Biggest ever Great North Run with 63,000 participants and Andy Burnham becomes first ever Prime Minister to run whilst in office. History was made as the 45th staging of the AJ Bell Great North Run saw Prime Minister Andy Burnham line up with 63,000 runners take part in the biggest ever event in the race’s history.

Mercedes’ 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli is still the clear favourite to become this year’s world champion despite being in only his second season in Formula 1, and it is indeed in effect his to lose, with a now 88 point lead over his second-placed teammate George Russell.

Following on from the recent extension of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull contract until at least the end of the 2030 season, McLaren has also announced that it has agreed the same for its reigning Formula 1 world champion, Lando Norris, who is also now set to remain with the Woking-based team for at least the same timescale, with a multi-year option to remain beyond that.

One of the most thrilling sights I ever saw in rugby league was Billy Boston bullocking his way down the wing. He was built like the proverbial brick outhouse and, once he got going, he was all but unstoppable. He wasn’t a flyer. He wasn’t one like Martin Offiah to glide past opponents with effortless speed. Boston simply came at them - all power, momentum and sheer bloody-mindedness.

August is bowing out in style, as the final midweek of the month is jam-packed with action from across the county. With dramatic curtain raisers and closers still to come, this week could prove all-important to so many clubs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.