LAST week's virtual Lauder Common Riding has been hailed a big success.

On Thursday evening the chairman of the Common Riding Committee, Michael Middlemiss, and the chairman of the Ex-Cornets Association, Shaun Hardie, paid a visit to Silver Jubilee Cornet Mark Bryson to present him with the Gordon McHutchon Cup (which he will keep for one year) and his silver jubilee medal. Mark is an exile now, living in Inverness.

On Friday night the Virtual Concert was broadcast on social media and viewers witnessed the world premiere of a new Lauder song written and performed by Bryan Hoggan from Selkirk.

Then at 7am on Saturday morning, a short service led by the Honorary President, the Silver Jubilee Cornet laid a wreath at the war memorial to remember the war dead.

Ex Cornet Michael Middlemiss also reported: “It is my pleasant duty to announce that our Head Marshall, accompanied by Assistant Head Marshall, Cornet 2019 and his Right and Left Hand men have checked the boundaries of our Common and affirm that there have been no encroachments on our Burgh lands. They have checked our cairns and confirmed that they are in good order.

“That means the Ancient Traditions of our Royal and Ancient Burgh, stretching back over 500 years, have been upheld and our duties discharged for 2021.”

A number of competitions were held throughout the week and as promised the winners are listed here.

The Lauder Primary School art competition:

P1-3 winner: Gregor Dick (P3); P4-6 winner: Jaya (P5F); P7 winner: Petra Willian; runner up: Lucy Young

One of the highlights of Common Riding Week is always the Fancy Dress Parade.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Under 5s: 1st Double Jabbed – Beau Hardie, Harry Reid, Harry Lindsay and Millie Lindsay; 2nd= Rapunzel – Emmy Hunter; 2nd= Lauder Keep Calm and Weather On – Chloe and Luke Forrest, Jacob and Isla Kay, Max and Blake Mitchell and Iris Dodds.

6-8 yrs: 1st Alice in Wonderland – Keira Lennie; 2nd Lauder Coaches – Tristan Millar

9-12 yrs:1st Olympic Pictogram Man – Rory Gibb; 2nd – Olympic Girls – Summer Herdman, Felicity Scott, Jaya Faichney, Holly Mathieson and Madison Kelly

Teenagers: 1st The Sewing Bee – Ruby Wilkinson; 2nd Anna Mae – Sophie Millar

Adult: 1st The Rower – Eileen Blackie; 2nd Lockdown Lottie (Retired) – Sandy Boa

Family Group: 1st Staycation Costa Del Lauder – The Wilson Family and Friends

Adult Group: 1st Stuck at Gnome – Shona Jardine, Maggie Czajka and friends

The best dressed pony and rider competition turned out to be a family affair this year with sisters Roslyn (5) and Susannah Montague (7) named joint winners.

Winner of Children’s Treasure Trail – Toby Middlemiss.

Best dressed House and Shop have not been named at this time.