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There are few more august institutions in Harrogate than the Stray Defence Association. Founded in 1933, it has been unwavering in its commitment against encroachment on the Stray.

There seemed more chance of M&S getting rid of its café than of the Stray Defence Association embracing change.

But after 93 years, it did precisely that this week by rebranding to sound a bit less like a loyalist paramilitary group that goes around the Stray kneecapping litter-pickers.

The group didn’t quite put it like that, but it did say its new name — Harrogate Stray Association — was “less confrontational”.

Ripon was at its best and worst last Sunday. In the morning, there was the rousing Freedom March from Spa Gardens to Ripon Cathedral to celebrate the Royal Engineers’ long association with the city. Soldiers marched with bayonets fixed and standards flying, accompanied by the Nottinghamshire Band of the Royal Engineers.

Councillor Andrew Williams was then installed as mayor in all his civic finery in a specially reserved seat in the medieval choir. Who knew the Mayor of Ripon had both a civic lamppost and a cathedral seat?

A few hours later, a large sinkhole appeared amid the park homes across the city at Cathedral View. The hole measured five metres by five metres wide and two metres deep, and three homes had to be evacuated. Sadly, not an uncommon occurrence in Ripon.

Ripon Runners’ annual 10-mile race was also held on Sunday. The route was described as ‘rugged landscape’ but fortunately not quite as rugged and unforgiving as it would have been if the 300 runners taking part had been directed down Cathedral View.

The week’s other big sports news saw Knaresborough golfer John Parry, whose season’s earnings have surpassed $600,000, tee off in the PGA Championship in America.

Sadly it hasn’t been such a fruitful season for Harrogate Town. Relegated a fortnight ago, the club withdrew plans to build a £2.75 million training ground at Wetherby Racecourse this week.

Its prospects of getting planning approval seemed bleak. Concerns ranging from the site being in a flood plain and not having a disabled toilet to providing pitch measurements in yards rather than metres had been raised during the planning process.

Nostalgic sports fans may have enjoyed our look back this week to a Davis Cup tennis match that took place in Harrogate 100 years ago to the day. The match was played during the general strike, highlighting how even grinding poverty didn’t prevent Harrogate being the playground of the rich and powerful.