Pennington Flash in Leigh saw thousands of people in wetsuits and red swimming hats congregate on its shores at 6am before taking the brave plunge into the freezing waters to carry out a 1.9km swim.

Spirits were high as thumping music and an MC got the energy levels high before the competitors began their swim, with the first person exiting the water in under 25 minutes.

(Image: Jack Schofield/Ironman)

From there, it was on to the bikes, with the athletes taking on a 56-mile bike ride through Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Horwich, and Bolton.

Despite it still being early in the morning, many people lined the streets to cheer on those taking part, with creative signs, bells, and screams of support to push on the athletes.

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

After the gruelling bike ride came the half-marathon run in Bolton, with the Ironmen and Ironwomen running through the town centre, Queen’s Park, and Chorley New Road.

Levin Veale, who was the first competitor to cross the finish line, said he found the run tough, saying: “Running in the park is pretty horrible.

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

“Running up some of them ridiculously steep hils, that blew me.”

Nonetheless, Levin was able to speed through the course, recording a sub-four-hour time as he was cheered on by the ever-supportive spectators.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

While the town centre was quiet as the first runners made their way through the streets, the crowds grew and so did the noise, with friends, families, and locals coming out in large numbers to create a fantastic atmosphere.

Katie Walker, who was the first female to cross the line for the second consecutive year, was full of praise for the Bolton crowds, saying: “The support here is always incredible, there’s nothing like it, not in any other race.”

(Image: Phil Taylor)

This was showcased outside Bolton Town Hall, as runners crossed the finish line to loud cheers from all sides as they completed their stunning feats.

The thrilling race closed the curtain on a remarkable weekend, which saw a record-breaking 10,000 people compete in the Night Run, IRONKIDS and IRONMAN 70.3 events.

With the record-setting number of competitors and the brilliant crowds lining the streets, it’s clear that IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton is one of the best dates in the competition’s calendar as well as the town’s.

Mohamed Salah’s relationship with Arne Slot had deteriorated prior to them both leaving Liverpool with a former Red making some major accusations about the pair

Dejan Lovren has doubled down on Mohamed Salah having no relationship with Arne Slot and maintains things would’ve been very different had Jurgen Klopp still been Liverpool boss.

The Egyptian waved goodbye to Anfield on the final day of the season, bringing to an end his nine-year spell with Liverpool. It ended in underwhelming fashion with the team and the player falling well short of expectations.

Salah posted his worst numbers as a Red this term, which eventually saw him benched by Slot as he sought to get the team back on track. That didn’t sit well with the Egyptian, a three-time PFA Player of the Year, who claimed that the Dutchman had “thrown him under the bus”.

His public show of frustration was less than ideal for the Reds boss, who would receive his marching orders once the campaign ended, and Lovren admits it was obvious to see Salah and his manager didn’t get on.

He told WinWin: “They didn’t have a good relationship. Let’s put it simply. With Klopp, he had a really good relationship. It wasn’t always perfect, but they knew each other very well, let’s say that too, and they trusted each other, they liked each other, and Mo gave everything on the pitch for Klopp, and Klopp gave him that trust. But (with Slot) it was the opposite. It’s that simple.”

Lovren and Salah have retained a strong relationship and the Croatian insists that Klopp knew how to manage the Egyptian and the situation when he was struggling for form. Klopp was able to deflect or protect his player, but Slot didn’t give him the same treatment.

“As I said, when Mo wasn’t performing well sometimes, Klopp knew what he had to do with him,” he added. “How to protect him, how to keep him even if he wasn’t performing well, he needed to keep him for the next game. But as Mo said, they threw him.”

Lovren also claimed: “Maybe if Klopp had stayed another year, or two, he might have left in a much better way. But, you know… this is how it happened.”

The former Liverpool defender also took aim at the media, insisting their treatment of Salah was “disgusting” given he had just one bad season across his time at Anfield.

“It’s not harsh. It’s disgusting,” he said. “Why didn’t they talk about him like this for the past eight or nine years? Tell me… Okay, one season, and then he’s the target again.”

After Salah’s penultimate game, a 4-1 hammering at Aston Villa, he put out a social media post and claimed Liverpool needed to return to the “heavy metal football” which they played under Klopp. Slot was dismissed shortly after the season ended following a fifth place finish with Andoni Iraola hired as his replacement.

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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

The fairground has plenty of activities suitable for children aged up to 14

A vintage fairground that has been designed to take families back in time might be worth a visit during the summer holidays. The Thursford Adventure Play Fair can be found in Norfolk making it easy to reach from Cambridgeshire and is based on “vintage fairgrounds” parents might remember from their childhood.

The Adventure Play Fair covers around 30,000 square feet meaning there are plenty of things for children to see and keep them entertained. The fairground features a range of classic rides including a Ferris Wheel, giant Helter Skelter and carousel.

The three main attractions are all connected with bridges, tunnels, and walkways. It is easy for children to spend hours on the swings, slides, and teacups dotted around the playground or having a go at one of the fairground stalls like hook-a-duck or the hall of mirrors.

If you are lucky enough to visit on a particularly hot day, your kids can spend some time at the Water Play Fountain. The area features a range of fountains and games including mazes and puzzles that children can get involved in while keeping cool.

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You can also find the Steam Engine Museum, which features the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. Alongside taking a look at the collection, there are also a few other fairground rides to try out, which cost £3 per person, and the Mighty Wurlitzer show, where you can watch Robert Wolfe play the impressive organ.

If you want to learn more about the steam engines in the collection, you can also book a tour of the museum. There is a separate entry fee for the museum but you can get it for half price by showing your Adventure Play Fair ticket.

After spending a day exploring the playground, you might need something to eat. At the play fair, there is a catering unit where you can pick up a range of sandwiches, cakes, and other sweet treats as well as coffee and cold drinks.

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If you also take the time to visit the Steam Engine Museum, you can take a break in the Barn Café which serves hot meals including fish and chips as well as fresh sandwiches. You might also like to take a quick look around the shopping village where you can find a range of gifts such as mugs, jewellery, and children’s toys.

The price of entry to the Thursford Adventure Play Fair depends on the time you visit. Throughout the summer holidays, it costs £6 for adults and £12 for children aged three and over.

The playground is currently opened from Saturday to Wednesday. It is open every day during the summer holidays. The Thursford Adventure Play Fair can be found just off the A148 between Fakenham and Holt. The site is around an hour and 50-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A1065.

The play fair has free parking onsite for all guests to use.

A 50-year-old man died following a collision involving a Vauxhall Vectra and a Citroen Dispatch, while two others remain in hospital with serious injuries.

A man has died and two others have been seriously injured following a crash in Dumfries and Galloway. The collision happened at around 7.35pm on Saturday, June 6, on the A709 near Lochmaben and involved a black Vauxhall Vectra and a white Citroen Dispatch.

Emergency services raced to the scene at the Dumfries to Lockerbie road near Lochfield and three people were taken to hospital for treatment. However, the driver of the Vauxhall, a 50-year-old man, died a short time later.

The occupants of the Citroen – a 67-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman – remain in hospital in a serious condition. The A709 was closed for around eight hours while investigations were carried out and reopened at around 3.30am on Sunday.

Road Policing officers are now appealing for witnesses as enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Sergeant Wayne Carnochan said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died at this time.

“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this crash and we are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything around this time to contact us. In addition, anyone with relevant dash-cam footage is asked to get in touch as this may be able to assist.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 2788 of June 6, 2026.

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West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move to Manchester United

Michael Carrick has already explained how he managed to channel the pain of being relegated with West Ham United and earn a dream transfer amid reports linking told Jarrod Bowen to Manchester United. The new United boss suffered the same fate during his time with the Hammers but previously argued that the disappointment pushed him to take his game to new heights at Old Trafford.

Bowen has been linked with a move to United following West Ham’s drop down to the Championship. The Hammers captain was unable to steer the club to safety, despite scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists.

United are among several clubs touted with an interest in signing the England international. However, The Sun has reported that West Ham hope to keep Bowen in their bid to earn promotion back to the top-flight.

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United manager Carrick faced a similar choice after being relegated with the same club in 2003. The 44-year-old spent a season in the second tier before moving to Tottenham Hotspur and eventually joining United. The experience left a lasting impression on Carrick, who used those feelings to fuel his desire to succeed at Old Trafford.

“I was relegated with West Ham and you never forget that,” Carrick told The Guardian in 2014. “Going down, playing in the Championship, I constantly remind myself of that. I still remember the feeling, without doubt, I wouldn’t allow myself to forget it.

“Those are the things that drive you on, that end up making you stronger. We have enjoyed a lot of success at Manchester United but each season has had its ups and downs.

“There have been certain times here through the years when we have had, say, two bad results on the spin and the roof caves in. You think everything is wrong but we have still gone on to achieve things.”

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Based on Carrick’s verdict of his own career, Bowen would arrive at a new club even more determined to succeed after failing to beat the drop. And with Carrick having lived through a similar experience himself, a switch to United could be perfect for Bowen.

West Ham reportedly need to raise around £100million through player sales, which could improve United’s chances of getting a deal over the line. The 29-year-old has four years left on his Hammers contract and has admitted that transfer speculation will be inevitable as he spoke about his future on the final day of the season.

“I’m under contract here,” Bowen said. “I’ve been here six and a half years, I’ve had some really high moments, and this is a low moment that will outweigh everything.

“There’s going to be rumours, there’s going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.”

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It remains to be seen whether Bowen will follow in Carrick’s footsteps and stick with West Ham this summer. Despite being part of a relegated team, Bowen would flourish for a side at the top end of the table.

The winger has proven himself across six-and-a-half years in the Premier League and could use the despair of relegation to help elevate his game. It is an approach that certainly worked well for Carrick during his 12-year stay at United.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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