Riding of the Marches To Mark 500th Anniversary of Flodden

Submitted by edg on Tue, 3 Sep '13 7.45pm

The 500th anniversary of the Scottish defeat at the battle of Flodden will be marked this Sunday in the annual Edinburgh Riding of the Marches.

On Sunday, Edinburgh Captain Stuart Nicoll and Edinburgh Lass Karrie McGill will lead 250 horses from the city outskirts to the Royal Mile, with Stuart carrying the "Blue Blanket" banner at the head of the cavalcade, re-enacting the return of Captain Randolph Murray to Edinburgh after the Battle of Flodden in 1513. 

The Blue Blanket will lead a 1 minute silence, presided over by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Alasdair Hutton OBE the distinctive voice of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will commentate on the proceedings.

The Riding of the Marches dates back to 1579, when able-bodied men rode the town boundaries on horseback, delivering the news to the city that the marches were clear.

The day's ride will also take in a morning chase – traversing the south side of the city boundary, commencing at Drum Feeds, Todd hills, the main sponsor for the event.

After cantering through fields and trotting to the heart of the city, past landmarks such as Holyrood Park, Holyrood Palace, and the Scottish Parliament, the ride will conclude at the historic Mercat Cross in The Royal Mile, where the Edinburgh Captain will return the City Of Edinburgh Banner to the Lord Provost, Donald Wilson, watched on by an expected crowd of 20,000 people.

Among the national equestrian celebrities taking part in the event will be the 2013 Grand National Winning Jockey, Ryan Mania, supported by 6-year-old Zara Mailer, Supreme Champion of the City of Edinburgh Horse show.