This year’s Copshaw
Common Riding took place on Saturday July 4th, on a bright sunny
day, and was attended by the largest group of followers since the Pied Piper,
now I’m not saying that Tub Jackson could charm the rats from the streets, in
fact he is very scared of rats, which is something we found out during the
preparations, but that is a story for another day!! But he certainly charmed
the 129 riders and 621 onlookers as he prepared to start his big day, a day
that was to prove in typical Common Riding tradition as the “Best Yit”
The day started
bright and early with the Hound Trail, this produced the closest finish in the
events history, with a thrilling race, where the eventual winner Tune just beat
the local hound Castle Cairn, the Copshaw trail is very keenly fought, and is
something every dog wants on it’s CV, indeed the prize money is the largest
that is raced for at any event, thanks in no small part to Les “Skippy” Calvert
who once again sponsored the 1st place prize money, thanks to Skippy
and also to Podge and Robert who have to get up even earlier to lay the trail.
The Hound Trail cup
was presented by Tub Jackson, and we also had the other various prizes judged
and presented, before the crying of the 1st Fair. The best turned
out rider adult version, was won by Nick and Brenda Thompson, if they couldn’t
win the window this year they were determined to get something! The best turned
out child version was won by young Jake Foster, we are going to be spoilt for
choice for Tubs in 20 years time! Many thanks to Margaret Imrie who judged both
and sponsored the kids. The best shop window this year was won by Holm
Hardware, judged by the Tub, presented by the Tub and starring the Tub!! Some
of the pictures of Peter were hilarious, especially the pre-war days!!
Elizabeth and Tom of
Costcutters fame were made honorary life members, and well deserved, they have
sponsored us almost from the start and remember if you can’t find what you want
in Costcutters, it’s because they’ve no got any!!
This years song was
then sung by the official singer of the song, Martin Richardson, and was
written by Nichol and Nichol, look out Lennon and McCartney! (oh well maybe not
Lennon, he’ll have a job to look out!)
At last the Tubs
chase got underway, 123 riders of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness! Trying
to make it as far up the hill as possible or at least trying to get far enough
so that folk couldn’t see them walking! This year’s chase winner was Mick Rick,
although there is some confusion over this, as he was seen getting out of a motorised
vehicle, he was subject to a fitness check just to make sure and was pronounced
to be as fit as a man twice his age!
This year the Tub was
entertained by a mixture of songs and jokes, some funny, some confusing and
some the reason why it is over 16s only in the shed!
On to the cutting of
the sod, the snogging of the aforementioned sod and the supping of the Tequila,
thanks to our twin village of Bossuumer Ponuuk in Mexico for sending over the
Tequila and to Duster for preparing the sacred ground again.
There was an enormous
crowd awaiting the riders when we got down to The Olive Tree, for the gathering
of the Copshaw emblems, the Barley Fadge and the Kipper and thanks to Ann
Louise for feeding the riders and giving the principals a wee nip and a bite to
eat. This years emblem carriers were common riding virgins, Ian (Cuthy)
Cuthbert and Ian (Wullie) Carson, and a grand job they made of it Cuthy of
course being days away from his 50th birthday, hopefully his aching
bones will have recovered by now!
Tom and Margaret
Imrie were presented with their honorary life member rosettes, they have been
firm supporters for many years and their help is always appreciated.
The Toblerone and
Whisky ceremony at the Holm Brig was a bit of a worry as there is a weight
restriction on the Brig now and with all the riders, it sounded like it was
creaking! But maybe it was old Erup’s ghost making his presence felt!
After the, by now,
traditional stop off at the Trap for some energising drinks and a couple of
songs, we made our way to Fred’s corner for the Touching Cloth ceremony, this
takes place on the “Healing Stane” if anyone does happen to see someone
standing on the stane, in a gale force wind and teaming rain, please contact
the nearest yellow van, and get them carted off!
Gilly Fraser of TV
and Mills and Boon fame has her own place in common riding tradition and ex Tub
Cuthbert 1st, does a grand job of crying this particular piece of
history, all details of course are historically incorrect!
The final boundary is
of course Dykehead, where we are warmly welcomed every year by GQ magazines 897th
most eligible bachelor Thumbie, now not many people know how Thumbie got his
nickname, but I can reveal that he actually has 3 thumbs!! When he was a boy he
was called 3 thumbs Billy, but this has since been shortened to Thumbie, we
have been entertained at Dykehead for many years and long may it continue. This
year’s all new ancient tradition took place at Dykehead and commemorated the
last train and the Rev Brydon Mabon!! How this was translated into Bridies from
Bridekirk can only be imagined and even then you would need some imagination!
The largest cavalcade
on bikes ever to take place in Copshaw then proceeded to follow the Tub around
the streets of the Holm, stopping off this year at the Lidalia caravan park for
a drink with Eddie, now not many get a round of drinks in for a 100 folk!!
This years Garden
party and Sports were blessed with good weather, and were a great success, some
not so traditional events taking place, such as 4 legged races, backwards
running races and egg Russian roulette! Honestly you had to be there to make
sense of it all!! Thanks to all the race sponsors and special thanks to Karen
and Danny for manning the hot dog stall and bar. Without all this support we
wouldn’t be able to manage on our own!! Also thanks to Helena for the
electricity, I’m hoping she knows we were plugged in at her house!
The day was capped
off with a great performance from the Jed Pipe Band, marching from the Trap to
the hall, where we opened the Festival winners’ concert, with a rousing
rendition of Tub Jackson’s song, it seemed to be appreciated, but there were
some blank looks, I’ve no idea why anyone would be confused!
The final crying of
the fair was held in front of a record crowd, we couldn’t get a final total as
everyone ran out of fingers to count with and Thumbie only has 3 thumbs! But
believe me there was a lot of folk and all in good spirits (or full of good
spirits) and when Tub Jackson gave his one word speech you could have heard a
pin drop, well admittedly a very big pin but all the same!!
The last event of a
busy, funny, friendly, fantastic day, was the shaving of the Tash, performed by
ex paper girl and Debenhams window dresser, Brenda, this was not for the faint
hearted, but to everyone’s surprise, there was no blood, and a clean shaven Tub
emerged looking day’s younger!
Finally I have an
awful lot of people to thank, whose names haven’t been included so far, I can’t
name them all or we would have to have a special Common Riding Clatter! But
Peter and Campbell in the shed, the Polysport and the Football Club for the
sports, all the shops that sold our merchandise (and still have some left!) all
the girls collecting with the buckets, everyone that sponsored Peters Tash or threw
some money in a bucket, and from a personal point, all the committee that
helped with Tents, Bars, Bales, Drink, Tables, and everything else that needs
to be done to make sure everyone has a great day, it’s a fair bit of work, but
worth it, and if anyone can bottle the energy and enthusiasm of Phillip then
they will make a fortune, I hope I’m like that when I turn 60!!
The next Common
Riding event will be the Honours night, where the majority of the money raised
thanks to the good folk of the Holm and beyond will be donated back to
deserving local causes.
