Sports Then and Now

The British Grand Prix is always one of the sporting highlights of the year in the UK.

Even if you are a casual observer, you will likely have noticed the passion and fervor associated with sporting events held annually in the UK, and how they keep drawing in the crowds year after year. Here are some of the highest profile sporting events.

The FA Cup Final

Held in May of each year, the FA Cup Final marks the end of the football season and the culmination of one of the most famous knockout competitions in world football. The Cup Final, held at Wembley Stadium, is a glamorous affair and receives extensive media coverage both at home and internationally, but the competition starts in August of each year and goes through six qualifying rounds before the League clubs enter the draw. The FA Cup has become famous for its so-called giant killings, with unfancied teams beating their more high-profile opponents. If you are a football fan, you will likely remember some of these matches, including Cup Finals such as 1973, when Sunderland beat Leeds United, and 1988, when Wimbledon shocked Liverpool, the then-giant of English football.

The British Grand Prix

The UK has a long association with motor car racing, and Formula One comes to the country annually with a Grand Prix, currently held at the Silverstone Circuit. Grand Prix motor racing in the UK can be traced back to the 1920s, and the history of the British Grand Prix shows some thrilling races down through the years. Such homegrown talents as Stirling Moss, Nigel Mansell and, more recently, Lewis Hamilton have enjoyed wins in the race. Hamilton won the 2014 race on his way to that year’s World Championship and will hope for a repeat in July.

The Grand National

Racing fans will be keeping a keen eye on Grand National 2015 Runners as Aintree Race Course, located near Liverpool, prepares to host the high-profile event, watched by millions worldwide on television. The race course itself will be filled to capacity on the day for a race first held in 1839. If you are at all familiar with horse racing, you will recognize the uniqueness of the Grand National, in that the fences are much larger than those faced by runners and riders in a typical National Hunt race. Around two circuits of the course, horses are required to clear no less than 30 fences. There have been some wonderful races over the years and the National has provided many famous moments.  The 1970s are synonymous with Red Rum, the only horse to have won the race three times, with victories in 1973, 1974 and 1977.

As the pundits look to the 2015 Grand National, a number of names have begun to pop up; if you fancy a flutter ahead of the race, keep an eye on the likes of Shutthefrontdoor, Balthazar King and The Druids Nephew. A particular thrill of the Grand National comes from knowing, however, that it really is all on the day.

The sporting events mentioned here, and others, offer many thrilling moments to people no matter their level of sporting interest. Attending any of these events is a memorable day out.