Top 5 sporting moments of 2023

As the year draws to a close on another unforgettable 12 months in sport, we take a look back at the five most memorable moments served up to us across 2023.

5 – Corach Rambler triumphs at Aintree

The 2023 Grand National was not without its controversy, with protesters delaying the start of the race by 15 minutes after invading the track. In what turned out to be a gripping race, Lucinda Russell, the sole British trainer to have triumphed since 2017, clinched her second victory in six years with Corach Rambler, the 8-1 favourite.

Defying a substantial Irish presence, Russell and jockey Derek Fox earned a coveted spot in the elite group of dual winners. Fox’s participation in the race hung in the balance due to a recent injury, but he showcased remarkable poise to surge ahead over the final fences, seizing the lead from Mister Coffey, and fending off Vanillier late on to win by over two lengths at the line.

4 – Europe’s Ryder Cup Romp in Rome

Two years after a record-breaking defeat to the US at Whistling Straits, Team Europe secured a commanding victory over the United States at Marco Simone, reclaiming the Ryder Cup in front of an ecstatic European crowd.

Under the leadership of Luke Donald, who assumed the captaincy after Henrik Stenson’s departure due to joining LIV Golf, the home team began the weekend with an unprecedented 4-0 sweep in the opening foursomes. This strong start set the tone for the remainder of the event, as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Viktor Hovland lived up to their star status, ensuring Europe never lost their grip in what turned out to be a commanding Ryder Cup victory.

3 – South Africa win fourth World Cup

2023 was also notable for the presence of the Men’s Rugby World Cup, with host nation France keen to lift their first ever title after featuring as runners up on three separate occasions. The French made a roaring start by making lightwork of the imperious All Blacks in the opening game of the tournament, but their journey was ended by a brutal 29-28 defeat to South Africa in the quarter-finals.

With New Zealand dispatching Argentina in the first semi-final, England and South Africa played out a tense 16-15 thriller in the remaining semi-final, with the South Africans advancing to their second consecutive World Cup final. The Springboks then pulled the rabbit out of the hat again, edging out New Zealand 12-11 to spark delirium among their players and fans.

2 – City’s Historic Treble

For all of Manchester City’s success over the past decade, one thing they had yet to emulate over their city rivals, United, was the Red Devils’ treble in 1999. However, that all changed in June when a second-half Rodri winner won Manchester City their first ever Champions League title and completed a remarkable treble – the first of its kind this century.

Earlier in the season, City had to overcome a mighty deficit between them and runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal in order to secure their third consecutive title, before defeating neighbours Manchester United 2-1 in June’s FA Cup final. That fateful night in Istanbul would, however, have been the highlight, with the club finally overcoming its loss in the 2021 final to Chelsea.

1 – Alcaraz upstages Djokovic at Wimbledon

The 2023 Grand Slams were unsurprisingly dominated by the imperious Novak Djokovic, who lifted the Australian Open, French Open and US Open to add to his ridiculous tally of majors. However, the Serb was unable to collect all four of the majors across the calendar year, with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz spoiling the party in SW19.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz turned up to Wimbledon as the first seed after winning the 2022 US Open but found himself on the end of a thumping in the first set to Djokovic – losing 6-1 in the opening half hour. However, Alcaraz went on to win three of the next four sets across four and a half hours, collapsing to the floor in front of an adoring Centre Court crowd and picking up his second Grand Slam title.

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