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From Padiham Gym To The Flight Deck: Alfie's Muay Thai Journey To HMS Queen Elizabeth

James Bovington
Boxing Correspondent

Alfie Rowley (left)

Ribblesdale High School student Alfie Rowley began Thai boxing training at his local gym Northwest Muay Thai in Padiham aged 15 and now having just turned 20 he’s the combat sports coach on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the UK’s two aircraft carriers.

12:00 AM 22nd August 2026

Boxing's Rising Star Balraj Khara Has A Superpower – His Hearing Impairment

In a sport built on noise, pressure and split-second decision-making, professional boxer Balraj Khara has found his greatest advantage in silence. The British super-middleweight fighter, who was born with a hearing impairment, is emerging as one of the most compelling stories in UK boxing today.

12:00 AM 22nd August 2026

Ward Hadaway Announces Support For 2026 Ladies European Tour Golfer Jess Baker

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

(L-R) Jess Baker with Ward Hadaway's Alistair McDonald

Ward Hadaway has announced that it will support Jess Baker as the Newcastle-based professional golfer continues to compete in the 2026 Ladies European Tour (LET).

P.ublished 21st August 2026

Ethan Daintith Felt “Relief And Pride” After Helping Highland Frost To Secure Inaugural NBHL Title

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Ethan Daintith Photo: Dave Paget Barcud Photography

Highland Frost made history as they defeated Merseyside Foxes to win the inaugural Great Britain National Ball Hockey League (NBHL) title in Sheffield. Amongst the winning roster was Hull-born Ethan Daintith, who helped his side to a 3-2 victory in which he scored the deciding goal.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Zebra Print Group Backs Doncaster Martial Arts Team Ahead Of 2026 World Championships In Spain

Zebra Print Group backs Team ACMAC

Leeds-based Zebra Print Group has pledged its support to a Yorkshire martial arts team as it prepares to represent the region on the world stage. The family-run print firm has committed to sponsoring Team ACMAC as seven of its competitors prepare to travel to Cádiz, Spain, for the 2026 World Championships.

P.ublished 19th August 2026

Inspirational Sheffield Student Rian Snell Competes At British Transplant Games

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Rian at the British Transplant Games

Inspirational Sheffield student Rian Snell has ‘celebrated the gift of a second chance at life’ after he competed at the British Transplant Games, which were hosted in Sheffield.

P.ublished 18th August 2026

What's On This Week? 17th – 21st August

This week, the excitement of the football league’s commencement is boosted by a Yorkshire derby, while more drama erupts from the Super League and the England cricket team.

P.ublished 17th August 2026

England’s Tom Sorsby “Looking Forward To Showing What We’re About” At FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup

Tom Sorsby and the rest of the England Men’s Hockey team will begin their FIH Hockey World Cup campaign today (Saturday 15th August) in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. England men head into the tournament, which is being held jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands, ranked third in the world behind only the two hosts of this year’s event.

P.ublished 15th August 2026

GB And Sheffield Giant’s Marta Mathews “Super Excited” Ahead Of IFAF Flag Football World Championships

Sheffield Giant’s Marta Mathews will travel to Germany with the rest of the Great Britain women’s team for the IFAF Flag Football World Championships this week. The championships will see Great Britain women compete against fifteen other nations to be crowned world champions for the first time in their history.

P.ublished 12th August 2026

Shot Putter Scott Lincoln Excited For “Prestigious” And Historic European Athletics Championships In Birmingham

Shot putter Scott Lincoln will join nearly 100 British and Northern Irish athletes at the Alexander Stadium as Birmingham becomes the first British city to host the European Athletics Championships. Birmingham 2026 will see over 1,500 athletes from 49 nations compete for continental titles, with 50 championships contested over seven days of athletics action.

P.ublished 10th August 2026

What's On This Week 10th -14th August

Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter

Photo by Markus Winkler: Pexels

As we enter the second week of August, many clubs are reaching the end of their seasons, while others are just beginning. This week we have a showcase of both ends of the spectrum, as another bumper midweek of action is ready to take place.

P.ublished 10th August 2026

Wharfedale Run Riot Against Old Rishworthians in Pre-Season Warm-Up

Wharfedale RUFC

Photo: Wharfedale RUFC

Old Rishworthians’ Director of Rugby is Richard Brown, who is well known at the Greens. Their senior manager is Mark Witchell, their head coach is Paul Gabriel and their captain is Greg Withers. They are to appoint a forwards player coach for the first time. They play in County 1, Yorkshire.

P.ublished 9th August 2026

Sheffield University Graduate Will Donnelly Is Both Boxer And Entrepreneur

James Bovington
Boxing Correspondent

Will Donnelly Photo: James Bovington

Sheffield University student Will Donnelly is now back home in Maidenhead but will likely remember his three years spent “in a city with everything to offer” as much for winning his boxing bout with friend and fellow student Lennie Blagg as for his successful studies leading to a BA in business management, with his graduation having taken place on 23rd July.

P.ublished 8th August 2026

Yorkshire’s Grassroots Sports Clubs Urged To Apply For Funding From Aldi

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Mearns Gymnastics Club

Grassroots sports clubs from around the Yorkshire region are being urged to apply for funding from Aldi’s new ‘Aldi Sports Fund Programme', which brings together its support for local sport.

P.ublished 7th August 2026

What's On This Week 3rd-7th August

As we enter the month of August, we are close to a month where many leagues come to a climax whilst some kick off. This week we have approached crunch time many times in both cricket and rugby league. With so much still to play for, there is no shortage of action to get stuck in this midweek.

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Wales Hockey Donation Matching Campaign Launched By Ranmore Ahead Of 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup

In a bid to help the Wales Senior Men’s Hockey Team to reach the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, Ranmore Fund Management has launched a sponsorship and donation matching campaign. Alongside sponsoring the team, they have pledged to ‘match every pound donated to the team's crowdfunding campaign from today until it closes, up to a target amount of £40,000’.

P.ublished 3rd August 2026

Equestrian Firm Renews Official Partnership With British Showjumping

Flourishing equestrian bedding manufacturer UNIBED, based at South Milford near Selby, has announced their official partnership with British Showjumping has been renewed for a further three years.

P.ublished 29th July 2026

Grand Départ Trophy Handed To Great Britain As ‘Next Hosts’ Of Tour De France

The presentation of the Grand Départ Trophy after the final stage of this year’s race in Paris confirmed Great Britain as the official next host of the Tour de France.

P.ublished 29th July 2026

Blackpool And Hull To Host 2026 Return Of Lloyds Tour Of Britain Family Cycling Festival

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Two stages of the prestigious Lloyds Tour of Britain event, Blackpool and Hull, will host the return of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Family Cycling Festival. The free-to-attend festival will take place in Blackpool on Thursday 20th August and Hull on Friday 4th September, both between 11am and 2pm, as part of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women and Men’s professional cycle race.

P.ublished 29th July 2026

News And Events From F1: Hungarian Grand Prix

Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent

George Russell is well aware of the threat posed by his teenage teammate

The Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship began in 1950, with the constructors' equivalent being added eight years later, and back in that opening decade Alberto Ascari became an Italian sporting hero on the F1 front.

P.ublished 27th July 2026

What's On This Week 27th-31st July

Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter

As July comes to an end, we have plenty on the slate to finish on a high, with action from Super League and The Hundred to play out what has been a month of continuous action into an August that promises to provide much of the same.

P.ublished 27th July 2026

Norris Wins For Mclaren In Hungary

Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent

Lando Norris claimed a second consecutive Hungarian Grand Prix victory

Formula 1’s last round before the four-week summer break took place this weekend at the Hungaroring, located just outside Budapest, and it was McLaren’s Lando Norris who occupied the top step on the podium for the first time this season after a highly entertaining Hungarian Grand Prix. Two key issues dominated paddock discussions ahead of the start of ontrack action on Friday.

P.ublished 26th July 2026

Free Entry To Giants V Catalans For A Massive Announcement About Its 2027 Location

Huddersfield Giants have announced that its upcoming Betfred Super League game at home to Catalans Dragons on Saturday 8th August at 2pm will be FREE ENTRY for anyone who wishes to join them for what is possibly the biggest announcement in the club’s 162-year history.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

New Partnership Hopes To Get More Parkinson’s Communities Into Table Tennis

Parkinson’s England Table Tennis (PETT) has entered into a new partnership with Parkinson’s UK and Table Tennis England (TTE) with the aim of getting more people with Parkinson’s into the sport.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

World Triathlon Championship Series London Race A ‘Big Thing’ For Great Britain’s Jess Fullagar

Great Britain’s Jess Fullagar will join some of the world’s best triathletes in London as the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) visits the city this weekend. The Leeds-based triathlete will be joined by her fellow Britons, including Beth Potter and Georgia Taylor-Brown, as she looks to make her mark at the sixth elite women’s race of the championship.

P.ublished 23rd July 2026

What's on this week 20-24th July

With the World Cup coming to a close, fear not, as there is still a litany of high-octane sporting action taking place across the region. From the throwing of darts to the swing of a bat and the clash of a tackle, there is all to play for still this midweek.

P.ublished 20th July 2026

News And Events From F1: Belgian Grand Prix

Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent

(L-R) Max Verstappen still working closely with McLaren bound Gianpiero Lambiase at Spa

Max Verstappen arrived at Belgium’s legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit feeling frustrated by the ongoing performance issues and technical failures related to this year’s Red Bull car, leaving him only seventh in the Drivers’ Championship and privately considering the best way ahead for the four-time champion with his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, and his father, Jos.

P.ublished 20th July 2026

Antonelli Wins Spa Thriller

Graham Read
Formula 1 Correspondent

Kimi Antonelli very much deserved his victory in the Ardennes

Two weeks after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Formula 1 returned to action amidst Belgium’s Ardennes forests on the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit, a challenging high-speed track which has always sorted the men from the boys and the great from the merely very good, and, after an exciting rollercoaster of a race, it proved to be Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli who claimed the victo…

P.ublished 19th July 2026

Torz Anderson Proud Of England’s “Amazing” Bronze At Inaugural Women’s European Box Lacrosse Championships

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Torz Anderson Photo: Marek Stor (Shutterlax)

Torz Anderson and England Women’s Lacrosse cemented their place in the history books as they secured the bronze medal at the inaugural Women’s European Box Lacrosse Championships. The inaugural women’s championships brought together the best European women's box lacrosse nations for 10 days of action in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic.

P.ublished 18th July 2026

Nations Championship Round 2 Review

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Marcus Smith of England in action during the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and England at Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England Photo by Jan Kruger - Nations Championship/Getty Images reproduced with permission

The second round of the inaugural Nations Championship picked up where round one left off with nearly 400 points scored across the six matches. The wins were shared equally between the two hemispheres again in the second round.

P.ublished 16th July 2026

Report On The Combat Academy Barnsley At Their Kings Of Combat Homeshow

Coaches and fighters from The Combat Academy in Barugh Green are delighted with their success at the ‘Kings of Combat’ show held at the Metrodome, which had 1500 attendees." “This event is our major home show,” explained coach Tommy Crossland. “It was the fourth kings, which we arrange every two years.

P.ublished 15th July 2026

Team England Cyclist Abi Miller To Launch Better’s Free Community Sports Weekend Across York

York-based Abi Miller will officially launch Team England and Better’s National Sports Weekend, a weekend of free sporting activities, at the latter’s leisure centres across the city. Better and Team England have joined forces to create a ‘Commonwealth Games-inspired’ Open Weekend on 18th and 19th July which is open to people of all ages and abilities.

P.ublished 15th July 2026

What's On This Week 13th-17th July

As the heat grips us all around the county, things are hotting up on the pitch for a litany of teams looking to go through another tournament or round with what could prove to be famous victories.

P.ublished 13th July 2026

Vitality Roses And AO Manchester Thunder Star Nat Metcalf Selected For Third Commonwealth Games

Nat Metcalf has been named as one of twelve athletes in England’s Netball squad for the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The AO Manchester Thunder star will line up in the midcourt for her third Commonwealth Games after previously representing England at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.

P.ublished 11th July 2026

Tackling The Barriers Stopping Women Trying Triathlon

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

This weekend, the Yorkshire & Humber Supporting Women & Girls in Triathlon Network will be out in force at the Ripon Triathlon Festival, running talks throughout the weekend aimed at breaking down the barriers that stop women and girls from getting into triathlon.

P.ublished 10th July 2026

How You Can Be Involved In Bowls’ Big Summer 2026

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Photo: New Reach

Bowls is once again opening its doors to people from around the country ‘in a bid to inspire new players during this summer of sport. Bowls will be one of ten sports featured at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the sport looking to capitalise on the attention born from those games.

P.ublished 8th July 2026

Nations Championship Round 1 Review

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

Photo: Pablo Hsm on Pexels

The opening round of the inaugural Nations Championship showcased some of the best that the world of rugby union has to offer. Victories were split evenly between the two hemispheres, with three Northern Hemisphere and three Southern Hemisphere teams all picking up wins.

P.ublished 7th July 2026

What's on this week 6th-10th July

Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter

Photo by Markus Winkler: Pexels

Another midweek of high-octane action awaits from around the world of sports. From the World Cup in America to drama closer to home, there is much to take in no matter which sport you love.

P.ublished 6th July 2026

News And Events From F1: British Grand Prix

Formula 1 is in rude health, with ever-rising global interest in the sport, sell-out attendances at Grands Prix and impressive viewing figures on television and online, helped in the UK by several leading British drivers like the current world champion, Lando Norris, George Russell and the veteran Lewis Hamilton.

P.ublished 6th July 2026

Leclerc Wins A Controversial Silverstone Thriller

On 13 May 1950, Silverstone hosted the first ever race in the then newly introduced Formula 1 World Championship, and it has again been the venue for this year’s British Grand Prix and the Sprint event.

P.ublished 5th July 2026

Nations Championship: What Is The New ‘Groundbreaking’ International Rugby Union Tournament?

2026 will see the world’s best men’s rugby union teams battle it out to become the inaugural Nations Championship champions. Six Northern Hemisphere nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) will take on six Southern Hemisphere nations (Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa) in a bid to become the ‘best nation’ and most ‘dominant hemisphere’.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

New Running Apparel Brand, EDRA, Launched In Leeds By Leeds

Marathon winner and former Great Britain representative EDRA, a new British running apparel brand, was launched this week in Leeds with its complete summer running collection showing ‘strong early sales and a great reaction across socials’.

P.ublished 4th July 2026

Bradford’s Francesca Jones Makes Fourth Wimbledon Appearance During ‘Challenging’ 2026 Season

Alicia Newton
Deputy Sports Editor

On Monday 29th June, Francesca Jones opened her 2026 Wimbledon campaign against France’s Diane Parry, who is ranked number 49 in the world. The match, which took place on court 17, saw her lose to France’s number one WTA women’s singles player 4-6, 4-6.

P.ublished 2nd July 2026

York Boxers Triumph On Yorkshire Stadium Show

James Bovington
Boxing Correspondent

York Boxer George Davey with Commonwealth Belt

York boxer George Davey has won the Commonwealth Boxing Council’s International Championship title belt at super welterweight on an open-air Yorkshire show where five of the city’s other professional boxers also got wins.

P.ublished 2nd July 2026

Ripon Grammar Football Star Lottie Signs For Man City

Lottie Day

One of Ripon Grammar School’s brightest sporting talents has secured a dream move to Manchester City Women Under-21s. Sixteen-year-old Lottie Day’s two-year deal with the Women’s Super League club continues a remarkable rise that has seen her establish herself as one of the country’s most promising young footballers.

P.ublished 30th June 2026

What's on this week 29th June – 3rd June

Blaine Roberts-McNally
Sports Reporter

Image by Prawny from Pixabay

The world of sport never fails to demonstrate its penchant for drama and intrigue, and this week is no different as we have the swan song of a legend, a defining moment in World Cup history, and a vital game for the Three Lions on the way for another bumper midweek.

P.ublished 29th June 2026

England’s Judo Commonwealth Games Selectee Charlie Ayre Wins A Career First Grand Prix Medal

British Judo’s Charlie Ayre won the men’s -60kg silver at the Qingdao Grand Prix, securing a career-first Grand Prix medal and a major international breakthrough. The Middlesborough judoka, whose Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games selection was recently announced, progressed through a strong international field on his way to reaching the final of one of judo’s top events.

P.ublished 29th June 2026

Four Star Athletes Selected For Nationals

A remarkable summer of athletics has culminated in four Ripon Grammar School students being selected to represent North Yorkshire at one of the country’s most prestigious national championships. This follows a season of impressive achievements on track and field, during which the school’s athletics stars amassed an impressive collection of county titles and championship medals.

P.ublished 29th June 2026

News And Events From F1: Austrian Grand Prix

Immediately after the Barcelona round a fortnight ago, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff announced the team’s intention to request a Right Of Review hearing regarding the Monaco Grand Prix results, with George Russell’s penalties having left him outside the points.

P.ublished 29th June 2026

Russell On Top At The Red Bull Ring

Formula 1 has returned to action at Austria’s Red Bull Ring circuit in one of the most beautiful locations I have ever reported from, and in very hot conditions it was Mercedes’ George Russell who claimed the victory spoils.

P.ublished 28th June 2026

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