The Whipman Play

The Borders Festivals are based on a tradition of horsemanship and Common Riding. In several towns this commemorates the lawless times in the 13th to 16th centuries, during long wars with England and local reiving (raiding), when townspeople would regularly ride their marches (boundaries) to protect their common lands against plunder and destruction.  This was not necessary in the more peaceful area round West Linton (known formerly as Linton and earlier still as Lyntoun Roderyck), but its annual festival is still based on horsemanship.

The term “whipman” is an old Scots word meaning a carter, carrier or cadger (pedlar), all of whom depended on horses for their trades. It was in 1803 that the local whipmen of Linton formed the Linton Benevolent Society, initially for providing mutual financial aid to its members and subsequently for alleviating hardship in the wider community. Thus began a tradition of celebrating the closing of the Society’s year with a public holiday known as the Whipman Play.

When is the Whipman Play?

Held on the second Thursday in July, for exact dates please see our events calendar. The festival is a week of various events but the ride out is on the fiirst Saturday of the week.

What to Expect: Festival Week

The festival has a host of events across the 9 days, from bogie racing to tug o’ war and local markets; there is something for the whole family. For full details please check the Whipman website or buy the full programme (details on the website). Below are the equestrian elements of the week.

Unique Local Traditions 

West Linton, more peaceful than other Borders towns who had to ride their marches (boundaries) to protect their common lands against plunder and destruction, the festival is still based on horsemanship and lasts 9 days, commencing with the Whipman installation and procession on a Friday evening, a ride-out on the day after. This is then followed by various competitions, sporting events and a dance in the following week, and culminating with athletics followed by prize-giving and side-shows on the second Saturday.