2019 Christmas day Ba Winner Erland Hutchison

The "Kirkwall Ba Game", is a traditional game of street football, played through the streets of Kirkwall, on Christmas day and New Years day. The two sides are the Uppies and the Doonies, or more correctly, "Up-the-Gates" and "Doon-the-Gates" from Norse gata (path or road). The ball, or Ba is thrown up from the Merket Cross, in front of St Magnus Cathedral at 13.00. The Doonies' goal is the sea, normally within the Basin of the Harbour, but so long as it lands in Kirkwall Bay, the Ba has gone doon. The Uppies must round the Lang, or Mackinson's corner at the junction of Main Street with New Scapa Road, opposite the Catholic Church. This was the site of the old town gates in bygone times. Once the Ba has been gone Up or Doon, lengthy argument ensues among players on the winning side, before a winner is chosen. The winner is awarded the Ba itself and when then he is normally carried shoulder-high from the goal by his teammates. Yesterday's game lasted over 6 hours and after the Doonies took the Ba to the Harbour, Erland Hutchison was declared winner.