily, St Leonard’s would be the place to be in the Borders this Friday and Saturday as the 2020 Hawick Common Riding would be scheduled to culminate with racing, sing-songs and musical entertainment in the big tent there.

However, following the cancellation in March of the traditional six-week long celebrations due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic, organisers are asking Teries to resist any temptation to get together for a catch-up and picnic there regardless.

Common riding committee chairman John Hogg said: “On behalf of the common riding committee, I’d like to thank everyone for their role in respecting government guidance over the past few weeks and, in particular, adhering to our message of preserving local farmland by not walking rideout routes.

“I would request that this respect is continued and, over what would have been our common riding weekend, that members of the public refrain from use of Hawick Moor.

“The farmer there is continuing to use the moor for his livestock, with our approval.

“The main gates to the moor will be locked as unfortunately there have been incidences of gates being left open and livestock straying and the road and hill being used for racing cars to the detriment of livestock and destruction of ground, as well as being of danger to those drivers.

“Thank you all for your co-operation. Enjoy your common riding weekend, whatever you may do to mark the occasion, but stay safe.”

This year’s common riding has been celebrated online using footage from previous years to create a series of virtual streamings and tributes.

That offering concludes with a rerun of a 2014 event to be streamed tomorrow night featuring hundreds of Hawick children re-enacting the Battle of Hornshole. It can be viewed on the Hawick Common Riding website and Facebook page at 6.30pm.

See this week’s Hawick Common Riding-themed nostalgia piece: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/teries-rally-round-1994s-hawick-cornet-robert-2874182