Sport Category
Running the sub-4-minute mile
Sometimes called ‘The Dream Mile’, this feat is said to have begun with aristocrats betting on their…
Channel swimming
An open-water swimmer needs exceptional mental strength to attempt to swim the English Channel, the North Channel…
Badminton
Not only did the 10th Duke of Beaufort (1900-84) inaugurate the Badminton Horse Trials, but his grandfather…
Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, DBE (1969-) is the UK’s most successful Paralympian. Born in Cardiff, she was immobilised…
Royal Ascot
It was Queen Anne (1665-1714) who, in 1711, spotted Ascot Heath’s potential for horse racing and arranged…
The Commonwealth Games
Having a similar format to the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games began life in 1930 as the British…
Tiddlywinks
Hampshire-born John Assheton Fincher (1863-1900) was a London bank clerk who tried his hand at a few…
Dame Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes, MBE (1970-) is known for campaigns for physical and mental health, particularly via her…
The Grand National
The Grand National is an annual horse race many would like to see banned on animal welfare…
Curling
One of the world’s oldest sports, curling has some special features that remind us of its 16th…
Sir Chris Hoy
British cycling’s modern-day success is due in large part to Sir Chris Hoy, MBE (1976-). Born in…
Wrestling
At 4pm each Saturday in the 1960s/70s, millions of fans would settle down to watch ITV’s wrestling…