Kirkwall Ba' Game from Ogb3

ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 220 THE KIRKWALL BA’GAME UPPIES AND DOONIES 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 A good throw by Billy Jolly watched by Duncan Currie and Bobby Leslie defended again petty offi- cialdom. Kirkwall, by family influ- became established some- ence, or by the side their time before 1850, it was In Kirkwall, the two sides friends play on. only in the 1870s that it are the Uppies and the became really popular, part- Doonies, or more correctly, Originally the New Year’s ly because this was a normal Day Ba’ was the only game working day for many peo- A large scrum on Broad Street "Up the Gates" and "Doon the Gates" (ON Gata, path played. Although the ple. The Boys’ Ba’ also Every Christmas and New The game seems to have The French game of "soule" or road). Originally the side Christmas Day game became “official” about the Year's Day the "Ba'" is con- evolved to its present form was very like the Kirkwall any individual played on tested in the streets of since about 1800, or slightly Ba', according to contempo- was decided by whether he Kirkwall. The games are a earlier, but is in fact much rary descriptions, but died (or she) was born up or doon very important part of the older. “Old style football” out about the start of World the gate, or in modern parl- town’s calendar to every was a very popular diversion War I due to official sup- ance, street, but with recent keen player and spectator, in Orkney and elsewhere. pression. housing developments and but derided as barbaric and Its origins are undoubtedly with most births being in senseless by others. They ancient as there are records The Norse also liked sport, hospital, this tends to be are also very much a from Greek and Roman including ball games, and it decided by family loyalties Kirkwall phenomenon, times of ball games being seems that each parish has a nowadays. Which side fer- although there are a number played, and mass football Leaquoy (ON Leik-kvi, ryloupers (incomers) and of keen country players. seems to have been played games field). A loose form people from the isles or rural in Roman-occupied Britain. of football had occurred for areas take is either deter- a long time before 1800 on Eager hands at the throw-up mined by the route taken on the "Ba' Lea" on Old their first arrival in The Ba’ streaks down into the pack at 1pm on 1 January 2000 Christmas Day and Old New Year’s Day, as well as often A typical Men’s Ba’ A rare appearance during the game 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 220 221 ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 222 THE KIRKWALL BA’GAME UPPIES AND DOONIES same time. may also go down St Magnus Lane, or Castle The Men's Ba' is thrown up Street onto the open at 13:00 at the Market Cross Junction Road. Once there on the Kirk Green opposite either side may gain the the Cathedral, usually by an upper hand by means of a older Ba' stalwart, but very smuggle and run, or the occasionally by some public scrum may become immo- figure, with up to 200 play- bile in one of the many clos- ers eagerly awaiting the es and yards. chime of the bells. The Ba' However if the Uppies man- The Uppies struggle to push up past Tankerness House disappears into the scrum, The Doonies have a flatter push down Broad Street which may spend some con- age to enter Victoria Street, siderable time on Broad or the Doonies Albert Street, Street. Much exciting surg- the opposition have a much ing and turning play often harder time, due to the nar- occurs on this wider part of rowness and the press of the street, which can fre- often many hundreds of quently determine the final keen spectators. All the outcome. same the Ba' may be restrict- ed for several hours in any Large numbers of spectators of the many lanes and nei- line the Kirk Green and ther side never gives up the crowd around the scrum as it struggle until the end is Once in Victoria Street the Doonies have a hard time fighting back Once in Albert Street there is little the Uppies can do moves. Apart from the reached. Indeed breaks and action of the game it is a smuggles can occur at any great social occasion. time, including very near the Occasionally the Ba' appears opposing goal. out of the scrum and someone makes a dash through The Doonies goal is the sea, the crowds of onlookers. To normally within the Basin of the casual observer this can the Harbour, but so long as it happen at any moment, but is immersed in the salt water the seasoned Ba'-watcher of Kirkwall Bay, the Ba' has can often see what is hap- gone doon. The Uppies pening long before the Ba' must round Mackinson's The Ba’ makes an appearance at the bottom of Union Street suddenly erupts. Breaks Corner and touch the Ba’ to An Uppie rally at the “Big Tree” Heading towards the Uppie goal, but the Doonies keep up the fight sometimes occur on Broad the wall at the junction of But the Doonies push on down the street Street, but can occur any- Main Street with New Scapa where where one side gains Road, opposite the Catholic sufficient control of part of Church (also known as the scrum. Sandison’s Corner, the Long Corner or The Old Castle). The Doonies have the bene- Once Up or Doon, lengthy fit of a flat push to Albert argument often ensues Street, while the Uppies before a popular winner is have a hard push up an acclaimed. Tradition says incline to the top of that an Uppie win means a Tankerness Lane. The game good harvest, while a 222 223 ogb 3 collated.qxp 28/11/2005 09:31 Page 224 THE KIRKWALL BA’GAME UPPIES AND DOONIES Doonie success will bring quite often by pushing. good fishing. Girls frequently appear in the boys' Ba' as well. When the winner is finally decided, many players of The town takes on an both sides repair to the his appearance of siege during house, where much needed the period of the Ba', with refreshment rapidly appears shutters and barricades on and enemies during the all the shops and houses on game revert to being the best possible Ba' routes. Cars of friends. To Ba' enthusi- come near at their very real The Uppies are well in control and about to engineer a break asts the ultimate honour is to peril, while young children Steam often rises from the scrum have the trophy of the game, and elderly people are well the Ba itself, hanging in the advised to keep clear. living room window. However, due to the great sense of the camaraderie of The Boys' Ba' is thrown up the game, very few players at 10.30 and is open to boys get hurt badly so that if the under 16. It can last for a scrum collapses, or someone few minutes, or several is hurt, or passes out, the hours and often has not been game stops to allow them to resolved when the Men's Ba' be extricated. is thrown up. Indeed on a few rare occasions the boys’ At one time there was con- Mackieson’s Corner is the Uppie goal A very large pack nears The Bridge - Doonie territory game has continued for cern that the Ba' might die some time after the men’s out and it certainly has peaks game has finished. The boys and troughs of enthusiasm. too elect the winner after At present the tradition is in each game. Many boys gain no danger of dying out and their apprenticeship to the seems to go from strength to adult game and go on to strength. In the past various become Men's Ba' winners authorities such as Town in the future. Councils, sheriffs and others have tried to ban it or relo- In Christmas 1945 and New cate it from the street. It Year 1946 the spirit of seems that any all such The Ba’ must touch the wall at the corner to be “Up” equality prevailing after the attempts are doomed to total The Doonies must get the ball in the sea - usually the Harbour Basin A triumphant Uppie winner Second World War encour- failure for the foreseeable Triumphant Doonies celebrate another win aged Women's Ba's to be future. Although it may held for the first and only seem slight an anachronism times so far. Apparently the in the early 21st century, the menfolk did not like their Ba’ is in fact a very impor- ladies to be taking part in tant. The tradition is very such a violent kind of game well supported and apart and the experiment has to from the game itself, it is a date not been repeated.

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