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In pictures: Huge crowds for Selkirk Common Riding

DougieJohnston Selkirk Common Riding crowdDougieJohnston
Selkirk Common Riding is one of the oldest Border festivals, with organisers claiming it can be traced back to 1113.

Huge crowds gathered in Selkirk at the weekend for its annual common riding celebrations.

Royal Burgh standard bearer Thomas Bell led the celebrations which see people on horseback ride the town's boundaries or "marches".

Selkirk Common Riding commemorates the events of 1513 when 80 men from the town left to fight for King James IV and just one returned.

The standard bearer represents Fletcher, the only Selkirk man, or "Souter", to return alive from the Battle of Flodden.

DougieJohnston Selkirk Common Riding horsesDougieJohnston
DougieJohnston Selkirk Common Riding landscapeDougieJohnston
Selkirk Common Riding claims to be one of the largest cavalcade of horses and riders in Europe
DougieJohnston Horses in SelkirkDougieJohnston
DougieJohnston More horses in SelkirkDougieJohnston
DougieJohnston Selkirk Common Riding manDougieJohnston
The event commemorates how one man returned to Selkirk after the Battle of Flodden
Dougie Johnston Man with flag at Selkirk Common RidingDougie Johnston
Legend has it that he had a captured English flag which he swept low, like a scythe, to indicate that all the other man of Selkirk had been cut down.
Dougie Johnston Huge crowd in SelkirkDougie Johnston
The Casting of the Colours ceremony is the highlight of the day

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