Jedburgh

Hand Ba’ is played in Denholm, Duns, Hobkirk, Jedburgh and Roxburgh. Jedburgh is probably the largest game in the Borders where it can be traced back to at least 1704. Play starts at the Mercat Cross in the centre of the town on the Thursday after Shrove Tuesday. The uppies, who first entered the town or were born south of the Mercat Cross, hail (score) the ba’ at the top of the Castlegate by throwing the ba’ over a fence at Jedburgh Castle. The doonies, who first entered the town or were born to the north, hail by rolling the ba’ over a drain (hailing used to be done by throwing the ba’ over a burn which has now been built over, the drain is directly above the burn) in the road at a street just off the bottom of High Street. The laddies’ game starts at midday and the men’s game at 2pm. Both games run until the last ba’ has been hailed. Most years this means that both games are running at the same time. There is no boundary as to where the game is played, with most oft he play occurring in the town centre. This can prove awkward for shoppers, trying to avoid getting caught up in the game, and shopkeepers, many of whom put shutters on their doors and windows.