But Is It Sport ?

Tuesday 19th May

What a surprise – no sooner do we have a new Tory Government than we see several Tory M.P.s jumping up and demanding the restoration of fox-hunting.  It was sort-of abolished under Labour, but the spectacle of red and pink jacketed ‘hunters’ parading on a Sunday morning in certain country areas still persists, even if they are supposed to be following an artificial ‘drag’ scent of course if the dogs accidentally pick up a real fox scent that is just bad luck, old boy.

There is a strange lack of consensus on the issue; those in the countryside often supporting an age-old tradition and those in the cities usually opposed.  My issue is that the whole terminology is erroneous; the term ‘blood sports’ is a misnomer.  Of course time was when almost all sports were blood sports, fox hunting of course, dog fighting, bear-baiting and bare knuckle fist-fighting.  But slowly non-violent sports have taken over, where athleticism and skill and stamina are the measure of a sports-person, not how many hunters they may own, or how many grouse they have managed to slaughter in an afternoon.  There are still many who enjoy boxing, and it is far safer now than decades ago, but it is still someone trying to beat the s*^t out of another human being; I haven’t really watched boxing enthusiastically since Muhammed Ali danced around the ring.  Rugby is another sport where brute strength is used, but more and more speed and accuracy of kicking are worth more than sheer animal aggression.  I like almost all sport, especially many newer variations like Triathlon and some of the new winter sports.  I must admit that I am not so fond of sports where a panel of judges decides who is best such as gymnastics and ice dancing.  I like a race, or something where a score is kept and there is no disputing the winner.  Horse racing is another sport where there are allegations of cruelty, and it is sad when horses die in jump racing and maybe one day the public will decide that it is not really a sport either (already greyhound racing is in serious decline).  Fishing I would consider a pastime rather than a sport; here in Eymet several fishermen are to be seen on a Sunday, and they keep and cook the fish they catch.  But huntin’ and shootin’ I consider to be beyond the pale.  I know that many disagree and see them as simple country pursuits.  In Africa rich “sportsmen” pay huge sums to kill the few remaining wild animals which really sickens me, even if the justification is that these sums pay for wardens to protect these very same animals from poachers.   A strange world indeed.  I simply ask – is it sport?