The UK's Top Sporting Fixtures

The UK, as with any other country with a strong sporting tradition has a host of top sporting events and fixtures. These events not only draw large numbers to attend, but also huge television audiences.

Some of the UK's top sporting events might not immediately spring to mind, yet they consistently attract thousands of spectators. The London Marathon, for example, often sees every inch of its 26 miles course lined with spectators willing on the weary competitors to reach the finish line, while millions more around the world watch on TV.

The University Boat Race, between teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities is another. The event is popular with university alumni and rowers, as well as the public and regularly attracts some 250,000 spectators to the event each year, with millions more watching on TV, both in the UK and around the world.

The world of horse-racing boasts many high-profile fixtures such as Royal Ascot and the world-fa mous Grand National, run over the fearsome National fences at Aintree.

For cricket, there is the Ashes series, a bi-annual event between England and Australia which has been played since 1882 and rotates between the two countries. England is the current holder of the Ashes, with the next match to take place in Brisbane, Australia in 2011.

Wimbledon is the highlight of the season for many tennis fans. Often blighted by the unpredictable British weather, the event still attracts huge crowds who consume around 28,000 tons of strawberries doused in 7,000 litres of cream every year.

The Open Championship is the premier golf event in the UK and features among the four major championships in the game. South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen won the 2010 renewal at St. Andrews, beating off challenges from Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to lift the coveted Claret Jug. The event drew thousands of spectators to the Fife town, as millions more watched the acti on unfold on TV.

Rugby also has some top sporting fixtures, such as Super League rugby and the International Six Nations and these events are huge draws for fans of the oval-ball.

Not to be outdone, football also has some of the top sporting fixtures in the UK. The English Premiership, which features the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool is often regarded as the best footballing league in the world, while the Npower football league throws up some exhilarating matches, especially during the play-off weeks at the end of the season, which sees teams battling it out for the right to climb to the next division.

And of course, in Scotland the Old Firm derby between Glaswegian rivals Celtic and Rangers is known world-wide for its passion and excitement.

These are just some of the UK's best sporting fixtures and there are many mor e, such as the World Championship of Darts and the Formula One British Grand Prix. In fact, there is a key British sporting fixture in just about any sport one can think of!