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Yelsnot - The Second Chapter
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Hound Trailing dates from
the 18th Century and is carried out throughout the Summer months. It is controlled
by the Hound Trailing Association. Essentially it consists of races between Trail
Hounds following a scent. Trail Hounds
are specially bred for the purpose, and, like other dogs, e.g. collies, that seem
to have a hereditary instinct for controlling sheep, they have an instinct for
following a scent at speed. There is said to be some fox hound in their lineage,
but they are much bigger and more human friendly. The
Races are held over fells, mountains, valleys, bogs and woods etc. For Senior
dogs, the race is 10 miles long and for juniors 5 miles. A trail is laid by two
men, one at each end of the course, walking in opposite directions, dragging behind
them a sack soaked in an aniseed solution. They meet in the middle and so the
trail is laid. The 10 mile race takes about 40 minutes. The
competitors arrive with their hounds in boxes with wire netting fronts, in the
back of their cars. There is much yelping and barking by the dogs in anticipation At
the meeting point, there is the committee and secretary, umpires and starters,
a vehicle tent or truck. The bookmakers have their stands with the odds marked
up as in horse racing. There is also a refreshment stall. There was no alcohol,
but I am told there is at major meetings like the Annual Championships. As
the time draws near, the owners lead the hounds out on leads and the dogs go frantic
with excitement. As the trail layer walks towards them, the noise reaches a crescendo.
The owners slip the leads and hold the hounds by the scruff of the neck and at
the word, let them go. They set off at full speed still yelping and disappear
into the distance. Then everybody
congregates on vantage points armed with binoculars and soon, far away on top
of a distant Fell, a flock of sheep dashes for safety, and then a line of white
dots appears. In some miraculous way, the aficionados can tell which dog is which
and relate the state of the race to each other. This happens several times and
then the owners congregate on the finishing line, armed with a dish of food and
a bowl of water. They all start shouting
their individual calls or whistles or sounds, and the dogs come hurtling in. The
food is hoovered up in seconds and the water lapped up, also at speed. The bookies
pay up! There are quite a few injuries,
mostly lacerations on bellies and legs caused by thorns or barbed wire, or on
pads caused by hard ground or rocks or stones. These are treated on the spot and
bound up. Occasionally these are bad enough to prevent the dog finishing and then
a worried owner has to retrace the trail to bring him in. Hounds
start training at 6 months old and then race for years. Their diet is strictly
controlled, high protein pellets and vegetable mask, sherry and raw eggs. Each
owner has his own plan. When an owner
told me she gave her dog Sherry she added "And not cheap English Sherry,
but proper Spanish stuff", 1 wish I had reacted quickly and asked "Sweet
or Dry?!" |  |
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Wanlockhead calls itself the
"highest Village in Scotland". It is in the North of Dumfries itself. It
is tiny, population about 150 and has a river running through it. Its only amenity
is a pub. In the 18th and 19th Centuries,
it was a centre for lead mining, with occasional finds of small amounts of gold.
There is a museum of mining, and a section of the mine and some miners' cottages
are still there preserved for the tourists. Gold
Panning, made famous in the 19th Century in the "Gold Rushes" in North
America, consists of trying to find gold in mud by oscillating it under water
in a pan. The lighter mud is washed away and the heavier gold, if any, sinks to
the bottom and is recovered. This skill has become a "sport" on a worldwide
basis. I have enclosed some blurb on this. The
"Field of Play" (see picture) consists of about 10 tanks containing
water about knee deep. The pans are plastic, shaped like deep dinner plates, and
about 18 inches or more in diameter. The
competitors come from all over the U.K. and abroad as well. The "uniform"
is a slouch hat usually covered in badges and waterproof trousers. It rained very
hard, and a very strong wind blew too while I was there. But events carried on
just the same as it is a pretty wet performance anyway. Competitors
are allocated one to each tank. They are handed "test tubes" containing
minute flecks of gold, about 2mm in diameter and paper thin. There may be any
number from five to twelve. These are carefully checked with the umpire. Each
"race" has the same number for each competitor. The flecks go in the
pan and mud, supplied in buckets, is added. They stand in the water in the tank
and, at the word "go", they start oscillating gently under the water.
They are timed, usually 20 minutes, and at the end of that time, the amount of
gold flecks recovered is counted. There is a complex system of both plus and penalty
points and so the winner is the one with the highest marks. There are various
heats leading to a final in each category. The
umpire called out the time as each period of 5 minutes passes. The onlookers go
in for much badinage and laughter while the competitors earnestly go jiggling
away. The judges, when all is over, go in for much counting, calculating and verifying
before they announce the results which are received with cheers and applause. They
were a friendly lot, anxious to inform and explain, and of course were much intrigued
by the Tonsley Cap. |  |

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The Museum is a very modern
building, large and beautifully appointed and well worth a visit at any time.
The Horseshoe Show
was about a mile away, on the site, up a track to a farm. We were conveyed there
in a large trailer with seats, towed by a tractor and driven by a lady. The
site was a large barn, long and open on one side on which was a collapsible "grandstand"
on wheels. A rope kept spectators at a safe distance from the scene of the action.
The scene of action was a line of about 8 furnaces (presumably gas fired) up against
a long wall. We
were told it takes 4 years and 2 months for a blacksmith to qualify and become
a member (if he passes the examination) of the British Federation of Blacksmiths,
which dates from the 14th Century and is based in London. On
the right were four furnaces, each manned by two chaps still training. Their job
was to make a horseshoe of the same size and pattern as one of the four examples.
There is a time limit so they work fast. One chap seems to do most of the hammering
and his partner attends to the heating. There is much taking the prospective shoe,
which starts life as a piece of straight metal, back and forth and measuring and
shaping with occasional clouds of steam, as the shoe is plunged into water. Hammering
ad infinitum goes on all the time. On
the left the competition is for qualified chaps, older and more mature and looking
very powerful and this is the horseshoeing part. Two working farm horses, each
with one front and one rear hoof unshod, wait for attention. Again the men work
in pairs and again there is a time limit. Further the shoes have to be made from
two pieces of metal which have to be welded together before they can start. The
preparation of the hoof is the part that a spectator sees most. The heating and
shaping of the shoe goes on furthest away but right in front the chap is cutting
into the hoof removing lots of surplus tissue, shaping, deepening, measuring,
dashing back and forth to the furnace. The process of cleaning the hoof looks
very painful and cruel but it is not. The hoof consists of Kerotin (like our own
nails) and the horse feels nothing and is unconcerned. At
last is it considered ready and the shoe has been made. Red hot, it is applied
to the prepared hoof and clouds of smoke are raised. The horse is totally unconcerned.
Again more shaping and alteration to both hoof and shoe ensue and finally the
holes are made for the nails, and the shoe is hammered on. White
coated judges move through the scene, marking and observing the work. Occasionally
a competitor refers to them when he encounters an unexpected problem and the judge
examines and decides. The time limit for the two shoes was 70 minutes. Nobody
finished on time, so everybody lost marks. We
were told that working farm horses should have two shoes, left front and right
back, and then right front and left back, redone every six weeks and the cost
is £100 a time. We left before
the end because we had a 70 mile journey back home. I
should add that I was amazed to see a young girl taking part in the beginners
section, and she hammered as hard as the males. |  |
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FISA stands for "Federation
Internationale de Societies d'Anvirons". The International Regulatory
body of Rowing which is based in Switzerland. The
Masters Regatta is an annual Regatta held in different countries, (Last year Budapest,
next year Princeton) for older male and female rowers. Strathclyde
Park, ten miles south of Glasgow, is the site of the Scottish International Rowing
course, the only one in the U.K. with eight rowing lanes, and the home of SARA
(Scottish Amateur Rowing Association) and the Scottish National Rowing Academy
which has lecture rooms, videos, coaching area, and a P.E. gym well stocked, including
a static rowing "Eight" on water, and a restaurant and cafe/bar, showers
and dressing rooms. As
an active, now land rowing only, member of the Nithsdale Amateur Rowing Club,
I had assisted at the World Rowing Championships held here in 1996. I therefore
responded again to the call for volunteers to help run the Masters, and was appointed
to the same job i.e. a member of the Information Team and a Spanish Interpreter. The
lowest age allowed to compete is 26 and the oldest 76+. Classes are arranged,
A to I, in average ages of crews, the oldest being average 75 or more. All types
of races, fours, eights, sculls, double sculls etc. are represented. Evidence
of age e.g. Passport must be produced with entry. Many
additional tents and temporary buildings are added to the site including an
enormous tent with restaurant, a grandstand, extra showers and changing tents.
In the restaurant tent, there was also a grandstand for the numerous bands which
performed throughout and a sitting area inside and outside, plus dance floor,
bar etc. The number
of active rowers taking part was about 3200 and their attendants coaches etc.
numbered another 3000. They brought with them 2500 boats each crew also bringing
their own oars and there were another 250 boats available for hire. Space had
to be found for the required boat racks. The youngest competitor was aged 27 and
the oldest 86, who won his sculls race. They came from 33 countries, as far afield
as Russia, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and South America. Most represented
a club. The Information
Team was housed in a large cabin together with the Entries Section, the Finance
Section (changing of money, fees etc.) the Transport and Accommodation, and
Entertainments Section. Our job was to receive people coming in, direct them to
the right section, give them the draw in different events, the programme for the
day, results and anything else. We never stopped all day and there were endless
questions and requests such as a Lithuanian, with no English who wanted to find
a Stud for breeding Clydesdale Horses! Another difficult one was the Italian woman,
who wanted to change a Ryanair flight. Also many questions about visiting other
places in Scotland. There were a very few
complaints too! The majority stayed
in the hotels in Glasgow and a special bus ran every 30 minutes from 7am to 11pm
stopping at various convenient points throughout the day. For those staying in
the two hotels in the Park or the caravan and camping sites, there was a funny
little "train" which ran round and round all day. Strathclyde
Park is situated 65 miles north of my home. I would drive up, mostly motorway
M74, to arrive at 7am to open the office. There would already be people practising
on the loch and the first race was at 8.30am and the last at 5.30pm They took
place every 3 minutes and only became delayed the day we had a strong wind and
rain. I would have breakfast when others joined me. The restaurant opened at 6am
and the bar 11am to 11 pm. I would leave at 4pm. We
were given a uniform and cap and a £5 voucher for lunch. We consisted of
about 5 people regularly. My Spanish was very useful to some people who were very
relieved to find me! I frequently received a handshake and relieved thanks! Watching
the races, one soon discerned a pattern. The races, in all categories tended to
divide into 3 groups. The first of about 3 crews, would consist of past stars
of the Olympics, Boat Race or their equivalent, people who had rowed all their
lives and achieved high powered success. After a gap, the second group would be
club crews from more humble life long rowers. After another gap, the final group
would be those who did not take rowing too seriously, had thought the whole trip
would be fun and had cobbled a crew together, perhaps from different clubs, hardly
done any training, and were happy to provide "the rear party". The
course was 1,000 metres instead of the usual 2,000. On the last day the races
were confined to mixed, men and women, crews. was left with admiration for the
superb organisation, the committment of the rowers, and their immense height,
of men, well over 6 ft, except the Japanese, and the women nearly 6 feet. |  |
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Dog Sports Scotland is the
organisation that runs this event. Originating from the Husky Dog teams used in
Northern Canada which function as normal transport, but also in sporting events,
it seems that racing goes on in many parts of the world using three wheeler buggies
where snow is not available. The
buggies are like tricycles, with two rear wheels and one front. Brakes work on
the back wheels, and the front wheel is used for steering with handlebars. The
driver stands on a slat. The
dogs are mainly huskies but, surprisingly, ordinary dogs also participate, and
with equal enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of the dogs is the most outstanding feature.
While waiting,
they are mostly placid with occasional barks. But once they are hitched up, there
is a cacophony of barking and yowling and straining to get away. They are restrained
by helpers but as soon as the starter gives the "Go" and restrainers
release them, they tear off like rockets with much barking. The
event I attended had a course of 3.5 miles. It consists of an uneven muddy track,
which winds about, up and down, through the forest. The buggies sometimes overturn
on the bends. Teams can be of six, four, three and even two dogs. Teams
are let go singly, at intervals. Results depend on times of starting and arrival
at the finish. When they arrive back, they seem to be still going flat out. But
when they stop, there is little barking, but much panting with tongues hanging
out. There are
shouts of words of command, but I am told it is nigh impossible to stop them in
the middle of the course, except by locking the brakes. Even then it takes time
for the intention to sink in. The
whole scene is one of many vans, with dogs in their compartments, or tied up outside.
The drivers' waterproof clothes are usually covered in mud. The incessant barking
and yowling has to be heard to be believed. My pictures have captions and I have
enclosed a newspaper cutting which refers to an event last March, which I attended,
but forgot to take the camera. The
participants come from all parts of the country. Some from far away, or even from
other countries. There is camaraderie between them and much discussion goes on
about dogs, courses or kit. It is a world of its own. |  |

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Up Helly Aa is a traditional
Shetland Festival of Viking origin that has gone through many changes over the
years, but now consists essentially of a torchlight parade and the burning of
a boat. Going there in a 36 seater
twin airscrew plane is a far cry from a Boeing 737. It to &12 hours from Glasgow
(stopping at Inverness and Kirkwall) and a lot of the time, I was looking out
of the window to make sure the propellers were still going round! On
the day before the festival, I attended a short lecture and walking tour of the
town to learn the route and discover the best place to watch the parade. The lecturer
described the gift of Orkney and Shetland to the Scots King in the 15th Century
as dowry for the Viking Princess who married King James III as the "greatest
disaster in Shetland history". Nevertheless DNA testing of today's Shetlanders
shows that 96°0 of them are of Viking descent. During
the year the boat builders lovingly construct a 30ft Viking long-boat. It is beautifully
made, painted and varnished. Also the torch makers make over a thousand 6/8ft
long torches. The proclamation by
the Guizer Jarl (pronounced Guy Zer Yaroll) the day before heralds the occasion.
The day itself,(which, like all our days there, was bright and sunny with a clear
blue sky) was started with the Guizer Jarl, who is the elected leader for the
year, accompanied by about 100 Guizers, attired in Viking Clothes and wearing
helmets, bringing the boat which is mounted on a wagon and attended by the Pipe
Ban to the British Legion. A crowd assembles and the boat is escorted by these
100 Guizers armed with fearsome huge axes and shouting war cries in unison. The
boat is wheeled by underlings and the brass band plays them down to the port where
it is left on show for the day. At
7 p.m. we joined the crowd by a wall which we could lean on, observe the parade
which passed that point twice, and look over the wall to the boat-burning place
about 50 yards away. Far away you can hear the music and then a gun goes off,
torches are lit and the street lights go out. You Can now make out hundreds of
lights up a hill from us. Don they come with the brass band playing and it is
quite a sight. As they pass us, the
first 900 are Guizers in Viking clothes, organised in squads, each with its own
Jarl. Different kinds of helmets denote different ranks. The flaming torches give
out some heat. They are followed by the squads in various kinds of joke clothes,
e.g. chickens, cavemen, angels and devils etc. also carrying torches. Only the
occasional woman is on parade. Eventually
the boat is brought to the burning place in the field and all (about 1500 or more)
surround it. The band plays the Viking song which they sing lustily, knowing the
words, like the Welsh crowd in Cardiff. The singing stops, a signal is given,
and they advance in an orderly manner and throw their torches into the boat. The
band keeps playing and we watched it burn almost to extinction. A firework display
then took place. At 9 p.m. the
night's festivities start. Round the town there are about 15 "Halls".
Our Hotel is one. These are visited throughout the night by the squads, who perform
their little acts. No booze is supplied in the Hall, but you can take your own
which we did. After their little act, the members have a right to ask any woman
spectator to dance. The dances are Scottish, Eightsome Reels, Strip the Willow
etc. Then another squad appears and so it goes on throughout the night. We lasted
till 12 midnight. Their stamina is
terrific. The squads move from place to place in minibuses and have their drinks
in them. Our band played from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. The Guizer Jarl squad visits each
hall once. We were told that at 6 a.m. there were still 150 spectators left and
5 squads yet to arrive in our "hall". The
next day is dead! Everything is closed and nothing much moves. But that night
the Guizers have an all night dance which many people attend! There
are many rules and regulations governing the entire evening too tedious to repeat
here and aimed at the timetable and the swift reaction to any misbehaviour. It
was a wonderful sight. We were fortunate with the weather. We enjoyed being there
- a thing we have been meaning to do for years. |  |
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