It is my pleasure to welcome everybody to Mansfield Park for the main day of the BSW Borders Festival of Rugby weekend.
I am sure Melrose butcher Ned Haig, who was actually a Jethart man, did not have the faintest idea of what was to follow when he unleashed seven-a-side rugby on an unsuspecting Victorian world in 1883. The other Border towns soon followed the example of the Greenyards club and Hawick held their first tournament two years later in 1885. That April day at the cricket field saw not just rugby – Wilton Rovers, Western Star, Tower Knowe Rovers and Pilmuir Wanderers were among the teams who took the field – but foot-races, tug-o-war and a drop-kicking competition also featured hence the occasion being referred to as “the sports”. Once Mansfield Park became the Club’s home in 1888 Sports day traditionally saw all roads lead “doon the witterside”. In these days of so few counter attractions the number of people who packed the hill to watch Mattha and Davie, Suddie and the Bottler can now hardly be imagined.
Over the years the Greens have been a dominant force in the abbreviated game none more so than in the annus mirabilis of 1966-67 when Hawick’s celebrated “ten-in-a-row” side put all-comers to the sword. Hawick “seevens” day has always been an important date on the Teri calendar and such was the enthusiasm for this form of rugby that there was never any question as to where Spring Saturdays would be spent – at Netherdale, the Greenyards, Mansfield, Riverside and Milntown in that order followed for Common Riding enthusiasts by Bonchester, Roberton, Mosspaul, Denholm and Hawick Mair – ten picnics in a row!
The world moves on as does rugby and Hawick Sports on the middle Saturday in April has now become the Borders Festival of Rugby in August. We would not be having this weekend were it not for the hard work put in by the Festival of Rugby sub-committee under the convenorship of John Thorburn. We are extremely grateful to Tony Hackney and the BSW Group and to John Fordyce’s Border Distillery for their very generous sponsorship. Thanks also to all our team and ball sponsors, to our teams and referees, to Tony Elliot for master minding last night’s Teri Touch, to Lauren Grant and Hollie Hamilton for organising what I am sure will be a memorable Ladies Day, as ever to Debbie and Lindsey and their teams in the Clubhouse and the marquee and to our volunteers who work selflessly behind the scenes. Hawick Minis and the Scotland and Border Clan teams are also helping to make this a memorable occasion and tomorrow Hawick Youth under 15s and under 16s will be playing matches against Dumfries to bring down the curtain on a grand weekend.
Above all I extend my thanks to everyone for attending today. With the rugby season structure changing and the powers that be having little or no regard for our cherished Border sevens circuit we need the support of the Borders rugby public to ensure that the “seevens” continue. It is an integral part of our heritage. We must keep it going. We owe it not just to those who have gone before but to those who will follow.
Have a great day. May the best team win especially if it’s playing in green!
Ian W Landles BEM
President, Hawick RFC
