Dale Irving a 20-year-old conditional jockey who is employed at the James Ewart yard at Westerkirk was elected Langholm Cornet on Friday.
The Muckle Toon’s 2014 Cornet won the public election by 382 votes from his closest rival.
A total of 988 votes were cast at the Buccleuch Centre for the three candidates. The result was: Dale Kenneth Irving 614, Simon Jack Tweddle 232 and Stephen Thomas Devlin 142.
After voting, the crowds gathered outside to welcome the arrival of Langholm Pipe Band and Langholm Town Band after they had played round the town.
When the results of the vote was announced, the Right and Left-hand Men, Alasdair Cavers and Andrew Elliot, rushed out of the meeting and made their way to the Kirk Wynd home of the elected Cornet, to break the good news to Dale, his father and mother Kenneth and Morag, brother Gareth, along with the two grandpas and grannies John and Eileen Irving and Michael and Rose Hogg, as well as close friends.
Neighbours, relatives and friends soon gathered at the house to congratulate Dale on his election.
The new Cornet then headed off with his Right and Left-hand Men to visit the various hotels and clubs, starting off at the Masonic, where they received a warm welcome and were entertained with a number of Common Riding tunes by some of the town band members.
Later in the evening the leading principals attended the dance in the Buccleuch Centre, which was well supported and music was provided by Bon Accord. The traditional polka was danced with the Cornet and his partner taking the lead.
Dale was off early the next morning to head for Haydock where he was riding in a couple of races for trainer Jim Goldie, but was out of luck.
He also led the Young Riders Club sponsored walk to the monument on the Sunday morning. The club started 12 years ago and Dale is the first of the members to come through and be elected Cornet.