The long, hot summer seems to have abruptly ended, but what a summer it has been. One of the hottest and longest on record.
Even though it seems ages ago, we also had the World Cup, one where England defied almost all expectations and made it to the semi-finals.
The nights may be drawing in, but there is still a lot for sport fans can look forward, both in their community as well as from the comfort of their settee.
World-Class International Fare
Major sporting events come thick and fast at this time of the year. First up is the U.S. Open in New York.
Tennis fans across the globe will be tuning in, in the millions, to see if Novak Djokovic can secure a victory and become the first person in history to win the Golden Masters.
Sandwiching the tennis matches are the fourth and fifth tests between England and India when the nation’s weather will be under as severe a test as its batsmen and bowlers.
September also sees the next outing for World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua. On the 22nd, the undefeated, Olympic gold medallist steps into the ring at a sold-out Wembley Stadium against the durable and dangerous Alexander Povetkin.
At the end of September, one of the top sporting events of any year rolls into Paris for the first time, and it has nothing to do with cycling.
Over three nail-biting days, the Ryder Cup pits the best European golfers against their counterparts from the United States and has become one of the most unmissable weekends of sport for golf fans and non-golf fans alike.
After almost a decade of European dominance, the U.S. team triumphed in 2016, and Thomas Bjørn — the European captain — is determined to regain the trophy on home soil.
A European victory would be their 9th out of the last 12 competitions.
This autumn will see the birth of a brand-new football tournament.
The UEFA Nations League, previously flew under the radar somewhat after the excitement of the World Cup, but now will likely replace the sometimes-meaningless friendly games and give international teams more stiff competition year-round.
The focus changes to a different shaped ball as the rugby Autumn Internationals get underway.
New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and South Africa will all be in the U.K. taking on the home nations.
The F1 season, meanwhile, screeches to a halt as the nights get ever longer, and Lewis Hamilton will be aiming to make history with his 5th championship.
Finally, the year ends with the traditional World Darts Championship, with the first players making their way to the oche on the 13th December, hoping to make it all the way to the final on New Year’s Day.
Closer to Home
For those who want to venture out of their living rooms and witness top-class sporting action first-hand, there is plenty available locally, both to watch and participate.
The Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon, as well as the less daunting fun run, takes place on Sunday the 9th September.
For those with any energy left, the whole of the town is going to be transformed into a giant sport arena when Beat the Street is held over six weeks starting on the 12th September.
On the 21st September, and again on the 2nd November, the PGL Netball tournament comes to Foxhill while the BLEC Summer Dressage Series 2018 Championship hits the Breach Lane Equine Centre on the 22nd September.
Cycling fans will have to travel a short distance to witness first-hand the Tour of Britain. The third stage starts and ends in Bristol, with the riders negotiating the 125km route that takes them through the Mendip Hills and up Cheddar Gorge.
There is also, of course, the Robins, as Phil Brown aims to steer his team back into the first division. It has been a mixed start to the campaign, and Brown has said that though there are things that he needs to change and work out, he has seen enough to make him believe that it is achievable.
