THE BA' WEBSITE

Welcome to Magnus and Charles Tait's archive of the Ba' Game.
Happy New Year everyone

New Year 2012 Men's Ba' played on 2nd January
thrown up by Eddie Barnett (Doonie winner New Year 1987)
winner Roy Foubister (uppie)

Ba entering the scrum

Roy Foubister Uppie winner New Year 2012 and family

The New Year 2012 Mens' Ba' was played on a fine afternoon, in sunshine and without much rain. Large squads of uppies and doonies keenly awaited the throwup. The Ba' bounced a couple of times before disappearing into the scrum. Both sides put in much entusiastic play, and the uppies soon managed to push the pack to the Museum, but were repulsed by the doonies, who were clearly keen to win and benefitting from a coterie of elder players.

There was much surging and often loose play, including several good breaks, each of which was stopped by the vast and close crowd of spectators. Eventually a break took the game onto the Kirk Green where the scrum surrounded one of the trees. It was obvious that the doonies were planning something, and around 15:00 doonie Fraser Anderson broke free and into the kirkyard.

This was foiled by several uppies who ran via Palace Road, the Keelies and the Willows to near Kirkwall Grammar School. Meanwhile players and spectators rushed to the harbour before general word was that it had gone up. The rumour was that motorised transport has spirited the trophy to the corner. This is of course not the first time that such methods have been used.

Uppie Roy Foubister was soon raised with the Ba' to become the New Year 2012 Mens' Ba' winner at about 15:30. Apart from the somewhat unconvential struggle abruprly ending the game it was a sprited performance by both sides which the doonies' desire for the water obvious. The many surges and breaks on Broad Street made much exciting play to watch.

Christmas 2011 Men's Ba' played on 26th December
thrown up by Erlend Tait (Doonie winner Xmas 1986)
winner James Linklater (uppie)

Erlend Tait throwing up the Ba

An exciting game was to last for six hours of exciting play, where the Ba' progressed to hitherto unfrequented places, including the carpark outside the closed Bowling Alley, Tescos carpark (but luckily not the shop itself). There were several good breaks, both by uppies and doonies. The latter fought to the very last. James Linklater was a popular winner, having shouted previously and played his usual strong game.

On Broad Street the doonies initially seemed to have the weight but a break took the Ba' to Junction Road near thge library before the uppies surged up as far as OrkneyPC. Soon it was in West Castle Street before entering the carpark, where a number of foolhardy people had left their cars. Soon Tescos was reached and their unbarricaded windows presented a serious risk of injury, but were avoided.

After being stuck in a lane near the site of the Phoenix the uppies rumbled the scrum to the Catholic Church, where the doonies made an excellent, but futile, break. The game was over by 19:00, one of the most closely fought and exciting for some time.

James Linklater Uppie winner with his father

Article on the Kirkwall Ba' Game from the Orkney Guide Book, 3rd edition

The Ba' is played every Christmas and New Year's Day in Kirkwall, Orkney. This traditional game of mass football is played in the streets of the town between the Uppies and the Doonies. For more details about the history of the game click here.

Charles Tait has been covering Ba' games online since Christmas 1997 and photographically since New Year 1977. Images and reports from this season below will be available to view after the games. The 2007 Mens' New Year game was the 60th to be covered by Charles Tait. To see the full list of games covered click here. The forthcoming book,"The Ba' - Uppies v Doonies" will have a large selection of images from all of these games.

New Year Men's Ba' 2010	Rodney Spence Doonie
Christmas Men's Ba' 2009	Derek Sutherland Uppie
New Year Men's Ba' 2009	winner Mark Kemp Uppie
Christmas Mens' Ba' 2008	winner Neil Stevenson Uppie
New Year Men's Ba' 2008	winner Neil Stockan Uppie
Christmas Mens' Ba' 2007	winner Ian Gorn Uppie
New Year Men's Ba' 2007	winner Ronnie Paterson Uppie
New Year Boys' Ba' 2007	winner Aaron MacLean Uppie
Christmas Men's Ba' 2006	winner Stuart Slater Uppie
Christmas Boys' Ba' 2006	winner Ewan Grey Uppie
2006 New Year Men's Ba'	winner Doonie Alec Findlater
2006 New Year Boy's Ba	winner Doonie Christopher Guthrie
2005 Xmas Men's Ba'	winner Uppie Eoin Learmonth
2005 Xmas Boy's Ba'	winner Doonie Marcus Guthrie
2005 New Year Men's Ba'	winner Uppie Gary Coulterd
2005 New Year Boy's Ba'	winner Uppie Dean Campbell
2004 Xmas Men's Ba'	winner Andrew Currie Uppie
2004 Xmas Boy's Ba'	winner John Tait doonie
1980 Men's Ba'	won by Ian Smith who threw up the 2005 New Year's Day Ba'
Previous games by Charles & Magnus Tait	All of the games we have covered with a selection of images
The Kirkwall Ba' Game	The story of the Ba' Game
Ba' Winners	Past Games and Winners
Links	Orkney and Neolithic links

ll of the images on this site are available as prints - to order please quote the number on the left of the caption of the form X2000-1234. Orders may be placed by email, phone or fax. The standard size is 5x7in, although other sizes are available. Images are also available for reproduction - please quote year (e.g. NY2000) and number or caption.