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THE KIRKWALL BA’GAME UPPIES AND DOONIES · ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 222. quite...
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played on Shrove Tuesday or Fastern’s E’en. However it only now survives in a few towns in Scotland and England, such as Jedburgh, Duns, Ancrum, Sedgfield, Alnwick, Ashbourne and Workington. Where it has survived the game has become like the Kirkwall one in most cases, with fixed goals and more hand than foot play. In each case the tradition has had to be defended again petty offi- cialdom. In Kirkwall, the two sides are the Uppies and the Doonies, or more correctly, "Up the Gates" and "Doon the Gates" (ON Gata, path or road). Originally the side any individual played on was decided by whether he (or she) was born up or doon the gate, or in modern parl- ance, street, but with recent housing developments and with most births being in hospital, this tends to be decided by family loyalties nowadays. Which side fer- ryloupers (incomers) and people from the isles or rural areas take is either deter- mined by the route taken on their first arrival in Kirkwall, by family influ- ence, or by the side their friends play on. Originally the New Year’s Day Ba’ was the only game played. Although the Christmas Day game became established some- time before 1850, it was only in the 1870s that it became really popular, part- ly because this was a normal working day for many peo- ple. The Boys’ Ba’ also became “official” about the 221 UPPIES AND DOONIES A good throw by Billy Jolly watched by Duncan Currie and Bobby Leslie A rare appearance during the game The Ba’ streaks down into the pack at 1pm on 1 January 2000 A typical Men’s Ba’ Every Christmas and New Year's Day the "Ba'" is con- tested in the streets of Kirkwall. The games are a very important part of the town’s calendar to every keen player and spectator, but derided as barbaric and senseless by others. They are also very much a Kirkwall phenomenon, although there are a number of keen country players. The game seems to have evolved to its present form since about 1800, or slightly earlier, but is in fact much older. “Old style football” was a very popular diversion in Orkney and elsewhere. Its origins are undoubtedly ancient as there are records from Greek and Roman times of ball games being played, and mass football seems to have been played in Roman-occupied Britain. The French game of "soule" was very like the Kirkwall Ba', according to contempo- rary descriptions, but died out about the start of World War I due to official sup- pression. The Norse also liked sport, including ball games, and it seems that each parish has a Leaquoy (ON Leik-kvi, games field). A loose form of football had occurred for a long time before 1800 on the "Ba' Lea" on Old Christmas Day and Old New Year’s Day, as well as often after weddings and for other special occasions. It was not until the mid-1800s that the Gregorian calendar was uni- versally adopted in Orkney. Street football was popular in the past in Britain and France and was mostly 220 THE KIRKWALL BA ’GAME A large scrum on Broad Street Eager hands at the throw-up ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 220
Transcript of THE KIRKWALL BA’GAME UPPIES AND DOONIES · ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 222. quite...
played on Shrove Tuesdayor Fastern’s E’en. Howeverit only now survives in a fewtowns in Scotland andEngland, such as Jedburgh,Duns, Ancrum, Sedgfield,Alnwick, Ashbourne andWorkington. Where it hassurvived the game hasbecome like the Kirkwallone in most cases, with fixedgoals and more hand thanfoot play. In each case thetradition has had to bedefended again petty offi-cialdom.
In Kirkwall, the two sidesare the Uppies and theDoonies, or more correctly,"Up the Gates" and "Doonthe Gates" (ON Gata, pathor road). Originally the sideany individual played onwas decided by whether he(or she) was born up or doonthe gate, or in modern parl-ance, street, but with recenthousing developments andwith most births being inhospital, this tends to bedecided by family loyaltiesnowadays. Which side fer-ryloupers (incomers) andpeople from the isles or ruralareas take is either deter-mined by the route taken ontheir first arrival in
Kirkwall, by family influ-ence, or by the side theirfriends play on.
Originally the New Year’sDay Ba’ was the only gameplayed. Although theChristmas Day game
became established some-time before 1850, it wasonly in the 1870s that itbecame really popular, part-ly because this was a normalworking day for many peo-ple. The Boys’ Ba’ alsobecame “official” about the
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UPPIES AND DOONIES
A good throw by Billy Jolly watched by Duncan Currie and Bobby Leslie
A rare appearance during the game
The Ba’ streaks down into the pack at 1pm on 1 January 2000
A typical Men’s Ba’
Every Christmas and NewYear's Day the "Ba'" is con-tested in the streets ofKirkwall. The games are avery important part of thetown’s calendar to everykeen player and spectator,but derided as barbaric andsenseless by others. Theyare also very much aKirkwall phenomenon,although there are a numberof keen country players.
The game seems to haveevolved to its present formsince about 1800, or slightlyearlier, but is in fact mucholder. “Old style football”was a very popular diversionin Orkney and elsewhere.Its origins are undoubtedlyancient as there are recordsfrom Greek and Romantimes of ball games beingplayed, and mass footballseems to have been playedin Roman-occupied Britain.
The French game of "soule"was very like the KirkwallBa', according to contempo-rary descriptions, but diedout about the start of WorldWar I due to official sup-pression.
The Norse also liked sport,including ball games, and itseems that each parish has aLeaquoy (ON Leik-kvi,games field). A loose formof football had occurred fora long time before 1800 onthe "Ba' Lea" on OldChristmas Day and Old NewYear’s Day, as well as oftenafter weddings and for otherspecial occasions. It was notuntil the mid-1800s that theGregorian calendar was uni-versally adopted in Orkney.
Street football was popularin the past in Britain andFrance and was mostly
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THE KIRKWALL BA’ GAME
A large scrum on Broad Street
Eager hands at the throw-up
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may also go down StMagnus Lane, or CastleStreet onto the openJunction Road. Once thereeither side may gain theupper hand by means of asmuggle and run, or thescrum may become immo-bile in one of the many clos-es and yards.
However if the Uppies man-age to enter Victoria Street,or the Doonies Albert Street,the opposition have a muchharder time, due to the nar-rowness and the press ofoften many hundreds ofkeen spectators. All thesame the Ba' may be restrict-ed for several hours in anyof the many lanes and nei-ther side never gives up thestruggle until the end isreached. Indeed breaks andsmuggles can occur at anytime, including very near theopposing goal.
The Doonies goal is the sea,normally within the Basin ofthe Harbour, but so long as itis immersed in the salt waterof Kirkwall Bay, the Ba' hasgone doon. The Uppiesmust round Mackinson'sCorner and touch the Ba’ tothe wall at the junction ofMain Street with New ScapaRoad, opposite the CatholicChurch (also known asSandison’s Corner, the LongCorner or The Old Castle).Once Up or Doon, lengthyargument often ensuesbefore a popular winner isacclaimed. Tradition saysthat an Uppie win means agood harvest, while a
UPPIES AND DOONIES
The Doonies have a flatter push down Broad Street
But the Doonies push on down the street
Once in Albert Street there is little the Uppies can do
An Uppie rally at the “Big Tree”
same time.
The Men's Ba' is thrown upat 13:00 at the Market Crosson the Kirk Green oppositethe Cathedral, usually by anolder Ba' stalwart, but veryoccasionally by some publicfigure, with up to 200 play-ers eagerly awaiting thechime of the bells. The Ba'disappears into the scrum,which may spend some con-siderable time on BroadStreet. Much exciting surg-ing and turning play oftenoccurs on this wider part ofthe street, which can fre-quently determine the finaloutcome.
Large numbers of spectatorsline the Kirk Green andcrowd around the scrum as itmoves. Apart from theaction of the game it is agreat social occasion.Occasionally the Ba' appearsout of the scrum and some-one makes a dash throughthe crowds of onlookers. Tothe casual observer this canhappen at any moment, butthe seasoned Ba'-watchercan often see what is hap-pening long before the Ba'suddenly erupts. Breakssometimes occur on BroadStreet, but can occur any-where where one side gainssufficient control of part ofthe scrum.
The Doonies have the bene-fit of a flat push to AlbertStreet, while the Uppieshave a hard push up anincline to the top ofTankerness Lane. The game
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THE KIRKWALL BA’ GAME
The Uppies struggle to push up past Tankerness House
Heading towards the Uppie goal, but the Doonies keep up the fight
Once in Victoria Street the Doonies have a hard time fighting back
The Ba’ makes an appearance at the bottom of Union Street
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quite often by pushing.Girls frequently appear inthe boys' Ba' as well.
The town takes on anappearance of siege duringthe period of the Ba', withshutters and barricades onall the shops and houses onpossible Ba' routes. Carscome near at their very realperil, while young childrenand elderly people are welladvised to keep clear.However, due to the greatsense of the camaraderie ofthe game, very few playersget hurt badly so that if thescrum collapses, or someoneis hurt, or passes out, thegame stops to allow them tobe extricated.
At one time there was con-cern that the Ba' might dieout and it certainly has peaksand troughs of enthusiasm.At present the tradition is inno danger of dying out andseems to go from strength tostrength. In the past variousauthorities such as TownCouncils, sheriffs and othershave tried to ban it or relo-cate it from the street. Itseems that any all suchattempts are doomed to totalfailure for the foreseeablefuture. Although it mayseem slight an anachronismin the early 21st century, theBa’ is in fact a very impor-tant. The tradition is verywell supported and apartfrom the game itself, it is agreat social occasion for allwho participate, whether asplayers or spectators.
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UPPIES AND DOONIES
Steam often rises from the scrum
Triumphant Doonies celebrate another win
A very large pack nears The Bridge - Doonie territory
The Doonies must get the ball in the sea - usually the Harbour Basin
Doonie success will bringgood fishing.
When the winner is finallydecided, many players ofboth sides repair to the hishouse, where much neededrefreshment rapidly appearsand enemies during thegame revert to being the bestof friends. To Ba' enthusi-asts the ultimate honour is tohave the trophy of the game,the Ba itself, hanging in theliving room window.
The Boys' Ba' is thrown upat 10.30 and is open to boysunder 16. It can last for afew minutes, or severalhours and often has not beenresolved when the Men's Ba'is thrown up. Indeed on afew rare occasions the boys’game has continued forsome time after the men’sgame has finished. The boystoo elect the winner aftereach game. Many boys gaintheir apprenticeship to theadult game and go on tobecome Men's Ba' winnersin the future.
In Christmas 1945 and NewYear 1946 the spirit ofequality prevailing after theSecond World War encour-aged Women's Ba's to beheld for the first and onlytimes so far. Apparently themenfolk did not like theirladies to be taking part insuch a violent kind of gameand the experiment has todate not been repeated. Allthe same many women takea strong part in the game,mostly with their voices, but
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The Uppies are well in control and about to engineer a break
A triumphant Uppie winner
Mackieson’s Corner is the Uppie goal
The Ba’ must touch the wall at the corner to be “Up”
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