Following Lauder Common Riding on a Brompton

Not being a horseman I decided to watch the riders depart and then cycle up to the gathering at the Waterin' Stane above the town on Lauder Common. I took my Brompton C Line Explore with a Cytronex E conversion. This easily coped with the 725ft climb up Lauder Common. It was a spectacular sight with 180 riders participating especially the gallop across Lauder Common. The riders, led by the Cornet, are cheered on with quaint hurrahs. There is a special Lady Busser who presents the Burgh flag to the Cornet at the start of the day and receives it on its dafe return. A youngster is given the honour of presenting a wreath to the Cornet to lay at the Burgh war memorial at the end of the ride. Border's common riding has its origins in 1514 when a group of youths from Hawick captured an English banner in a skirmish the year after the Scottish defeat at Flodden. This features highly in Hawick's common riding. Lauder's common riding has different origins, originally having a religious basis being related to the ceremonial blessing of the lands, crops and the affairs of the Burgh. The Riding of the Marches (boundaries) points to a time when the Burgh Lands were not enclosed, and was a serious business – failure to attend could result in a fine of 5/- in the early 19th century. It ceased in the 1800s due to excessive drunkenness and galloping horses in the main street! It was revived in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V.