Survival of Ethnic Sports

1
Survival of Ethnic Sports

• Learning Goals
• 1 Be able to identify Characteristics of Ethnic
  Sports.
• 2 Give reasons for their survival.

2
Background Info.

• British isles are rich in surviving festivals and
  customs.
• Bound up with the changing of the seasons.
• Many are Medieval or Pagan origins.
• Mob football
• Chasing the wheel of cheese down coopers hill in
  Gloucestershire.
• Doggett Coat and Badge
• Hurling is an ancient Cornish sport that still
  survives in villages such as St Ives.

3
Ashbourne Football

• Held in Derbyshire
• Survived despite attempts to abolish it since
  medieval times
• The Upards v Downards
• Centred on the river Henmore
• The game has few rules
• Goals three miles apart
• Played over two days
• Goals rarely scored
• Ball is filled with cork dust and very heavy
• The ball is generally moved by a scrum of
• people

4
The Highland Games.

• Over 50 different Highland Games
• Representation of Gaelic Heritage
• Activities tossing the Caber, hammer throwing,
  wrestling.
• Celebration also includes bag pipes, sword dancing

Grand social occasions as well as a display of
athleticism in keeping with the need of a hardy
lifestyle
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• Tourism
• Tradition
• Local
• Social
• Location relatively isolated
• Ritualistic
• Occasional/Annual
• Rowdy