Annan Riding of the Marches 2011

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2011 ROM Day Report
by Kevin Edgar (photographs by Kelly Barty - Country Images)

Saturday the 2th July was a wonderful sunny summer morning and at 7.45am there were around 106 horses on the Annan High street to be judged for the best turned out rider. The winning riders this year were Ashley McKenna and Bradey Maxwell.

As the Town Hall clock struck 8.00am the cavalcade led by Standard Bearer Anne Marie Hawrylkiw and accompanied by Chief Marshal Jim Hodgson, Cornet Connon Johnston and Cornet's Lass Keri Mattinson set off down the High Street and followed the river Annan downstream to Waterfoot where they made their way over the small creeks onto the Solway Sands.

Following the fishermen's tractors the horses had a good gallop past the old viaduct at Seafield and along the sandbank to the Alter Stane and then walked off at Battlehill.

Then it was uphill through Swordwell and Stapleton to the Chaplecross stop at Creca. After a short stop, for refreshments and a bacon roll, they were on their way to the heights of Jockstown, past Williamwood, through Mount Annan to the Landheads stop where the 7 year old boy Pardip Atwall was skelped through the hole in the hedge and the traditional snuff was handed out to the principals and spectators.

Next stop was the Everholm for the Chases and it was around 12.15 when they arrived as the exceptional weather had slowed the ride but produced a large crowd of spectators. It was great to see the three Johnstone generations riding the boundaries this year with Connon being supported by his dad Frank (Cornet 1983) and grandad Frank (Cornet 1956).

The Chases winners (pictured below) were:
Juvenile Chase - Lyndsey Mundell, Collin, Dumfries; Junior Chase - Niamh Dobie, Annan;
Cornet's Lasses Chase - Margaret Kane, Annan;
Cornet's Chase - Adrian Kane, Annan;
and The Open Chase - Vicky McGuiness, Lanark.

The 2011 Queen of the Border Miss Bethany Hutton and her retinue led another well supported, colourful parade with the display of 17 decorated floats and around 79 children following in fancy dress (see prize winners in right hand column and more images in the Gallery). The "Has Beens" with their "Lady Gaga" dance routine were again very popular with the crowds

The combination of the large crowds that turned out to view the parade at 1.00pm and the continuing sunshine meant there was an almost record attendance at the Annan Academy Sports fields at 2.10pm to view this year's entertainment which included the Flyin Ryan motorcycle stunt show, the Drakes of Hazard (sheepdog and ducks display team) and the RAF Spitfire fly past at 3.05pm. There was also the very busy Children's Sports and of course the keenly contested annual Pipe Band competitions consisting of bands from all over the UK.

At 5.45 pm the handing back of the Standard ceremony and presentation of trophies took place (see prize winners in right hand column).

This year 19 pipe bands marched up the High Street culminating in another marvellous finale to Annan's big day.

Next year will be 3rd year that the World Pipe Band Championships are being held in Annan the week before ROM and we are looking forward to another successful event.

Kevin Edgar
Marchriding Convener 2011

Photos provided by Kelly Barty, Country Images, 7 Gill Place, Dornock, Annan DG12 6SS - tel: 01461 40425 / 07791 676935

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