| Where: | Inverkeithing, Fife on Hope Street |
| When: | 1st Friday in August |
| Time: | Parade 6.30pm, Race 7pm |
The Hat & Ribbon Race is probably the oldest road race in Scotland with its origins hundreds of years ago in the races between local shepherds to win ribbons for their sweethearts (see article on Carnwath Red Hose Race for another contender!). Local men over 15 years of age are eligible to take part and there are also races for ladies and for children.The prize hat is paraded through town before the race accompanied by a pipe band.It’s part of the towns Lammas Fair held during the first week in August – rides and stalls are set up in The Square on the High Street and there are games and other entertainments over the weekend. The races last for around half-an-hour and there is a very friendly atmosphere with the crowd encouraging the runners up as wells the winners!
Helpful Hints
The road is closed to traffic at either end of the High Street for the funfair and for the races – there’s a handy little carpark on Hope Street just beside where the races are started and it’s outside the restricted area as long as you get there well before the races. Lots of food and drink available on the High Street and at the stalls in the fair.
In 2025 it should be on Friday August 1st, starting 6.30 at the Scout Hall on Hope Street (to be confirmed).
Entrants just need to turn up on the day -it’s all very relaxed. The event is organised by the Inverkeithing Community Council – click here for their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/InverkeithingCommunityCouncil/
Click here for more : http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/events/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.display&objectid=27F6CB6B-92EA-3576-1D90132A3C1C97D7
and here for The Keithing (details about local events are in their newsletter)
https://www.facebook.com/TheKeithing/
Hi
I was a resident of Inverkeithing from 1950 till 1990 and was educated in the old school but now live in Kirkcaldy does that still make me a local and can i run this race .
regards Paul
Hi Paul,
You’ve got through to calendarcustoms rather than the organisers of the race so I can’t help myself with your question, but if you visit the Inverkeithing Community Council’s page you’ll be able to get all the rules from them as they organise the race. Follow this link : https://www.facebook.com/InverkeithingCommunityCouncil/
Best of luck!
Regards,
Averil
Hello Paul
You can only take part in the Hat and Ribbon Race if you are resident in the town.
Regards
Inverkeithing Community Council
Sounds like fun. What is the route for the race?
Hi Gray,
The race is all on Hope Street (it’s a long road!)
Best wishes,
Averil
Great, thanks. Would that be from the Corn Exchange (Lime Salon) to the Park & Ride and back? or is it not quite as far as that?
Thanks
Hi Gray, yes the race starts by the Corn Exchange and goes away from the town along the road towards the park and ride – but I’m not sure exactly how far along it goes before turning back as I watched from the Corn exchange end! I expect you’d get the answer if you message the council at https://www.facebook.com/InverkeithingCommunityCouncil/ .I read in an old book that it was a distance of 760 yards from Hope Street to “the old Roman road” but this may be out-of-date. Hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Averil
My father Ian Syme won the race in two consecutive years in the 1950s. Do you have an archive photos or documents showing the winners over the years. He is 91 years old now and it would be a great surprise to him.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your message. Sadly I can’t help you with archive photos or documents- I’ve only attended once, and the photos are the ones on the web-page. I suggest the local council might be a good place to ask, and your local newspaper will almost certainly have photos of the winners down the years (though they’ll probably charge for copies). Hope you can find some for him!
Best wishes,
Averil