A family from Wigan has shared the story of how they managed to save a struggling deer from drowning in a local canal.
Chris Kendall was walking his dogs with his fiancee when he spotted the animal thrashing in the water after it had gotten trapped behind the canal gate, Wigan Today reports.
Asking a passing cyclist to alert the lock keeper – whose cottage was a ten-minute walk away – Chris decided to take action himself to rescue the deer.
He called his dad, Denver, and the duo dived into the water – tying two dog leads together to pull the animal to safety.
What a rescue! The Kendall family leapt into action when they spotted a deer drowning in a Wigan canal pic.twitter.com/DAB4CBx6ym
The deer appeared to be healthy after being lifted from the canal and bounded off into the distance.
Speaking to the BBC, Chris said it was “a bit of a relief” when they managed to finally haul the animal onto dry land.
He added that going into the water was “the only option” as the deer was “going to drown”.
Chris’ mum – who recorded the rescue on her phone – also spoke about the “lovely” moment the deer was saved.
“I could have just cried,” she said.
“It was like it just sort of looked at us as if to say ‘thank you’. I just hope it found its family.”
Featured image: Magda Ehlers via Pexels
Wigan
Why you should be glad Tom Aspinall has said no to a UFC fight at The White House
Danny Jones
In this industry, you can get used to wearing some pretty strange-sounding headlines, but we still had to double-take when we saw the headlines that the UFC is set to hold an event at The White House (yes, really) – even more so when we saw local name Tom Aspinall linked.
You know, as in the home of the actual President of the United States…
While UFC boss Dana White has stated that “it is definitely going to happen”, revealing that he has already met with Donald Trump, one of the UFC’s biggest stars and Manchester’s very own heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, says he has no interest. More importantly, he says you shouldn’t either.
Appearing on Canadian journalist Ariel Helwani’s mixed martial arts (MMA) and wrestling-focused podcast, The AH Show, Aspinall discussed everything from his next bout against French fighter Ciryl Gane, beef between coaches and much more.
However, the pair couldn’t possibly have skipped over the topic on everyone’s lips in the fight world and, indeed, beyond, after President Trump announced that he would be bringing the UFC to what is, for all intents and purposes, the most famous seat of power in the world.
As you can see in the clip above, the Atherton-born and Salford-raised sportsman barely even gave the notion much time of day at all, quickly expressing his ‘boredom’ over talking about it.
Regardless, Helwani did manage to get a clear response from ‘The Honey Badger’, who said: “It has spent zero seconds in my mind. I’m not interested, mate. Not interested, and the world shouldn’t be interested either, because what’s the point? That’s false hope.”
Once again, while both Trump and Dana White insist an official UFC event will go ahead, slating none other than the annual 4 July celebrations as the desired date on the 250th anniversary of the nation’s unification, it still seems like a surreal sentence to even say out loud for most people.
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump says he will host a UFC fight at the White House as part of the America 250 celebration 👀
"We're gonna have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House… championship fight."pic.twitter.com/ouTttg1NPz
Now, while the Manc MMA fighter (who recently became the undisputed champion in his division following fight legend Jon Jones’ retirement) begins by dismissing the idea, he goes on to admit via double negative that the idea “doesn’t not interest [him]” and would be a “cool experience”.
Whether or not he means in the future, perhaps under a different POTUS’ regime, or simply doubts that the deal will even come off at this early stage, who knows?
He might have also just been referring to his doubts that the former three-time champ Jon Jones’ self-proclaimed return to the testing pool just weeks after retiring will amount to anything material, let alone in time for this particular date; even Dana White himself has said the likelihood is “a billion to one“.
First and foremost, Apsinall explains that he believes that “the Americans [fighting in the UFC] should get the shot at the White House” as they obviously have a much more vested interest in the concept and sense of appeal when it comes to utilising it as the latest historic, albeit unorthodox, sporting venue.
Interestingly, he does confess that he neither knows nor cares very little about US politics, stating: “I’m not really a big Trump supporter or against Trump […] I don’t live there, I don’t reside there, I don’t do anything there, apart from pay taxes and fight there. Really, all of that stuff is irrelevant to me.”
However, his minor caveat was that he has no ‘particular’ interest in the proposal and only really reiterated that he’s “not bothered” about when or where it happens, stating simply that he’ll “fight anywhere.”
The White House under the lights on fight night would be quite the sight, there’s no denying that. (Credit: Rob Young via Flickr)
You could argue that the current world number two UFC heavyweight is being careful in his choice of words, playing the bipartisan role ever so carefully so as not to jeopardise his own future in a sport that predominantly revolves around North America.
After all, recent developments in the media world alone would suggest that the Trump administration could make his time working and competing in the US more difficult than it would otherwise be if he made an outwardly public and definitive stance against the mercurial and controversial statesman.
And that’s putting it mildly.
On the other hand, his words could be quite literally taken at face value: he may not care one bit about the rather divisive political climate in America; he is just an athlete who’s making a living has nothing to do with Democrats vs Republicans.
Nevertheless, it seems fairly significant that Aspinall rubbished what are still just unofficial, though admittedly very loud and public, rumours put forward by the two relevant leadership figures involved in these ongoing developments, especially given that the Wigan warrior is currently at the top of his game.
You can see his AH Show interview in full down below.
He may be too wise to say it out loud, but we’d wager Aspinall knows backing a UFC fight at The White House is bad for business.
Given that Donald Trump is known to be an avid fight fan – having famously backed and hosted the 1988 Tyson fight at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, later going to be pictured shaking ‘Iron Mike’s hand at UFC 316 back in June – there could be a chance of the two interacting somewhat closely.
With that in mind, even if this isn’t Aspinall cleverly and indirectly distancing himself from the President, some might say he is at least trying to urge others to hopefully prevent the sport from drifting into the same muddy waters that other modern combat sports have.
As time goes on, boxing in particular seems to be coming more and more about the paegantry and finding new ways of marketing one of the world’s oldest and most primal contests; celebrities entering the ring and YouTube/influencer boxers being the prime example.
The fight world has always been about spectacle, but many would argue it’s become increasingly style over substance in recent years, given the advent of social media, not to mention the line between exhibition and genuine competition becoming increasingly blurred.
Despite their stars remaining underpaid in comparison to headline boxers, MMA has always prided itself on being brutally itself, and whatever you make of it as it continues to grow both commercially and in terms of popularity, personally, we believe people like Tom Aspinall are trying to keep it honest.
Steering clear of not just politics but the same Hollywood trappings and overly spectacular, money-driven, entertainment-for-profit-first focus that often plagues present-day boxing is a wise step, no matter how Jon Jones suddenly wants to join in the hard sell.
Despite the odds, I’m still training and optimistic about the possibility of being part of the White House event. At the end of the day, Dana is the boss and it’s his call whether I compete that night or not. I do know Dana was really excited about the fight, and the door hasn’t…
Richard Ashcroft says each Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour date is like a ‘World Cup final’
Danny Jones
Manchester music veteran Richard Ashcroft has come out to join Noel Gallagher to discuss just how special this summer’s Oasis reunion shows have been so far, comparing each and every night on stage to “a World Cup final.”
The Wigan legend has been supporting the Burnage boys on their Live ’25 concerts since the opening night at the Principality Stadium.
Following fellow long-standing scouse indie rockers, Cast, for each date, Richard Ashcroft’s own performances have been heaped with praise since day one of the world tour, with many fans praising his timeless vocals and impressive stage presence against the backdrop of the biggest band in the world.
In fact, his own renaissance as part of the whole phenomenon has not only seen excitement build for his first new album in seven years, but he’s even booked a massive arena run amidst all the buzz. Speaking to Virgin Radio this week, he says he continues to feel the weight of each and every gig.
Joining host Chris Evans via video call for the interview on Tuesday, 19 August, the former Verve frontman could only echo the elder Gallagher brother’s sentiment when it came to describing that first night in Cardiff, agreeing that it felt pretty “overwhelming” and kind of “passed like a movie.”
Struggling to fully articulate the magnitude of what has genuinely become a globally observed cultural event, as you can see, he explains that it isn’t just about “nostalgia” and fans rolling back the year; he says that this specific chapter in music history and collective feeling can’t be put into words.
While arguing that “we need to find a new word” for whatever this is, we think the closest you’ll get is the zeitgeist of the moment, or perhaps ‘collective effervescence’.
Having noted that he’s seen Noel a few times since the reunion got underway, Ashcroft insists the 58-year-old seems to be “in great spirits” and “in a good place” since the Oasis comeback began.
We’re sure you’ll agree this was a particularly touching moment from the interview – and not the only one we’ve got this week…
Us listening to Noel talking about Liam in that @talkSPORT interview. 🥺
As for his 53-year-old songwriting peer – who the Oasis icon and High Flying Birds frontman has often cited as one of his favourite lyricists of all time and even dedicated ‘Cast No Shadow’ to – Ashcroft could only reiterate his own “respect” for both of the Gallaghers and the rest of the band.
He goes on to wax lyrical about “the power of the song”, too, expressing that even tracks he thought wouldn’t be the biggest favourites, adding that this is “what time does to a tune.”
Describing the entire journey thus far as a “healing, celebratory event” for the thousands who have already, he labelled it nothing short of an “amazing experience” thus far.
Even those who didn’t manage to get tickets were still somehow able to create memories to last a lifetime, and what we would argue was one of the most surreal snapshots in music history – at here in Britain, certainly.
Countless numbers gathered on a muddy hill to listen to Ashcroft and Oasis’ hometown reunion.
As well as reinforcing just how creatively charging the tour has been for him so far – quipping that the 40+ shows overall could either “retire or inspire” him, but has certainly encouraged him to pull out his trusty acoustic guitar and write even more music – there was one comment that stood out the most.
Besides acknowledging how moving it is to see them walking out holding hands, laughing and joking mid-performance, as well as hugging at the end of each night, it was how Ashcroft portrayed how much it means not just him, but those out in the crowds.
“We play like a World Cup final every day and every time I play, I win 7-0; everyone’s on my side, and then they win 22-0 at the end. We’re all on the same team.”
Having just wrapped up the first leg of UK and Ireland shows, with just two Wembley nights remaining in September, the band and their tour mates are set to arrive in Toronto, Canada, for the North America shows this weekend.
You can watch and/or listen to Virgin Radio and Chris Evans’ full interview with Richard Ashcroft down below, and if you’re an Oasis fan, we would strongly suggest you do.
Even Evans looked visibly stirred by Ashcroft’s words, calling them “prophetic and profound.”
The Manc -
4th August 2021 
