St Ronan's Border Games

Games Week

Introduction

Games Week 2001

St. Ronan’s Games and Cleikum Ceremonies is the Border Festival unique to Innerleithen. Instituted one-hundred and seventy-five years ago, there has been a summer gathering in Innerleithen every year since the inception of St. Ronan’s Border Games in 1827 (with the exception of periods of global conflict). Originally encompassing two days of competitive sport and evening entertainment “Games Week”, usually the third week in July, now spreads over eight days. Games Week is organised and conducted by an elected committee of townspeople, many of them past festival principals, assisted by other volunteers. Although a grant is received from the local authority the festival is mainly funded by sponsorship, donations and collections from the public.

Games Week

Race Round The Town 2002

Saturday A dance or ball is held on the evening of the Saturday immediately preceding Games Week. Known as the “Standard Bearer’s Club Night” this event gives the Standard Bearer Elect and his supporters the opportunity to entertain visiting principals from other Borders festivals in return for hospitality they themselves have received.

Sunday At 11am St. Ronan’s Silver Band leads the parade of principals along the High Street and on to the Parish Church for the “Kirkin’”, a special church service held to inaugurate Games Week. In the afternoon Innerleithen Pipe Band and St. Ronan’s Silver Band entertain the public in the High Street. This is followed by an archery competition in Victoria Park where contestants shoot for the St. Ronan’s Silver Arrow and the St. Ronan’s Bow.

Tag o' War 2002

Monday: A Car Treasure Hunt is held in the evening. Starting from the forecourt of Ballantyne Cashmere at 5.30pm and open to all, the first prize is a valuable cashmere garment.

Tuesday: The Children’s Sports and Treat take place in Victoria Park starting at 6.30pm. Following the sports at 8.15pm the younger children (4 – 7 years) are entertained by a professional children’s entertainer in the Parish Church Hall. A disco is held in the Memorial Hall for the older children (8 – 15 years).

Wednesday: This is traditionally a night off for Games committee members. There is, however, a Quiz Night held in and organised by Lodge St. Ronan’s No. 856 Social Club which is open to all.

Thursday: Judging for the Fancy Dress takes place at 7pm in Victoria Park. The Fancy Dress Parade assembles in Hall Street before proceeding along the High Street at 7.30pm accompanied by pipe and brass bands. This parade is always large and impressive, a spectacle not to be missed.

Fancy Dress Parade 2002

Friday: The Cleikum Ceremonies are held in the Memorial Hall, starting at 7pm. At 7.45pm the service “For the Fallen” takes place outside at the War Memorial and this is followed by another short outdoor ceremony at 8.30pm at St. Ronan’s Wells. There is an interval until 10.15pm when a Torchlight Procession departs Hall Street for Masonic Ceremony performed before the Runic Cross at the front of the Parish Church. At the conclusion of this event the festival principals, townsfolk and visitors, led by St. Ronan’s Silver Band, escort first the Dux Girl and then the Dux Boy to their respective homes.

The Cleikum

Saturday: The Children’s Flower Parade, led by the festival principals and accompanied by several brass and pipe bands, parades through the streets of the town, leaving from Hall Street at 11 o’clock in the morning. The next event is the “Race Round the Town” at 1.30pm and this is followed by a massed bands parade which leaves from the Vale Club. From 2 – 5pm St. Ronan’s Border Games are held in Victoria Park. As well as professional running on the track there are hill races, tug-o-war and entertainment for children. In the evening at 7pm Innerleithen Pipe Band and St. Ronan’s Silver Band perform “Beating the Retreat” in the High Street. At 10pm a Torchlight Procession of principals and members of the public departs from outside the Vale Club. About half an hour later the procession reaches the top of Caerlee Hill (beside TV mast) where, by putting a torch to the prepared bonfire, the Dux Boy (St. Ronan) enacts the culminating ceremony of Games Week – “Burning the De’il”.

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