THE 25th anniversary of the West Burgh Spurs Ride was held on Saturday.

This is an annual tradition held to mark the exchanging of Spurs between Biggar, Peebles and West Linton.

Each group set off from their own town or village in the morning, heading over the hills and through the moors of the countryside to meet with each other at Stobo Hope Head.

Here is where the exchanging of Spurs takes place.

This year saw Biggar Cornet Craig McDonald, Peebles Cornet Reuben Sterricks and West Linton Whipman Tanny Gill carry out the tradition underneath the glorious blue skies within the most breathtaking scenery.

Due to this being the 25th anniversary of the ride, all three groups of 18 riders from Biggar, 14 from Peebles and 19 from West Linton, along with all the supporters on foot, joined together in the return journey back to Stobo Home Farm where a celebration was held.

A special presentation was made to Harry Graham from Hawick who also marked his quarter-century of riding the Spurs.

Becca Lumsden, chairperson of the Peebles March Riders Association, said: “The support was outstanding from many of the other towns.

"To stand back and see all the different coloured sashes and town colours gallop along the side of the hill and into the distance through the heather is just something so spectacular to watch.

“Riders and foot supporters from Biggar, Berwick, Duns, Edinburgh, Galashiels, Gatehouse of Fleet, Hawick, Jedburgh, Lanark, Musselburgh, Peebles, Penicuik, Sanquhar, Selkirk and West Linton were among all those following, either on horseback or from the ground.

“I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank all three towns’ committees – Biggar Cornets Club, Peebles March Riders Association and the Whipman Play Society – for organising such a well put together event, the landowners, Jim & Fiona Currie, farriers/vets on call, catering staff, Stobo Village Hall, horse hirers and anyone else that made the Spurs Ride 2024 so successful.”