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Curious Questions: Why do golf balls have dimples? And why are tennis balls furry?
As the weather picks up, millions of us start thinking about dusting off our golf clubs and tennis rackets. And as he did so, Martin Fone got thinking: why aren't the balls we use for tennis and golf perfectly smooth?
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The years when Art was part of the Olympics — and the double-gold winning painter who became its greatest champion
For decades in the early 20th century, the Olympic Games included events in art, literature and music. Only one person won more than a single gold medal in those years: Jean Jacoby, a painter from Luxembourg who remains his country's most decorated Olympian.
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Curious Questions: Why is race walking an Olympic sport?
The history of the Olympics is full of curious events which only come to prominence once every four years. Martin Fone takes a look at one of the oddest: race walking, or pedestrianism.
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Paris 1924, when sport came headfirst into an intoxicating mix of art, fashion and desire
When the Olympics opened in Paris in 1924, the French capital was already gripped by a ferocious blend of art, literature, cinema, fashion and a wild desire to dance. Sport merged into this culture to become the pinnacle of an extraordinary time, as Mary Miers reveals.
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The F1 legend who hitched a lift on a victory lap, why drivers no longer spray Champagne, and seven more things you should know about Formula 1
To mark Sir Lewis Hamilton's record-making ninth win at Silverstone Circuit, Rosie Paterson lists the thinks you probably didn't know about F1 and the British GP. Such as, winning Formula One drivers celebrate on the podium with Italian sparkling wine, not Champagne...
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Tim Henman: A lifetime at Wimbledon
Tim Henman has spent years of his life at Wimbledon, as a fan, player, broadcaster and more. He spoke to Toby Keel.
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Dressage: How 'horse dancing' evolved from ancient, deadly beginnings to modern Olympic glory
There can be no short cuts to success in dressage. The Ancient Greeks’ sympathetic methods of training horses, which were all about survival in battle, should still hold good in today’s widespread embrace of the Olympic sport, as Pippa Cuckson explains.
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Curious questions: Did the modern Olympics really start in Much Wenlock?
Martin Fone traces the history of the Olympics and examines the contribution of Shropshire doctor William Penny Brookes.
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Inspired by Wimbledon? Expert tennis tips to help brush up a rusty game
With Wimbledon in full swing, it's the time of year when often-deserted tennis courts are suddenly teeming with players.
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How golf and property are stepping up together, with money-no-object courses and private jets for prospective buyers
A stunning new golf course at Les Bordes in France and some striking new houses at the iconic Spanish settlement in Sotogrande show how times are changing in the golf and property markets.
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How to win at board games, from Monopoly and Cluedo to Scrabble and Snakes and Ladders
As millions of people around the country are set to have an enforced period at home, it'll be time to bring out the classic board games. But how can you make sure you beat the kids? Luck helps, but tactics are better as Matthew Dennison explains.
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Six Nations 2020: England's chance to bounce back in style from World Cup disappointment — but they're very far from unstoppable
England look set to absolve their World Cup disappointment by lifting the Six Nations crown, says Owain Jones, as he gives his team-by-team guide ahead of the contest that kicks off on Saturday.
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Why the Penny Farthing is once more a frequent sight on the streets of London
The dinosaur of the bicycle world is back in the spotlight with the help of the Penny Farthing Club and its intrepid members.
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Walking St Cuthbert's Way in late summer: Heather in late-summer emperor’s purple, lit up by the last burst of warmth
The Cheviots and St Cuthbert’s Way are the right setting for reflection and remembrance, as Fiona Reynolds finds on her latest walk.
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An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting, part 3: New techniques, old friends and how to buy your own gun
If you're looking to get into shooting, a series of lessons is the place to start —as Octavia Pollock has been finding out at the Cowdray Estate's Hownhall shooting school.
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An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting, part two: Relax, breathe, trust... and avoid the temptation to squeak in triumph
Absolute beginner Octavia Pollock is learning clay pigeon shooting at Hownhall, part of the Cowdray Estate — in part one she was distracted by dogs and coffee before getting the hang of things; this is what happened when she went back for lesson two.
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An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting: 'Coffee drunk and dogs cuddled, it was time to begin'
Octavia Pollock had never so much as held a gun before she decided to try clay pigeon shooting — she headed down to the Cowdray Estate's Hownhall Shooting School to give it a go.
