ONE of Peebles' most prized possessions is being fought for this weekend.

The Queens Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, will be visiting the town tomorrow (Saturday) to shoot for the prized Peebles Silver Arrow.

Much mystery surrounds the history of the 17-inch silver arrow, which was first shot for in the early-to-mid 17th century.

During religious troubles which swept through much of Scotland, the arrow was concealed in the wall of a building, which was a former chapel, used by the Peebles Town Council.

It was only discovered around a century later in 1780.

Its first mention in the records of the Royal Company came four years later, when Mr Alexander, the Provost of Peebles, dined with the Archers, and he brought with him the old silver arrow.

Shoots for the Peebles Arrow have taken place on and off ever since, with Peebles now welcoming the Royal Company of Archers to the town ever six years.

Peeblesshire councillor Graham Garvie, who will host a civic lunch for the Archers, said: “The Silver Arrow dates back to at least 1628 and has been shot for by the Royal Company of Archers for over 200 years.

"The 2016 shoot is the 24th occasion on which the prize has been shot for.

"The shoot at Peebles now takes place every six years in rotation with the Royal Company's three other country prizes at Biggar, Selkirk and Montrose."

The Royal Company of Archers will shoot for the Peebles Arrow in Hay Lodge Park at 3pm.

After enjoying a civic luncheon, hosted by Scottish Borders Council, at the Tontine Hotel they will march with Peebles Ex-Servicemen's Pipe Band to the park.

A spokesman for Scottish Borders Council told us: "The shoot involves archers shooting at a target from 180 yards away using only the traditional wooden long bows and wooden arrows.

"The archers shoot in pairs each archer shooting two arrows at an end, alternating with his partner.

"The shoot has a maximum of 12 ends, if at the end of the competition there is a tie one more end is shot to decide the outright winner."

Following the shoot, the Royal Company will march back to the Chambers Institution at about 5:30pm.

They will entertain a number of guests at a mess dinner being held in the Tontine Hotel later in the evening.