The cultured pastures of Mara Naboisho Conservancy have yet again delivered. In some camps a repeat couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, bringing their grown-up daughters could be permitted an indolent morning.

Whatever the sport or hobby there is nothing like boasting new-found jargon, particularly cycling jargon. The Divine Sideburn led his charges out of West London right about the time hordes of ruminants dived in for a snappy drugs-free 50 metre freestyle.

Of all the animals it is the spotted ones that vie for the most podium time: leopards leaping like Moses or Beamon and cheetahs sprinting like Bolt or Blake.