Latest news with #Cockerell
Spectator
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
My night at the Spectator summer party
The first rule of the summer party is do not hold your summer party on the same night as The Spectator. It's social fight club. You can only lose. This is a rule, however, that our Prime Minister, among others on 'the left', ignored to offer competing attractions. Zarah Sultana MP went to the most extreme lengths. She chose the same evening (3 July) to launch a new political party with Jeremy Corbyn, by posting something on X at 8.11 p.m. before her party even had a name, or indeed, Jeremy Corbyn. It was Jezbollah minus Magic Grandpa. Total success, as my father says whenever something goes badly wrong. The band Centrist Dad had a gig at The Water Rats in King's Cross. This is an inside-the-Beltway boys' band with Robert Peston and Ed Balls. As Balls says, 'It's not quite Glastonbury' (Peston is on vocals). One person with divided loyalties was George Osborne, who hosts a podcast with Balls. He solved this dilemma by going to The Spec's party in an open white shirt and rocking out both. Even 'Two Tears' Keir was entertaining that night after his week from hell: watering his restive troops in the No. 10 rose garden, just a short stroll from Michael Gove's gathering of the clans in 22 Old Queen Street, which was, of course, my destination. The first person I saw on arrival was Sarah Pochin, Reform's newest MP. It was 6.40 p.m. Nick Ferrari, the LBC breakfast champ, was also arriving. 'You were right to come early,' I said to Sarah P. 'I always do,' fnarred Ferrari. We processed down into the large shaded garden. Champagne bars serving ice-cold Pol Roger and, for the first time ever, a caviar and blini bar awaited our pleasure. As I was downing my first flute, the television legend Michael Cockerell manifested at my elbow. I should say here that from his loins have sprung a fleet of six talented and gazelle-like daughters (the writer Rachel is my goddaughter). 'I heard you mentioned me at your event,' Cockerell opened with. The 'event' he referred to was the 'Living with a Politician' evening with the bestselling author and columnist Sarah Vine and Lord Swire. It was smoothly chaired by Lord Gove of this parish. I had indeed referenced Cockerell, between Sir Hugo's amusingly detailed 'manecdotes' about his political career. 'I heard it was a disaster,' Cockerell continued cheerfully as the party began to roar. As I asked from whom, the image of the biographer Tom Bower popped up in my mind and superimposed itself on the festive glade, which by now was buzzing bee-loud with speculation about why Rachel Reeves had been crying at PMQs. 'Tom Bower,' Cockerell confirmed. All I can say is I'd expect nothing less from the master of the hatchet job. I had worried that the event was not quite as advertised. The only person who'd been 'living with a politician' – if you stop to think about it for a second – was Mrs Gove. I'd felt like a terrible imposter, so had attempted to take over and get Michael (Gove) to talk about his feelings, in vain. After my conversation with Cockerell, I slunk off to the caviar bar and encouraged waiters to horn-spoon the brownish eggs on to the back of my hand to lick off, as a form of self-soothing, while continuing to gulp down the Pol Roger and surveying the scene. Labour had been summoned to Downing Street, yes, but where was the so-called opposition? The closest thing I could see to a top Tory – until Kemi arrived looking a million dollars – was Mrs Jenrick. Reform's top brass, all four of them, were holding court in a roped-off winners' enclosure and making the most of the hospitality. As two small-screen titans, Trevor Phillips of Sky and the YouTuber Piers Morgan, argued about Rachel Reeves's crying jag and then beaming public appearance at a hospital hours later, with open-casket maquillage, I cadged a fag off Ned Cecil. He always has a ruddy Thomas Hardy glow. He pulled out at least six from the carton to give me, five of which I stuffed back into his pocket. 'Thank you,' I said, saying I would remember that generous gesture here. 'Don't mention my name,' he shuddered (which I haven't, as it is in fact something like Viscount Robert Gascoyne Cecil Cranborne). I needed a cigarette because I had been summoned by Lynn 'Demon' Barber to sit with her, as Fleet Street's greatest interviewer is also its last great smoker and she's not that steady on her pins. Before I rush off to another 'event', like any Sloane guest, I must pen my thank yous to Lance Forman, the salmon king, for the excellent bitings, Pol Roger, Allwyn, the sponsors, and the Tipplemill distillery for our liquid party bags. Unlike some we could mention after a year of them not meeting manifesto challenges, The Spectator party always promises a rose garden and delivers, time after time.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
William Goodge: Male model who's trying to break the record for running almost 4000km from Perth to Sydney is hit by bombshell cheating allegations
British ultrarunner and male model William Goodge's audacious attempt to become the fastest person to run 4000km across Australia has been overshadowed by ongoing cheating allegations. The former semi-professional rugby player from Bedfordshire in the UK began his journey on April 15 as he tries run from from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to Bondi Beach in Sydney in just 35 days. Goodge was on on day 17 of the run at the time of writing and was averaging more than 110km each day as he aims to break the record of 39 days set by Aussie engineer Chris Turnbull in 2023. The 31-year-old began running in 2018 to process his mother's cancer diagnosis, telling the Daily Mail that 'running helped me to deal with my demons'. Since that time, the popular endurance athlete has taken on many challenges, including becoming the fastest Englishman to run across the USA, raising thousands for cancer research in the process. However, some skeptical members of the ultra running community have questioned his achievements - and will be closely watching his run across Australia. William Cockerell, a veteran long-distance runner and sportswriter based in the UK, is convinced that Goodge's stats are too good to be true and has accused him of 'watch muling' - a form of cheating where you share a GPS device between runners. Many runners, Goodge included, upload the data from their wearable devices to exercise tracking networks like Strava. Cockerell has claimed that Goodge's relatively poor results in official ultra-marathons combined with his low heart rate during events are very suspicious. He has even tried to catch Goodge in the act of cheating by flying to the States to confront the athlete on his run from Los Angeles to New York in 2023, but he found no evidence. 'Yes, Goodge is a good-looking guy, and he's making a lot of money. But what appalls me is he is taking a lot of money away from the more deserving international athletes out there,' Cockerell said. Other runners have also expressed skepticism, including well-known ultrarunner Rob Pope, who stated that he hopes Goodge's records are genuine, but his 'heart rate doesn't make sense'. Goodge says he wouldn't be surprised if Cockerell travels Down Under to confront him during the trans-continental run - but will have all the necessary tech on him to shut down criticisms. 'I'm going to have a live tracker on me at all times,' Goodge told the Financial Review. Goodge maintains he's done everything he's said he done - and has raised thousands for charity along the way 'I'll be wearing my Coros [fitness] watch, and I'll have my Whoop for data on Strava … and I'm getting all my crew members Whoop bands as well … so we'll have datasets for everyone who is involved.' 'I've done everything I've ever said I've done. 'But I appreciate that there is a higher burden of proof when you say you're going for an actual record.' Goodge also has plenty of support in the running community, including from vegan ultra-endurance athlete Rich Roll, who's dubbed him an 'absolute beast' who cops a lot of criticism because he looks, and acts, very different to most other ultra runners. Meanwhile, Goodge is focused on being himself and completing his run to Sydney in record time. 'I feel like I put some good out into the world. I raise money for charities. I'm doing it for good reasons,' said Goodge .
Al Jazeera
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Runners compete as Pyongyang Marathon returns from COVID pause
North Korea has held the first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, with hundreds of runners taking to the streets of the capital. Numerous foreign athletes had arrived in the city ahead of the race, held on Sunday as part of celebrations of the birth of the country's founding leader, Kim Il Sung, in 1912. Photos showed foreign runners crossing the starting line at Kim Il Sung Stadium, some taking photos on their phones, as North Korean spectators cheered them on. Another image showed North Korean and foreign runners competing on the streets of Pyongyang, with citizens lining the route. The marathon is the largest international sporting event in the reclusive Asian country, and offers a rare opportunity for visitors to run through the streets of the tightly-controlled capital. Images posted on the Instagram account of Simon Cockerell, the general manager of Koryo Tours which organises trips for foreign amateur runners to participate, showed crowds cheering as the athletes passed. 'A few pics of today's Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea. Amazing event and a race like no other,' Cockerell wrote. The last edition of the marathon was held in 2019. The following year, the nuclear-armed state sealed its borders in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. 'The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals,' Koryo Tours said on its website. 'An experience truly like no other.' 'North Korea is a complex and fascinating place that intrigues many people,' Cockerell told Australian broadcaster SBS. 'And while it is certainly not for everyone, it definitely appeals to those curious about the experience of visiting such a country and seeing what they can.' The marathon is listed on the website of the global governing body World Athletics. In 2019, about 950 foreigners took part, up from roughly 450 the previous year. About 180 runners from overseas were expected to participate this year.
Iraqi News
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Foreigners run in N.Korea's first Pyongyang Marathon for six years
Seoul – North Korea held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years on Sunday, with hundreds of runners taking to the streets of the capital and citizens cheering them on. Foreign athletes had arrived in the city ahead of the running contest, held to celebrate the birth of its founding leader Kim Il Sung in 1912. AFP photos showed foreign runners crossing the starting line at Kim Il Sung Stadium, some taking photos on their phones, as North Korean spectators cheered them on. Another image showed elite North Korean and foreign runners competing on the streets of Pyongyang, with citizens lining the route appearing to cheer. Another photo shows North Korean spectators in the stands, cheering with sticks. The marathon is the largest international sporting event in the reclusive country. The race offers a rare opportunity for visitors to run through the streets of the tightly controlled capital. Images posted on the Instagram account of Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours which organises trips for foreign amateur runners to participate, showed Pyongyang citizens gathering to watch. 'A few pics of today's Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea. Amazing event and a race like no other,' Cockerell wrote. The last edition of the Pyongyang Marathon was held in 2019 before the pandemic, during which the nuclear-armed state sealed its borders in an effort to contain the virus. Foreign participants are currently in the capital on a six-day trip organised by Koryo Tours, the Beijing-based travel agency which describes itself as the exclusive travel partner of the marathon. 'The Pyongyang Marathon is an extremely unique experience as it provides an opportunity to interact with locals,' the Beijing-based firm said on its website. 'An experience truly like no other.' The marathon is listed on the website of global governing body World Athletics. In 2019, around 950 foreigners took part in the race, up from roughly 450 the previous year. About 180 runners from overseas had been expected to participate this year. 'North Korea is a complex and fascinating place that intrigues many people,' Cockerell recently told Australian broadcaster SBS. 'And while it is certainly not for everyone, it definitely appeals to those curious about the experience of visiting such a country and seeing what they can.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
North Korea Holds First Pyongyang International Marathon in Six Years
North Korea on Sunday held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, hosting foreign runners in the reclusive country that has largely closed its borders since the pandemic. Athletes from China, Romania and other countries visited to participate in the event, state media KCNA news agency and Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday. About 200 foreigners arrived on Friday and Saturday in Pyongyang where those running practiced at a hotel for the Sunday race, said Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, in Instagram posts showing streets and a recreational area in Pyongyang. The Koryo Tours is an official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, aiding the sign-up process for international competitors. The isolated state sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country, but its capital remains closed to regular tourism. The marathon is a return course running through central Pyongyang, passing major landmarks and heading out into the countryside before coming back through the city to a stadium filled with 50,000 spectators, Koryo Tours said. At the stadium, a crowd of North Koreans - some wearing masks - greeted the runners, and foreign participants took pictures of the spectators with mobile phones, pictures posted by Cockerell showed. Local media have yet to announce the victor. The Pyongyang International Marathon is one of several events held to celebrate the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.
