Published at 21:35, Wednesday, 25 July 2012

5am: Langholm flute band perambulates the town to gather people for the walk to Hillhead on the northern spur of Whita.

6.25am: Hounds meet at Collins Turn.

6.30am: Hounds slipped

8.15am: Presentation of hound trail cups at the town hall

8.30am: Cornet musters his supporters in the Market Place. Presentation of town’s standard. Procession led by town band is formed and moves up the High Street, across the Langholm bridge to Buccleuch Square pump. It moves on to Townfoot and back to the Market Place and is accompanied by the spade and the bannock.

9am: First fair crying in the Market Place

9.10am: Cornet leads his supporters up the Kirk Wynd to Whita Yett and Castle Craigs. The Fair is cried again, and refreshments taken. The horse riders ride around the monument and move down to Whita Well.

10.15am: Town band marches with thistle and crown from Townfoot Gardens to Mount Hooley (by the old Kirk). Many people carry on the climb up the Kirk Wynd to meet the horses as they come down from the hill. A chance to sample the refreshments, the barley banna and salt herrings.

10.15am: Children assemble with their heather besoms at Mount Hooley. Here they are judged, for the best besom. The whole procession reforms, (the spade is now decked in heather after its use). Langholm pipe band joins in. March to Townhead, on to Townfoot and back to the Market Place.

11am: Second fair crying in Market Place. Three cheers are given and the band play Auld Lang Syne. The procession marches up the Kirk Wynd, along Drove Road to the Kilngreen. The children with their heather besoms follow the pipe band across the sawmill brig to collect their coins at the Lodge Gates.

11.55am: The sods are cut on the Kilngreen. The spade bearer, foot followers, Cornet and horse riders wade across the Ewes Water and onto the Castleholm. The Cornet’s Chase where the Cornet is given a fair start to run the course with his supporters in pursuit.

12.30pm: Horse racing begins on Castleholm

1.30pm: Athletics begin on Castleholm, along with Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling and Highland dancing.

7.15pm: The town band plays for the dancing on the Castleholm

8.45pm: Move to the Lodge Gates to reform the procession, led by the Cornet, his right and left-hand men and the emblems. The town band remains at the back to play Auld Lang Syne. Various halts are made for a polka at the Kilngreen, Crown Hotel and Townfoot. On returning to the Market Place, the Cornet hands the standard to the officiating magistrate who thanks the Cornet and calls for three cheers. A verse of Auld Lang Syne is played along with the national anthem.

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