Lockdown has stopped us humans competing against each other but animals continue to do it, well, naturally.
I got to hear of the strange sport of Combat de Reines In Switzerland where cows fight each other www.myswitzerland.com and Swhisskey on the rocks.
And I intend to make it my mission to seek out this ultimate moortial (sorry) arts duel on my travels as well as these other animal v animal contests.
Kicking seven cow bells out of each other
Combat de Reines, Switzerland: These contests date back to the 1920s when the skiers were on a break in the summer.
And they attract as many as 50,000 spectators across the season.
Although I’m assuming the cows are happy to fight behind closed doors (or in the open field) without us there.
The mootivation (ouch) for the cows is herd dominance although some need jivvying up and prefer to munch the grass.
Camel ye, come all ye
Camel wrestling, Turkey, Middle East, Asia: And your otherwise loping humpy desert dweller will bear his teeth…
If you try to jostle him along. Or put a female camel on heat between two males.
So not that different from humans then really.
The season is November to March so there’s still hope.
And here’s some Turkish delights and Jordanian japes to tantalise you… https://www.goturkeytourism.com and Wham bam, thank you Hamam. And www.gadventures.com, www.visitjordan.com and Wham bam, thank you Hamam.
Herd up your haggises
Haggis hurling, Scotland: OK, this isn’t actually a sport but try telling that to the young Irish group I was with a couple of years ago.
Dry-witted Aberdonian Stevie informed our party that because we were running late he’d have to take the haggis farm off the agenda.
Distracted by another question Stevie might not have returned to the subject.
Had I not reminded him and warned him that this might yet appear in their articles as fact.
Invented in 1977 by a Robin Dunseath in 1977 it is still going strong. And check out www.visitabdn.com and Aberdeen – a light in the north and wwwvisitscotland.com.
One for the puperazzi
Dog surfing, Huntington Beach, California: And to think I might never have learned about this sport of canines had I not pried.
The good folk of HB had invited me out for breakfast in Dublin to tell me about their new hotels and I probed them for info about their beaches.
I discovered that they have a popular annual dog surfing competition and that Garrett McNamara and his Brazilian labrador Bono lead the way.
And no, I never did hear if this Bono wore shades too all the time. Maybe the next time I get out to HB I’ll check it out.
Visit https://www.surfcityusa.com, www.visitcalifornia.com and https://www.google.ie/amp/s/jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2020/03/19/my-weekend-with-marilyn-2/amp/.
I haven’t heard if September’s big surf is going ahead but the Pacific is a big ocean.
Acting the goat
Goat racing, Tobago: And a skill I got me, Marsha.
Marsha had gone through our coach asking us what we were good at, with housebuilder Antony scoring highest and me lowest.
But I showed her! Me and my goat Bandanaman only beat Antony and his kid in the goat race.
The big event is held in Buccoo at Easter and if there’s any justice myself and Bandanaman will be at the starter’s gate.
Although I might pass on the crab race.
Visit https://www.visittobago.gov.tt and https://www.google.ie/amp/s/jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2020/03/17/ready-steady-goat-racing-in-tobago/amp/.
