The One That Got Away

Wayne Mardle had done the tough bit: he'd beaten Phil Taylor. In a dramatic quarter-final, Hawaii 501 had overturned a 3-0 deficit to claim the biggest win of his career, and knock The Power out of the World Darts Championship before the final: something no one had managed in the 15-year history of the event. All that stood between Mardle and a shot at the sport's biggest prize on January 1st was Kirk Shepherd, a 21-year-old qualifier who'd enjoyed a remarkable run so far. The mismatch was enormous; there could only be one winner here. However, as Mardle realised over the course of an agonising evening on the oche, the game really isn’t played on paper, and you underestimate your opponent at your peril. Alongside Rod Studd, he recounts his 'One That Got Away'.

In 1999, Mark ‘Jesse’ James captained Team Europe in the 33rd Ryder Cup, selecting rookie Andrew Coltart as part of his Brookline-bound side. The first singles match teed off on the final day with the men in blue holding a commanding 10-6 lead, but the USA's Ben Crenshaw had assembled a formidable line-up, cheered on by a raucous home crowd. As Justin Leonard holed a miracle putt on the 17th, and supporters and teammates flooded the green, the fightback was all but complete: Europe would relinquish the Ryder Cup. Alongside Josh Antmann, James and Coltart dissect the events of that weekend.

At the Athens Olympics, Paula Radcliffe isn't only the fastest competitor on the start-line of the women's marathon: she is the best women's marathon runner there has ever been, and by a matter of minutes. She finished 5th on the track in Atlanta, and 4th in Sydney, but has since moved to the roads with enormous success, and the gold medal has been all but hung around the world record holder's neck. But then, out on the hot and humid streets of Athens, the unthinkable happens: with just four miles remaining, Radcliffe stops, and collapses onto the pavement. Her Olympic dream, again, is in tatters. In the company of Claire Thomas, she reflects on where it all went wrong, and how - across a truly glittering career - an Olympic title remained so very elusive...

It's one of the most iconic scores in Super League history: an epic try right at the death of St Helens versus Bradford in the play-offs, in which Chris Joynt dotted down after a dazzling, audacious play from the hosts, whose snatched win was accompanied by Eddie Hemmings' famous commentary: 'it's wide to West! It's wide to West!'. Matthew Elliott, Bradford coach that day, fell to the floor in horror, but is back on his feet and joined by Hemmings himself to discuss the encounter, his hugely successful time with the Bulls, and how - sometimes - you have to place your own disappointment to one side and applaud a magical sporting moment...

The Lionesses have already made history by getting this far - by reaching the semi-finals of the 2015 Women's World Cup. They have beaten the hosts, Canada, and support back home has rocketed: all eyes are on Steph Houghton's side as they take on reigning champions Japan in the last four. With the scores level at the 90-minute mark, but England creating far more chances than their opponents, extra time beckons, and so too does becoming the first English football team to reach a World Cup Final since 1966. Cue a shocking, heart-breaking injury-time own goal from defensive stalwart Laura Bassett, and a devastating loss for the eventual bronze medallists. In the company of Caroline Barker, Houghton reflects on an agonising turn of events...

There are moments left on the clock, and the Sharks are six points ahead of the Bulls in the 2007 Super 14 final. More than 50,000 have assembled at Kings Park in Durban for the occasion, which will result in the competition's first ever South African champions, and the hosts look like they might just hold on to win. All they need to do is kick the ball out of play.... Cue Bryan Habana, with a trademark moment of magic. The try is converted. The trophy is lost. In the company of Rupert Cox, Brad Barritt – who started at centre that day for the Sharks, and has since represented England and captained Saracens – relives a truly dramatic fixture.

It's May 22nd, the last day of the 2005 Scottish Premier League season, and Celtic have one hand on the trophy, which is to be delivered by helicopter to the victors. All they need to do is win away at Motherwell, and - with the competition's top scorer, John Hartson - in their side, the result seems a foregone conclusion. Only Rangers, playing at Hibernian, can spoil the party, by closing the two-point gap at the top of the table. With minutes left on the clock, and both title contenders 1-0 up, Scott McDonald scores for Motherwell, and the helicopter - headed for Fir Park - is forced to make an abrupt U-turn. He's soon made it a brace - sealing the upset, and breaking Celtic hearts: the title is lost. 15 years on, Hartson sits down with Luke Shanley to discuss this most dramatic of season finales...

Carl Froch had been knocked down just once in his career, until he stepped into the ring with George Groves in November, 2013. In the very first round, the undefeated challenger doubled that tally, with a huge right hand, and looked capable of dethroning the unified world champion. A monumental upset seemed on the cards, until the ninth round, when 'Saint' appeared to be struggling, and Froch strode forwards. Howard Foster stopped the fight, handing Froch a highly controversial victory, and setting up a sold-out rematch in front of 80,000 at Wembley. Groves joins Andy Scott to discuss the encounters, and select his 'one that got away'...

Lord's, 2002. England skipper Nasser Hussain wins the toss, and - on a fantastic pitch - his side get off to a flyer. The captain contributes a hundred himself: his first and only in one-day cricket. India have an enormous chase to pull off, especially once their 'Fab Five' are out, and two relatively unknown batsmen enter the fray at 146/5. But, in one of the finest ODI games ever seen, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif orchestrate a miracle: it is Sourav Ganguly, not Nasser Hussain, who lifts the trophy. In the company of Ian Ward, Hussain discusses the fixture, his performance that day, and the importance of captaining on instinct.

Ellis Park, 1995. Nelson Mandela, wearing a No 6 Springbok jersey, presents Francois Pienaar with the Webb Ellis Cup. It is one of the great sporting moments. But, for Sean Fitzpatrick, captain of the All Blacks that day, it was an agonising experience. Joel Stransky's drop goal in extra time sealed the hosts' win, crushing the New Zealand legend's hopes of a second World Cup title. Now, 25 years on, Fitzpatrick - joined by Rupert Cox - looks back at the occasion, acknowledging its enormous cultural significance, but also the pain of that defeat.