Day in the life: Cross country runner Verity Ockenden on training in the dark, working as a sous-chef and writing poetry January 29, 2019 I’ve been running all my life but it’s been a slow process to get to where I am now, aiming to be selected for Great Britain in March’s World Cross Country Championships. I’ve developed a reputation for cross country, but track is my favourite thing. I’m just waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate that this [...]
Trevor Steven: Gonzalo Higuain can save Chelsea’s top four hopes, Ivan Perisic is the boost Arsenal need and Tottenham’s inactivity is mystifying January 29, 2019 Smart signings are possible in the January transfer window, such as Tottenham’s purchase of Dele Alli from MK Dons in 2015 and Leicester’s recruitment of Riyad Mahrez from Le Havre in 2014, but they don’t tend to be big names. Chelsea’s loan deal for Gonzalo Higuain is one of the few; it’s rare to get [...]
England lock George Kruis has high hopes for cannabis oil business with Saracens team-mate Dom Day January 29, 2019 England star George Kruis and Saracens team-mate Dom Day have set out on a mission to revolutionise recovery by releasing a product aimed at enhancing rehabilitation – with a difference. The substance of their “fourfive cbd” products is cannabidiol (CBD), a derivative of hemp, which is part of the cannabis family, but without the psychoactive [...]
Pierre Bonnard at the Tate Modern review: A beautiful shower of colour, just don’t try to search for deeper meaning January 29, 2019 Walking around this major retrospective of Pierre Bonnard, you quickly discover that his work is dominated by two things. First, there is his relationship with Marthe de Meligny, his wife and muse. She features in most of his paintings, usually standing slightly off-centre, or emerging from one of her many baths. He was a painter [...]
The Premier League’s diving problem: The FA’s rules have failed to clamp down on cheating – something needs to change January 28, 2019 Every weekend there are debates up and down the country about whether a player has dived, how soft a penalty was or whether that theatrical reaction deceived the referee into sending an opponent off – and yet nothing changes. The same scenarios crop up week-in, week-out, and pundits take to the TV and radio to [...]
Sam Torrance: World No1 Justin Rose is looking good for the Majors after underlining his class with Farmers Insurance Open win January 28, 2019 What a start to 2019 for Justin Rose. The Englishman beat a strong field to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines yesterday and cement his position as world No1. Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, Rose shot three bogeys in the opening five holes to really put pressure on himself. His advantage [...]
FA Cup fourth round talking points: Misery for Spurs, Hudson-Odoi makes his point, unhappy Hammers and trouble at Millwall January 27, 2019 What a terrible four days for Tottenham. Having lost in the Carabao Cup semi-final on penalties to bitter rivals Chelsea on Thursday, Mauricio Pochettino’s side made it back-to-back cup exits yesterday at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace stepped up yet again against a Big Six side. The Eagles can add Spurs to their pile of [...]
Trouble in paradise: England facing familiar problems with brittle batting after 381-run thrashing by West Indies January 27, 2019 The start of England’s opening Test match against the West Indies in Barbados on Wednesday was dominated by discussion around the tourists’ selection. How would the pitch play? Did they really need two spinners? Should Stuart Broad be in the side? By Saturday evening those debates seemed irrelevant and a lifetime away. A completely inept [...]
Man Group ends sponsorship of Booker Prize after 18 years January 27, 2019 Britain’s most high profile literary award, the Man Booker Prize, has lost its headline sponsor after Man Group announced on Sunday that it will end its 18 year partnership with the event. Man Group – an asset manager – has sponsored the prize since 2002, contributing £1.6m a year. Read more: Waterstones acquires Foyles bookshops as [...]
Vice movie review: Another Scorsese-esque epic from the maker of The Big Short January 25, 2019 In 2015, Adam McKay went from being known as the man who directed Will Ferrell movies to one of the most stylistically innovative filmmakers in Hollywood. Gigs overseeing Anchorman, Talladega Nights and The Other Guys, plus writing credits on films including Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Ant-Man, somehow gave way to The Big Short, [...]