Rescue

After a couple of runs in the heat and then a full day down at Ben Rhydding watching cricket yesterday, I was grateful that circumstances conspired to keep me inside all afternoon. It doesn't seem right to be stuck in front of the television and the computer in such dazzlingly beautiful weather, but I think it's excusable when so much drama and history was unfolding. I do love my sport.

The take-aways were ...

1) Witnessing the emergence of greatness in the Tour de France. Wout van Aert achieved what many might have considered impossible in the modern era, namely winning the final sprint stage in Paris, after winning the time-trial the day before, and having previously won a mountain stage, the double ascent of the Ventoux, no less! It's hard to describe how crazy that is. There was a sense of destiny at work today, but it wasn't to be Cavendish breaking Eddy Merckx's record of stage wins. It was another Belgian denying him that record. Perhaps it's right that Cav and the Cannibal should forever remain tied. But, then, who is going to bet against Cavendish coming back even faster next year. It's been the comeback of all comebacks and a joy to watch. The whole tour has been a joy to watch, with the best first week I can ever remember. 

2) Seeing Louis Hamilton at his racing best, not giving an inch to Verstappen. It's the F1 racing we all want to see. When it's good, it rivals the best sport in the world. Trouble is that it's rarely this good. I don't know enough about the rules of racing to have an opinion on what happened on that first lap, but it was riveting. It's impossible to imagine the balls that requires, from both drivers. Wow.

3) Watching the emergence of greatness in the form of Collin Morikawa at the Open from Sandwich. In the searing heat, he was as cool as the proverbial cucumber. What skill and composure from someone so young. He's going to win a lot of titles.

4) Looking at the ball fly over the top tier of the biggest stand at Headingley and listening to the commentary, where they were having trouble believing what they'd just seen. Forrest was at the ground and couldn't believe it either, just how hard Liam Livingston was hitting the ball. He's struggled to cement a place in an incredibly talented side. This was the moment when I think he's made it impossible for the selectors to leave him out.

I needed a slow walk on the moor to unwind after all that drama and ended up finding more. This poor lad followed his mates up the steps to the top of the Calf and then got stuck. He was completely spooked, unable to move up or down. It certainly didn't help that he was being offered all sorts of conflicting advice from the gathering crowd. After a while, he just sat there, absorbed in his phone, ignoring everything going on around him. Somebody must have called 999. The police arrived and then the fire brigade. They were all very good-humoured about it and soon had him down.