THE TWO-INCH RACE  (R5x32)  Roy Goldring  12 Perth Dances  1- 8 1s+2s dance RH across, 1s dance in & cast to 3 rd  place  2 3 1 4 5  9-12 2M+1L   &   1M+5L   (long   1 st    corners)   change   places   (passing   RSh)   to   face out on opposite sides & change places LH with person on left 13-16 2M+1L   &   1M+5L   (same   people   now   opposite)   change   places   (passing LSh) to face out & change places RH with person on right  2 3 1 4 5 17-20 2L+1M   &   1L+5M   (long   2 nd    corners)   change   places   (passing   LSh)   to   face out & change places RH with person on right 21-24 2L+1M   &   1L+5M   (same   people   now   opposite)   change   places   (passing RSh) to face out & change places LH with person on left  2 3 1 4 5 25-32 1s dance in & cast to 5th place, 5s+1s dance LH across  2 3 4 5 1

"Inch" in Scottish (and Irish) place names (an anglicisation of the Gaelic innis) usually means an island or meadow. The   River Tay   in   Perth   runs   almost   exactly   north/south   and   to   the   north   of   the   city   centre   lies   the   North   Inch,   the larger of the two inches in Perth, to the immediate south of the city lies the South Inch.   The   North   Inch   extends   to   an   area   of   approximately   54   hectares   and   lies   between   the   River   Tay,   the   Bells   Sports Centre   and   residential   areas.      To   the   north   of   the   Bells   Sports   Centre   is   The   Black   Watch   Museum   which   can   be accessed from the Inch and on the other side of the Sports Centre you will find Perth Bowling Club. The   South   Inch   covers   an   area   of   approximately   31   hectares   and   includes   the   Lesser   South   Inch   which   has   an extensive   area   of   hard   standing,   skate   park,   sports   pitches,   car   parking   and   toilets.   The   hard   standing   provides an   ideal   area   for   visiting   fun   fairs,   circuses,   shows   and   other   large   special   events   such   as   fireworks   and   bonfire nights.   The   Edinburgh   Road   passes   through   the   South   Inch   separating   the   Lesser   Inch   from   extensive   open   grass areas, sports pitches, wonderful new play park, pond and areas of formal planting. In 1396, the North Inch hosted an unusual battle. The   clans   in   the   highlands   of   Scotland   were an   unruly   lot   -   the   king’s   laws   meant   very little   to   this   warlike,   tribal   society   who   were constantly   feuding   with   their   neighbours   and regularly   raiding   into   the   low   fertile   lands   of Moray,   Perthshire,   Angus,   Aberdeenshire,   and Stirlingshire.    In    1396,    things    were    so    bad between    Clan    Chattan    and    Clan    Kay,    who were    forever    raiding    each    other’s    lands, stealing   livestock,   and   burning   down   houses, that   King   Robert   III   sent   an   army   north   to deal   with   the   problem.   The   commander   of this   army,   the   Earl   of   Crawford,   knew   it   was likely     that     when     he     marched     into     the mountains,   his   forces   were   in   danger   of   being ambushed   by   the   clansmen   and   the   outcome could be the massacre of the royal army. So,   he   came   up   with   a   plan   and   sent   messengers   to   speak   to   the   two   warring   clans   with   a   proposal   -   the   two clans   each   send   thirty   men   to   Perth   for   a   fight   to   the   death   on   the   city’s   North   Inch   -   to   sort   out   the   problem   in one   day,   sparing   countless   lives.   The   clan   chiefs   agreed   and   when   the   king   heard   of   this   plan,   he   was   so delighted, he decided he and his court would come to Perth to watch the spectacle. A   large   brightly   coloured   pavilion   was   put   up   for   the   royal   party   and   benches   were   laid   out   for   the   people   of Perth   to   sit   on.   The   crowd   waited   expectedly   in   the   warm   summer   sun   as   the   skirl   of   the   bagpipes   drew   closer and   closer.   Then   dozens   of   kilted   warriors   took   up   position   on   the   inch   in   front   of   the   king’s   pavilion. As   the   two clans   lined   up,   a   referee   counted   the   men   on   both   sides,   but   a   problem   was   found. Although   Clan   Kay   had   thirty men,   Clan   Chattan   had   only   twenty-nine.   They   must   have   miscounted   before   they   left   or   lost   a   man   on   the   way to   Perth.   Royal   heralds   walked   amongst   the   crowd   holding   up   a   gold   coin   for   anyone   who   would   take   up   arms   and fight   for   Clan   Chattan. The   city   blacksmith,   a   giant   of   a   man,   strong   and   powerful,   called   Henry,   better   known   as Hal o’ the Wynd, accepted the challenge, given a sword and took his place amongst the Chattan clansmen. The   king   gave   the   signal   to   start   and   the   Chattan’s   and   Kay’s   got   stuck   into   each   other. As   the   two   sides   slogged   it out,   it   became   clear   that   Clan   Chattan   were   gaining   the   upper   hand   and   in   the   end,   all   but   one   of   Clan   Kay perished.   The   sole   surviving   Kay   jumped   into   the   River   Tay   and   swam   to   safety.   Hal   o’   the   Wynd   was   said   to   have fought bravely, was permitted to keep the gold coin and earned his place in Scottish history. You   know   your   side   lost   the   battle   when   no   one   even   remembers   who   exactly   “you”   were.   History   hasn’t accurately   recorded   the   names   of   those   who   took   part   -   Scottish   clans   were   kin   groups,   they   were   amalgamations of   smaller   septs   and   it   is   probable   that   it   was   the   Mackintoshes   and   Macphersons   of   the   Clan   Chattan   against   Clan Kay,   Cameron,   or   Davison   (who   were   part   of   the   confederation   of   Clan   Chattan   but   were   at   enmity   with   each other). This   story   is   remembered   largely   because   of   Sir   Walter   Scott’s   description   of   the   battle   in   his   novel The   Fair   Maid of Perth. Scott’s description follows as such: “Blood   flowed   fast,   and   the   groans   of   those   who   fell   began   to   mingle   with   the   cries   of   those   who   fought. The   wild   notes   of   the   pipes   were   still   heard   above   the   tumult   and   stimulated   to   further   exertion   the   fury of   the   combatants… About   twenty   of   both   sides   lay   on   the   field,   dead   or   dying;   arms   and   legs   lopped   off, heads   cleft   to   the   chin,   slashes   deep   through   the   shoulder   to   the   breast,   showed   at   once   the   fury   of   the combat,   the   ghastly   character   of   the   weapons   used,   and   the   fatal   strength   of   the   arms   which   wielded them.” However,   because   The   Fair   Maid   of   Perth   was   written   nearly   400   years   after   the   Battle   at   North   Inch,   the   validity of   its   description   is   dubious.   We   do   know   that   the   battle   was   undoubtedly   bloody,   leaving   the   king   and   all   the other   spectators   in   “inexpressible   horror”.   The   battle   ended   when   only   a   handful   of   Chattans   and   one   lone   Kay remained,   who   survived   by   jumping   into   the   River   Tay   and   swimming   across   to   safety.   Clan   Chattan   were   the victors.   The   volunteer,   Henry   Wynd   or   Smith,   who   survived   the   battle   (and   contributed   greatly   to   the   success   of his side) was invited north to join the Clan Chattan and from him descends the clan's Gow or Smith sept. The   fighting   between   the   two   clans   ceased   for   a   little   while,   but   started   up   as   soon   as   their   numbers   had recuperated. This was one of the only clan battles to have a royal audience though. (information gathered from Wikipedia and social historian Gary Knight)