I’ve lived in Switzerland for ten years now, ample time to assimilate you might think, and yet some things still remain passing strange.

This weekend, 12,000 people ( a huge number by Swiss standards) turned up to watch cows battle for the title “Queen of Queens”.

This is nothing like bull-fighting. None of the animals are harmed and the cows fight only with each other.

This picture shows Manhattan, the determined-looking cow on the left, literally going head to head with her rival Pouky.

Manhattan won. At least that’s what they tell me. All I could see was two very big cows pushing each other around a field. But then I have roughly the same level of understanding of Sumo Wrestling or Baseball.

I admire the way the Swiss maintain these kinds of traditions. There is no hertiage-industry feel to these events the way there now is with classic English occaisions like Henley or Wimbledon.

And the cows seem to have a lot of fun.

Take a look