COMMON RIDING SEXISM ROW
Ancient festival takes financial hit as council withholds funding
ITS roots go back more than 500 years, when youngsters of the town captured the English flag.
But Hawick Common Riding, one of the oldest equestrian events in the world, has recorded a financial loss after being accused of discriminating against women.
The event, held in the Roxburghshire town, has had its £9,300 annual grant from Scottish Borders Council (SBC) withheld because it has some ‘men-only’ activities.
Common Riding committee secretary Lesley Fraser said that, as a result, the festival made a loss of £10,993 for the year ending August 31, 2019. She explained: ‘Income for the year decreased by £7,714 on the previous year due to the (SBC) festivals grant not having been received.
‘The committee have sought legal representation and are continuing to challenge the withholding of the grant.’
Under the terms of the 2010 Equalities Act, events applying for grant funding must comply with equality legislation.
Despite discussions between the Hawick Common Riding committee and the local authority, the grant has not been paid.
Organisers said they were working to ‘rectify the situation’. The Common Riding made national headlines in 1996 when two women won a court battle to ride alongside the men.
Despite the ruling, women riders continued to be excluded from some ceremonial events during the week-long festival of horseriding that celebrates victory over English raiders in 1514.
Lisa MacKay, 51, who was one of the first women to join in the event, told the BBC that she was harassed by locals as a result. She said it was ‘just not acceptable’ for women to be discriminated against, adding: ‘The Common Riding has got a long history of being traditionally male-only – but it’s the 21st century.’
Earlier this week, the committee was officially dissolved and relaunched as a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation.
The committee will enjoy greater protection over issues such as public liability, although it will now have to comply fully with Scottish and UK-wide legislation, including equality laws.
In an address this week to event organisers, reported in The Southern Reporter, outgoing chairman Cameron Knox said: ‘Hawick Common Riding looks forward to welcoming everyone, and we mean everyone, next year.’
Mr Knox said he had met council chiefs to discuss the funding situation, adding: ‘It was a constructive and positive meeting, and we are working along with the council to rectify the situation for this year and for the future.’
A Scottish Borders Council spokesman said: ‘We have held a positive meeting with Hawick Common Riding committee and the council has suggested a possible way forward.’
‘It’s just not acceptable’