Just watched some of the Burlegh horse trials where women were competing well against men. Admittedly the horse is the one doing the main work, but I’d say that horse riding, especially eventing is far more physical than darts or snooker….both of which are big commercial sports that have separate not very popular women’s competition’s.

Why is it then?

Do women just have better things to do than playing darts/snooker enough to be good at it?

Because tea doesn’t mek itsen..

..and because they’re too good to bother.

They’re not allowed due to sexism. Plus they’re probably a bad craic down the pub

If there was a female snookerist or dartist in the top 1000 players in the world then maybe they could. As there isn’t, they can’t.

Why that is – so few women play these sports with any seriousness so obv you’d expect the talent pool to be really shallow. But that just punts the why question back a level – why don’t they play? Don’t know – many factors at work. One of which being testosterone – the hormone of communication, diplomacy, clear thinking, and ability to hit triple 19.

They have loads of time to play darts and snooker when they have dropped the kids at school.6 hours a day until they pick them up!!

Although women don’t compete together with men in shooting disciplines, many years ago the absolute world record for air-rifle was held by a woman. Maybe one day they will be allowed in such events as snooker or darts.

Isn’t there a Russian (possibly Scandinavian) lady dartist who regularly gives the blokes a schooling?

Edit. Yep. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia_Dobromyslova

There was a lass that switched over from BDO amateur darts womens events to play pro PDC with men. anastacia someone or other. She didn’t get on very well and switched back

Women get fat differently don’t they, it’s all about the beer belly in darts. Without it you’re rubbish.

I know that in the grand slam of darts, held every november, the womens world champion gets an automatic entry into the event and competes against the men.

I agree though, in events where strength isn’t the major factor but skill is, then women and men should compete together.

Because they’ve got far more sense than to get involved with that nonsense !

Dunno about professional level, but I see more women than men playing darts (and dominoes) in my local. There’s a spectrum of ability, but some are really rather good.

There are plenty of mass start endurance XC races that you can get lapped by the fast women in.

If we’re talking Burghley, let’s not forget the ladies don’t just “compete well against the men”, they often beat them hands down.

I remember Pippa Funnell’s Grand Slam year. What a performance.

In eventing, the ladies compete on a totally even playing field. It’s one of the great things about the sport.

Have you ever watched a female throw a ball? Same with darts

Snooker……distracting enough with just Michael Tabb, 3 of them and I wouldn’t even know what I was watching

Ah yes Burghley…bloody toffs and their daft spellings!

Was it Nikki Lauda that recently said that women wouldn’t be able to cope emotionally with F1?!

We’re too busy riding bikes.

If you think the horse does all the work in eventing you’ve obviously never ridden a horse.

Women compete equally in single handed offshore sailing. I say equally as in reality the men have an edge due to being stronger.

In sports like darts and snooker women could compete against men but in most cases they are not at the same level technically as fewer women play and thus the standard is lower.

Danica Patrick does ok against the boys too…

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOlEYNlSZ44[/video]

I said that the horse does the main work…I mean it is the one doing all of the running and jumping! No I’ve not ridden, but my wife does and I know just how hard it is….

aside from obvious differences in average physical and mental capacity relating to sporting ability, I expect it’s due to a reduced exposure to those sports, or sports that require similar skills, from an early age. women as a set of people have had less practice at snooker and darts than men, because boys play football and conkers and xbox whereas girls plait their hair, read Bunty and watch X-Factor.

i’ve just asked my girlfriend ‘why don’t women play snooker?’

(obviously i simplified the question for her delicate little brain)

‘because it’s bollocks, you patronising git’

there you have it.

At the oscars why isn’t there a best female director and best male director award when they separate acting by gender?

Women are smart enough not to waste their time on such moronic games.

There are plenty of mass start endurance XC races that you can get lapped by the fast women in.

That must be awful, i think i’d hate to be lapped by a woman…