大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - No rules and no set finish time: the riotous, centuries-old street game that brings Kirkwall to a standstill twice a year

No rules and no set finish time: the riotous, centuries-old street game that brings Kirkwall to a standstill twice a year

19 December 2017

On Christmas Day and again on New Year’s Day, intense rivalries are battled out on the streets of Orkney’s capital, Kirkwall. And though hundreds of men gather in the streets and shop windows are boarded up to prevent breakages, it’s all in the name of sport.

The Ba鈥�

Dougie Vipond finds out about the history of the annual Orkney Ba鈥� game.

in game of mass football which pits one half of the town against the other. The game has been played regularly in Kirkwall since the 1800s.

Traditionally, a player’s team was decided by the proximity of his birthplace to the market cross: if he was born up from the cross he joined the Uppies; born down from the cross and he played for the Doonies. However, these days players are more likely to join their father’s team.

The Ba’ has no rules and no time limit, meaning the game can continue for hours.

To achieve victory the Uppies must propel the ball to the site of the old town gates, while the Doonies must guide it into the icy waters of the harbour.

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