Farming is great training for the sporting life
Summer sports are now on the horizon, and we must pay tribute to all the farming people who successfully compete, whether professional or amateur, having honed their skills and fitness in agriculture.
Although not necessarily making the physical demands of previous generations, agriculture provides many of the qualities required for a very varied number of sports, and you don’t need to look far at any sport before you find someone with farming connections.
Apart from the healthy and active lifestyle, it also sharpens the mind – split-second decisions need to be made, as well as well-considered plans in many forms of farming.
Strategies are formed and brought forward, and teamwork is required, as is the ability to work on one’s own. This planning is learned at a young age, as is the discipline required for any training. Dedication is something that is never questioned in farming, and it is required in the sporting field as well.
So let us hope that we can enjoy all our summer sports this year, and wish all sportsmen success. And don’t forget all the ‘back-room staff’ and caterers. A cricket tea is not to be missed!
Sarah Norton is a retired rural dweller living near Shrewsbury
