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Rabbit Jumping July 1, 2003 As mentioned last week, we had been intrigued by posters appearing around town advertising Rabbit Jumping, or Kanin Hoppning as it’s called here. So this week we decided to pay a visit and see what it was all about. I had taken part in Gum Boot Throwing competitions back in Australia, and I had heard of, but not actually seen, dwarf throwing competitions back there too. Maybe this latter is now considered politically incorrect and is now called “elevating growth challenged individuals and moving them through the air as far as possible. But back to the rabbits. The competition was advertised as being held behind the summer café in Butorp, a small village which just makes it onto our map of the local area. Butorp is a local centre for horse riding through the forests, and the café is open only during the summer weeks to cater for the horse riding enthusiasts. After a few wrong turnings – we had forgotten our map - we found ourselves on a small gravel road heading into the middle of the forest. It will be interesting to see what this road is like in the middle of winter. Finally we emerged from the forest and there before us was the village, which consisted of around three houses and the summer café surrounded by forest and horse paddocks. But there were numerous cars parked outside the café so we figured that we had arrived at the right spot. At the back of the café was a large grassed area and it was here that the rabbits were to strut their stuff, as it were. All around the grass we could see rabbits on leads, sleeping in travel cages or being spoken to quietly by their owners. It seems that the majority of people who partake in rabbit jumping are teenage girls, and to them it is a very serious sport indeed. The start list pinned to the back wall of the café showed names such as “Dark Moon Shadow” and “My Dream” alongside my favourite “Eeyore”. What ever happened to rabbit names like Peter and Sooty, I wondered. But then I should have realised that these were champions in their field and common names such as these would be undignified. We could overhear various conversations concerning the standard of the opposition, the state of the course and what effect the weather conditions would have on the rabbits. There was an area set aside with a couple of small fences, with several of the rabbits warming up prior to the competition. The course was a series of twelve fences of varying degrees of difficulty, ranging from a single bar set at around two inches off the ground, to a monster built to resemble the great wall of China, and standing all of eighteen inches tall. All the fences were brightly painted and the whole course resembled a miniature horse show jumping arena. There was even a water jump, with a small dish of water standing before a miniature three bar fence. We arrived as the first heats were underway. The rules of the competition are quite simple – each rabbit attempts the course and is timed over the course. As in horse show jumping, points are added for fences knocked down or refusals. Unlike horse show jumping, however, the owner is allowed to lift the rabbit over the fence in the event of a refusal. Rabbits are enticed to jump the fences by no more than words of encouragement from their owners. Or in some cases, a small tickle behind the tail is permitted. The styles of the rabbits were many and varied. A few were obviously more interested in the state of the course and the taste of the grass than in jumping. Some would approach a fence, stop, then stand up on their hind legs and examine the fence closely before deciding whether to jump or simply walk around the side. Others took a series of fences in one burst before stopping for a rest in mid-course. But nearly all the rabbits that we saw competing managed to complete the course within the time limit allowed and some of the jumps performed were quite spectacular. Following the heats, a short pause for coffee (for the owners and spectators), then the heat winners have another go in the finals. As with the horse equivalent, at the end of the competition, the winners are awarded rosettes and trophies. And then home again for grooming and perhaps an extra carrot for supper… Hälsningar till nästa vecka, ------------ About the author: Robin Alan Bell is an Englishman by birth, but migrated to Australia back in '72. Married and divorced there. Spent the last 3 years living by myself on a remote farm in rural New South Wales with no mains electricity, water etc. All power, heating was from natural resources (solar, wind, wood). "Met" a Swedish girl on the internet, came to Sweden for a holiday, loved the place (and the girl), moved to Sweden permanently Christmas 2001 and married the girl in Easter 2002. Living happily ever after... Email Robin Alan Bell: sosoft@ozemail.com.au Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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