COPSHAW COMMON RIDING 2023

The laying of the wreath ceremony has quickly become a major event for the Copshaw Common Riding where the Tub lays a wreath to remember those from Liddesdale who have perished in conflict it’s both an emotional and uplifting event for many and very well led by Greg and the musicians with the roll of honour this year read by ex-Tub Cuthbert (Vicky variety) the amount of people attending is testament to the great job they all do and will continue to do.

This year’s Common Riding day got going under blue skies with an early morning trip to the Hound trail with a very decent turn out for that time in the morning especially after the night before, Tub Mitchell was on hand to catch the winning hound something that has now been done on 20 occasions (apart from the time of the great aniseed mix up) this set us up for a fantastic day, well that and the bacon roll and beer in the Trap at 8.01am, then it was off to the Tub’s residence to pick her up for her big day.

A large crowd awaited as we rode into the middle square with 145 riders of all shapes and sizes ready to follow Tub Mitchell around our boundaries, but not before some well-deserved prizes were dished out, the owners of the Hound Trail winner Flight Line received their trophy and prizemoney and a Common Riding winners jacket, the night before the Tub had been around the village to judge the best dressed window and this was won by Holm Hardware, the best dressed child was won by Bella Pearson and the best dressed bike was won by Eden Mazarib, the winning adults were Sophie’s mum Kerry and her merry band, merry as in Robin Hood not merry as in drink had been taken, that came later!

This year’s 21^st anniversary Tub is ex-Tub Cuthbert (Ryan variety) the Wizard of Oz wasn’t on hand to receive his commemorative fob watch as he is spreading the good word down under but his mam Julie was glad to receive it on his behalf.

We have to thank Costcutter for their very generous donation to the fancy dress prizes, something they have done now for many years and it is much appreciated.

We then had the first rendition of Tub Mitchell’s song performed by the very talented duo Jarvis and Ch……..y , and the morning fair crying to get everyone in the mood for the day.

The annual Tub’s chase from the square to the golf club (no overtaking the Tub before the Bank corner (what will the corner be called next year when there is no Bank?) this year the first lady rider was Sarah Porthouse and the first gent was Euan Cox, Sarah won the Spannerface Trophy and Euan the Mick Rick Tankard, and of course the traditional down in one ceremony was undertaken by both winners and a good job they made of it.

Many thanks to the Golf club for providing the premises and bar for the entertaining of the Tub, always one of the most anticipated events on the day. This year’s entertainers were the usual mix of the sublime and the ridiculous from some fantastic original material, to jokes never to be repeated outside the shed to naked cleaners we had it all and at the end of the proceedings one of the most controversial decisions since Brexit was the Tub’s announcement that the Bob Burgess trophy for the best entertainer had been won by Jarvis (again) his new nickname Ned Kelly sums it up! Our bar staff at the Golf club, BP, Big Stu, JC and Nicol on the new outside bar did a great job keeping everyone’s considerable thirst quenched.

From the Golf Club to the Johnny Byers (inventor of the cow byer don’t you know)  monument and the cutting of the immortal sod, the snogging of said sod and the supping of the infamous tequila, this year’s sod being particularly moist due to recent rainfall there is nothing worse than a dry sod.

Then it was off to the Olive Tree where the Common Riding’s traditional emblems would be presented. Now the emblems are usually given to a CCR virgin but they are as rare as hen’s teeth these days, however we managed to find two (willing?) followers the person tasked with carrying the barley fadge (recipe, the finest barley and fadge) was none other than the Tub’s faither Martin and the honour off carrying the sweet smelling Kipper went to a CCR virgin Chris Brown a jam eater from ower the border, Ann Louise of the Olive Tree has continued a long family tradition of welcoming the Tub and providing the CCR emblems and we really appreciate it, the Tub presented Ann Louise with a bouquet of flowers to show our gratitude and of course the Tub and her left and right legs Robbie and Paula were treated to a bacon roll and a wee dram!

The Holm brig boundary was where the cavalcade headed to next, the spiritual home of Erup Kubnum designer of the brig and probably more famously the genius behind the design of the Toblerone, here the Tub is presented with her own Toblerone and a sacrifice of the finest whisky is made to the River Liddle in memory of the victims of the great flood, this year was particularly special as it is the Holm Brig’s 200^th birthday and we celebrated with cake!

Next stop CCR’s watering hole, also known of course as the Trap for a quick pit stop. Over the last 25 years the CCR committee have learned that keeping hydrated is an essential part of the big day and some committee members are very professional with regards to hydration.

The ceremony following the watering hole commemorates the Battle of Fred’s Corner where the original CCR 9 regained the saltire which flies so proudly on Common Riding occasions, here the remaining members of the infamous CCR 9, (the rest aren’t deed but are spreading the word throughout the world) perform the “Touching Cloth” ceremony and give 4 cheers for Fred one of many we miss.

You thought the “Copshaw Kitchen” was called the Copshaw Kitchen but oh no not on Common Riding day when it reverts to its original name from times past and becomes “Twa Posh Chicken” complete with original signage and our gracious hosts Oorth and Lust ply us with strawberry tarts and Irn Bru laced with another hydrating agent!

We then travel up to Podge and Glado’s where we have been very lucky to have been invited to open several new additions in the past, this year the Tub opened the nursery which bizarrely isn’t for one of the many hounds but is for ex Tub McGimpsey’s own new addition and of course many thanks to the hosts for their hospitality again this year, we will be back next year and who knows what we will be opening then!

Then the committee head to the Northern boundary at the old auction mart to ensure no vagabonds or thieves have infiltrated the village, before we got to our boundary a strange flag was spotted at Holmhead “what is this”? said one eagle eyed member “ach don’t worry it’s just a red cross flag as it used to be the doctors” but oh no this was actually the flag of St George an insult that couldn’t be ignored, not only that but an actual Crusader was also present, the Tub marched quickly forward to confront the Crusader and issue a demand that the flag be taken down and replaced immediately or at least after another drink!

The outnumbered Crusader quickly realised the error of his ways and the flag was quickly removed and replaced with a far more appropriate saltire (Freedom!!) Many thanks to Steve for being such a good sport and another new ancient tradition is born.

The Lidalia caravan park have been true supporters of the CCR for many a year now Eddie, Gillian, Shona and the family always have the widest of welcomes for us with great hospitality, music and laughter indeed some members of the CCR never get past Lidalia! we have the Ode to the Hound of Lidalia a true story of blood and thunder and of course Brydon’s Bridies the toast of the Common Riding in honour of the reverend Brydon Mabon minister of this parish when the last train came through the village and who bravely stood in front of the train in protest of the ridiculous decision to end the trainline, who needs orange powder when we have an actual holy man! the bridie is of course toasted by Karen the reverend’s daughter who was once dux at the primary school and is very good on the old bagpipes. Thanks to the crew at the butchers for again proving the CCR Bridie.

After parading around the streets of the Holm and making as much noise as possible, we arrived to start the Garden Party and sports. Some of the sports on offer include musical chairs where Ex Tubs are the actual chairs and also the kids and adults wheelbarrow races where the adults are advised to ask the parents’ permission before using a child as a wheelbarrow, also the egg tossing went down well this year some really competent tossers out there. We were also joined this year by a stag party from Bonchester who unfortunately didn’t get the memo and came dressed as horses! As usual all the kids rides etc are free thanks to the CCR and again as with many previous years the kids prizemoney was sponsored by Phillip and Helen Jane at Copshaw Caterers. Of course there is a bar as well (remember hydration) and hot dogs all looked after by our fantastic Ladies Committee we couldn’t do without them.

Following the Garden Party the committee retire to Legends for some much needed rest and recuperation. Of course the recuperation comes in the form of an age old remedy invented by J.R Tennant, Toby’s brother!

Once the swirling sounds of the Jed pipe band are heard it’s off to the Trap to greet some old friends and follow ex Tub Jackson as he leads the band to the village square to open the festival concert. Legend has it that BJ has never once dropped the brush something he is very proud of. Unfortunately that legend has now passed into history as the brush took quite a beating this year. Now ex tub Jackson blamed the smoke from the yellow flares but I think it was that devil the re-hydrating that came into play again.

The Festival concert was once again opened with Jarvis giving a rendition of Tub Mitchell’s song and a further tune from Chugger blasting out Caledonia, this was warmly greeted by the concert throng and again another CCR task was completed.

So the end was nigh we had reached our final curtain and all that was left was a final rendition of the song, the final crying of the fair and of course Tub Mitchell’s address to the village all in front of a massive and appreciative crowd. The Tub handed the flag back to the safe keeping of the committee and so ended another very successful Copshaw Common Riding we hope to see you all in 2024.

With massive thanks to so many kind people who help us out every year and without them it would be a very different and lesser event, The Hound Trail layer and hound owners, Dazzler for the stage, Ann at the Trap, Costcutter, the Olive Tree, The Twa Posh Chicken, Erup Kubnum, Podge and Glado, Lidalia Caravan Park, The Golf Club, The Polysport, Greg, Tony Leonard and Mike Ward, Kayleigh on the bugle, Steve at Holmhead, Copshaw Caterers, The Jed pipe band, The Festival committee, Our fantastic Ladies committee I’m sure I will have missed some and apologies if I have and of course everyone that turned up either on a bike or just to stare in bemusement at the shenanigans .

Finally a massive well done to the 2023 Tub Sophie, she is a credit to her family and to the village, the smile never left her face from the time of winning the vote to finally addressing the village, Sophie will have many more duties to perform in her year of being Tub if anyone needs anything opened or judged we have the Tub for that, 3 cheers for Tub Mitchell (and a 4^th for luck)

Thanks,

Gary.

CCR Chairman