When reading the news you occasionally come across an article about some traditional event or race, usually involving people in either weird costumes or doing rather strange things such as chasing a large cheese down a hill or battling your way through barbed wire whilst clutching a mini beer barrel.

Today whilst reading Pravda (no, not the BBC) I was both delighted and amused to discover a photographic report of a traditional Russian swimming race held in Novosibirsk where men compete whilst mounted on inflatable rubber women (You at the back! – Yes you boy! Stop that giggling now!!).

I am left wondering if any of the spectators had to go and throw themselves into the cold water to control their urges when presented with a legion of thrashing, splashing blow up dolls.

Hopefully, the BBC will televise this event next year. It’s about time we got something worthwhile for the damned licence fee.