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Is “SHEEPSHEARING” a
Sport?
by Kerry McGawley, (Department of Human Movement, University Western
Australia) April 2005
The historical classifications of certain activities as “sports” have changed over time, especially in recent years, when sports have become more diverse and extreme. The best method for deciding whether a particular activity should be deemed a sport may be to determine whether a number of core characteristics are present.
Honeybourne et al. [1] suggest that all sports must:
· contain an element of chance;
· involve competition between distinct sides;
· involve physically strenuous activity;
· have clear winners and losers;
· be spontaneous and enjoyable;
· use special equipment
According to these criteria, sheepshearing in a competitive environment has as much right to be deemed a sport as any Olympic or Commonwealth games event. Perhaps the day-to-day occupation of shearing is not strictly competitive (although the shearers themselves would disagree!), and, as such, lacks one or two of the above features. However, shearing against the clock, against another shearer or against a previously set record is certainly a competition, it provides winners and losers and therefore fulfils the above criteria.
Competitive sheepshearing would appear to conform to the definition of sport, which has been specifically outlined as “an activity that involves competition, which is physically strenuous and enjoyable” [1]. Furthermore, top class, athletic competitors have been distinguished as having to train hard in order to compete effectively [2]. This, along with two alternative interpretations of sport, continues to support the inclusion of competitive shearing as a modern-day sport:
A. activities in which people participate voluntarily, and which almost always provide a challenge of some kind, usually involving physical exercise, the execution of skill, or both;
B. the experience of pleasure or satisfaction gained by an individual through participating in these activities [2].
References
1. Honeybourne, J., M. Hill, and H. Moors, Advanced physical education. 1996, Cheltenham, UK: Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd.
2. Beashel, P. and J. Taylor, Advanced studies in physical education and sport. 1996, Surrey, UK: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.
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