The Return of the King - Kell Brook

In honour of his winning the IBF Welterweight crown and becoming the latest in a long line of prolific Sheffield boxers, Kell Brook was welcomed back to Sheffield with a Civic Reception and a public event in the Winter Gardens.

His trainer Dominic Ingle spoke of those men that Kell Brook was following: Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Clinton Woods among others.

And promotor Eddie Hearn looked forward to major fight nights at the Arena, starting later this year with an as-yet- provisional date of 6th December....perhaps to be followed with a Wembley Stadium date with Amir Khan next year.  And he spoke about Brook now looking to unify the welterweight division in a very strong boxing division.

As for the hundreds that had turned out to welcome him home, it was a special day to say well done to their special K.

Sir Cliff Richard, Bramall Lane, 1985

Such a shame to hear of yet another celeb from the 1970s/1980s being investigated by the police.  It all seems a long time ago - I can hardly remember much actual detail of the event myself - but I did have my camera with me the night that Sir Cliff Richard sang at an after-event 'gig' for the support workers. 

The slides have sat gathering dust for 29 years but are now gaining interest and are available at http://rossparry.co.uk/ (email: picturedesk@rossparry.co.uk)

Usain Bolt questioned at Commonwealth Games press conference

In old news (well, Saturday 26th July but I have been busy...), while at the Commonwealth Games I attended a press conference with Usain Bolt.  Getting there early for when the doors opened, I was able to get a seat on the second row, just behind Darren Campbell (woo-hoo).  There was an air of expectation as we waited for the great man to appear.

When he did, he didn't disappoint - going straight into a posed photo with Clyde and some children.

It all started off fairly normal - questions about Scotland, the weather, his form that year....

But then the questions turned to his opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the upcoming Scottish referendum, whether he would wear a kilt and pose for selfies with adoring reporters.....

No wonder the Jamaican six-time Olympic champion threw his hands in the air.  But thankfully, one of the few truly global superstars of the Commonwealth Games, he managed to charm everyone with his trademark humour.

The rain didn't dampen the spirits of the riders at the inaugural Sheffield Sky Ride

As one of the legacies of the Tour de France this year,bikes were back on the city streets of Sheffield as roads were closed for the first ever Sheffield Sky Ride.

The wet and windy weather failed to deter many hundreds of cyclists from tackling the five mile route from Devonshire Green, circling the city centre and then out to Endcliffe Park along Ecclesall Road - taking in Bramall Lane on the way.

Team GB BMX star Curtis Manaton was on hand to lead the pack off at Division Street.

Around 3,000 people had registered for the big day but weather left over from Hurricane Bertha reduced that number.

  Cyclists were treated to a stunt show by Danny Butler and his team in Endcliffe Park.