JOSHUA IS LEAD MAN IN BLOCKBUSTER YEAR

IF 2017 was turned into a sporting movie, it would be directed by Steven Spielberg and smash all box office records.

What a 12 months we have witnessed, a year packed with epic battles between old rivals and new and memories made that will never be forgotten. Best performance in a lead role goes to Anthony Joshua, whose world heavyweight fight with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April was sensational beyond belief. Both men traded punches like never before to produce the greatest bout witnessed on these shores. The two giants both hit the canvas in scenes reminiscent of those in ‘Rocky’ as 90,000 fight fans looked on astonished. How Joshua prevailed in the end is still hard to fathom, but that he did, putting himself in a different sporting stratosphere. Those ringside to witness that famous night were privileged to be there. The scrap was a fairy-tale follow-up to an almost equally thrilling duel between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose on the fabled golf course of Augusta at the start of the same month. The close friends and Ryder Cup colleagues produced golf from the gods on a stunning final Sunday that saw the Spaniard triumph in a play-off to take the Green Jacket and end almost two decades of Major heartbreak on what would have been Seve Ballesteros’s 60th birthday.

Closer to home, at The Open at Royal Birkdale in July, American superstar Jordan Spieth snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with some high drama on a remarkable back nine to take his first Claret Jug.

In tennis, old adversaries Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal provided a final for the ages at the Australian Open that saw Federer come out on top.

With Andy Murray firmly in the background this year due to injury, despite starting it as world No.1, Federer and Nadal rolled back the years to win all four Grand Slams between them.

In New Zealand, Warren Gatland took his British & Irish Lions on what most people considered to be ‘Mission Impossible’ against the mighty All Blacks.

Thrilling

But despite losing the first Test to the world champions, Gatland’s men fought back to level the series before the final bout ended in a remarkable draw. It was utterly breathless to watch. In the most thrilling Super Bowl in history, Tom Brady inspired the New England Patriots to the biggest comeback of all time to stun the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. Victory saw Brady claim his fifth winners’ ring to cement his place as the greatest quarterback the game has ever known. In football, England secured World Cup qualification, while England’s Under-17s thrashed Spain to win the nation’s first World Cup at any level since 1966. In the Premier League, Chelsea cruised to the title in Antonio Conte’s first season in charge, Arsenal won the FA Cup and Manchester United landed the Europa League, days after the Manchester Arena bombing stunned the city. We must also mention Barcelona’s comeback from 4-0 down to beat Paris St-Germain in the last-16 of the Champions League, winning 6-1 in a remarkable second leg at the Nou Camp.

Claudio Ranieri was sacked just nine months after leading Leicester to the Premier League title, while Northern Ireland came within one bad refereeing decision of earning a spot at Russia 2018.

In another titanic battle, Australia clung on to beat England 6-0 in the Rugby League World Cup Final.

In Super League, Leeds Rhinos triumphed once again at Old Trafford after ruining the Grand Final fairy tale of Castleford, who never recovered after star man Zak Hardaker was banned in the build up after failing a drug test.

In cricket, England lost the Champions League trophy semi-final to Pakistan in Cardiff, while Joe Root marked his first innings as England Test captain with a stunning knock of 190 against South Africa at Lord’s.

But 2017 was to end on a sour note for Root and his men. Without biggest star Ben Stokes due to a police investigation into a street brawl outside a Bristol nightclub, England travelled Down Under to defend the Ashes.

Their defence of the famous Urn has been pitiful, with a combination of some mediocre bowling and brittle batting seeing the series go to the Aussies within three depressing Tests.

Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton became the first Brit to win four Formula One titles, England women’s cricket team won the World Cup and Mo Farah became 10,000m world champion before bringing the curtain down on his remarkable track career.

Chris Froome cemented his legend after winning the Tour de France for a fourth time, then followed it up with what seemed a remarkable win of La Vuelta.

Since then we have learned about his ‘adverse’ drug test during his win in Spain

Froome blamed it on his asthma inhaler and insists he remains a clean and honest athlete. Most people want to believe him, but his reputation will now be stained forever, even if he manages to clear his name.

Yet it would be wrong to end on a downbeat note because once again 2017 has reminded all of us just why we love sport so much.