News / Blog - Events News

Today was a sad occasion. My good mate Andy Coleman was laid to rest after passing away much too young.

Andy was an incredibly talented musician - but far more than that.

He adored his family above all else but he had room in his heart for a huge group of friends too.

Andy affected and charmed all those who got to know him. He was generous and caring by nature and such great fun.

It can be said that some people never fulfill their potential in life. That certainly can't be said of Andy. He faced up to the challenges before him and always maintained his sense of humour.

Now his family have amazing (and happy) memories to help them through these hard times.

I will always remember how much fun Andy was be be with. He always had a story to tell but was also there for anyone who needed a friend.

Rest in peace Andy with Tracey. I hope you can handle arranging the music score for the harps!!

The atmosphere down at Footes Lane for the Imperium Night of 5,000's was great.

Track running is so different from say cross country. Being in the 'stadium' keeps everyone involved in the track action. Competitors hang around to support other races and the commentary and music adds to the event.

Friday nights Guernsey Athletics meeting had been billed as the Imperium Night of 5,000's but it had been decided to include a couple of 800m races too.

The very warm evening didn't help the first runners to the line but they still performed well.

As the night cooled the later races benefited from the drop in temperature.

I'd had a late call to cover the event for the Guernsey Press and I ended up really pleased to have the opportunity.

My pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE NIGHT OF 5,000's

The final box was ticked on the extended 2021/2022 Guernsey football league and cup fixtures last night at the Corbet Field.

It was two under 13's sides who completed the last game of the season when Vale Rec faced Sylvans for the Wally Chick Trophy.

The game was entertaining and competitive with a final score that didn't really do justice to the losers, Sylvans, who played well and kept their spirits high right to the whistle.

But the glory and the trophy went to Vale Rec who showed their class right across the pitch.

I enjoyed having the nice summer evening sunshine to photograph in and my pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2022 WALLY CHICK TROPHY GAME

The GVC riders were out on Sunday morning making good use of gravity for Round 3 of the Downhill series.

The track had been set out through the La Pomare site and benefited from an additional section across the lane and through a field, which was actually part of someones garden!

Great appreciation must go to the owners for allowing the Club this access.

This extension came with a spectacular setting and was a picturesque backdrop to some of my photos.... equals a happy photog!!

I've uploaded my pics to a new Gallery. Click the link to view....
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 3 OF THE MTB GRAVITY SERIES

After leaving the fun on the beach at the Autocross end of season meeting I headed on to The Track.

Cars were swapped for bikes, sand for tarmac.

The GMC&CC Twisty Sprint is always non-stop action as the organising is really good... this provides track action without any holdups. Riders benefit from having multiple runs. But they must need a rest... or at least a beer or two by the end of the day.

I made good use of the vantage points and took a load of pics. Follow this link to view the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC TWISTY SPRINT

Tradition was followed at the last race meeting of the Autocross season.

The Guernsey Autocross Club organised an 'end of term' fun day on the sand at Chouet beach. This offers club members a chance to have a laugh as the pressure of chasing championships is over.

Various different races were organised including the Media race where Press, TV and Radio personalities had a chance to go head to head in battle. Well done to Luke Webb from Island FM for crossing the finish line first.

And a special mention for Sophie Rabey - one of my mates at the Guernsey Press - as she got third place and a podium finish.

I was able to spend a few more minutes at Chouet before going on to the next job. This enabled me to take a few more pics of the 'Chained' race. Two cars are literally tied together... and it looked like fun!

Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2022 AUTOCROSS FUN MEETING
{/url}

Talking as a photographer sometimes you are gifted just the right conditions.

Whilst weather... fog, rain, evening light, can all play a part in setting a scene for a photographer sadly we haven't really got any control of what we are given. At least that is the case if you photograph a 'timed' event - which sports are.

If you take pics of say landscapes then you can chose if you go out the front door after looking out at the sky and the weather forecast. If it doesn't look promising... well there is always tomorrow.

But if you photograph events then you have to turn up and make the best of what you are given.

Sometimes it is better than others and today was one of the good ones.

At Round two of the GVC MTB Enduro at La Pomare the light was really special so I made the best of it as who knows when I will be so lucky again?

Take a look at my pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 2 OF THE GVC ENDURO SERIES

The unusual conditions at Round-1 of the GVC Summer Crit series made for a contrasting gallery of pics.

As we know there has been a lack of rain for weeks and the soil is now parched dry. It was this that meant the large entry for this first MTB Crit of the year lifted a dusty haze along the dirt tracks.

I was quick to identify the photo opportunity and I managed to capture some of the back-lit sections. I was pleased with the results.

But as I moved around the circuit the conditions were quite different. The feature then became the low warm evening light.

So it was unusual to capture a selection of pics that were so different - but very enjoyable.

Follow this link to view the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND-1 OF THE MTB CRIT

The latest update features pics of the Table Tennis Green Trophy Inter-Insular at Hougue du Pommier.

This event was another of the many that lost a couple of years due to Covid but the Guernsey and Jersey teams were right up to speed when they met for this years competition.

Games took place spread over a couple of days with a tally being kept for the overall winning team.... and Guernsey took the crown!

I popped down for the men's Green Trophy finals and I've added a gallery featuring the action here:
CLICK TOP VIEW THE TABLE TENNIS GREEN TROPHY

I thought I'd just make a quick update to let those people who have been waiting for the Inter-Insular Volleyball pics know they are online (at least for the Ladies).

Sorry for the delay but I've been a bit stacked with work. However the first Gallery is now online and it features Guernsey Women v Jersey Women... with a win for the Guern's, NICE!

EDIT: The Men's pics are now online too. Click the links to view the latest updates:
CLICK TO VIEW THE WOMENS 2022 VOLLEYBALL INTER-INSULAR
CLICK TO VIEW THE MENS 2022 VOLLEYBALL INTER-INSULAR

Supported by Guernsey Arts the long established and experienced Elysium played as Pink Floyd to two full houses at Beau Sejour, 27th and 28th May 2022.

The gig was notable for being 'the complete package'. All aspects of a large scale gig were covered with a high quality live performance by Elysium complemented by great sound, lighting and graphics designed by local students.

The result was certainly a memorable highlight of the Guernsey music scene.

This gallery features my pics of the second night....
CLICK TO VIEW ELYSIUM as PINK FLOYD

It was great to see another sport back and busy after shaking off two years of disruption.

I was been sent along to the Rohais Badminton Halls to photograph the Easter Open Tournament. I think it is ten years since I last photographed this popular tournament but it was somehow familiar territory for me.

The match play is near non-stop with a stream of players taking to the courts competing in various categories. I made two visits to try and do justice to the amount of activity but I have probably failed miserably!

However I hope my Gallery of pics will give some idea of the game play.

Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2022 BADMINTON OPEN TOURNAMENT

Well done to all those who organized the Guernsey Round of the 2022 CI Moto-X Championship.

Also our local riders who did us proud by leading from the front! Nice one guys and gals.

Another big thank you (ha, ha) goes to whoever filled me in with sticky mud on Saturday.... note to self: Stand further from the track next time 🙂

I was at the holeshot and probably didn't take my normal interest in the condition of the bend. I had a very short time available on the first day as I needed to get away to photograph two football games.

I made the rookie mistake of not allowing for the bigger than usual number of bikes heading into the holeshot. Inevitably some had to take a wide line hitting the puddle of very sticky mud on the outside of the track launching it in my direction!

The outcome of this splattering was a very muddy photographer including two cameras and lenses. I had to leave the racing early and make a quick return to home for a change of clothing and a hose-down of my kit!

But luckily I have a short memory and on Sunday I was back trackside for more pics. This time there was less mud too!

I've added a full Gallery of the pics I took on my website if you are interested. Click on this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2022 CI MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Duathlon's have a habit of starting early. This must sometimes be a challenge for competitors... it certainly is for this photographer!

However sometimes the effort to be at the start line is rewarded with a lovely crisp spring morning. And when the setting for the event is the reservoir I was a happy chappy!

The 2022 Duathlon/Triathon season kicked off with the Reservoir Duathlon on Sunday. I was there capturing some of the action.

I hope you enjoy my pics in this gallery....
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE RESERVOIR DUATHLON

All sports photography makes special demands on a photographer.

The challenges may take different forms with so many sports available but there is always a similar thread running through the photographic work.

Unlike filming sports action (digital video nowadays) a photographer has to rely on capturing a 'peak' moment of action telling the story of the activity in a single frame.

What isn't perhaps obvious to those who don't spend their days photographing sport is that to capture the pics that a photog wants there is often a lot of work beforehand to create the 'luck' to reliably come home with the pics!

Getting the shot needs the photographer to be in the right place at the right time and to be ready with a camera all set... exposure settings, correct lens, positioned to give the most dynamic angle for what is about to happen... then to maintain attention during the boring moments to be poised and ready when the action kicks off as it is usually over in fractions of a second!

Luckily, like most skills, practice really does help.


This ramble comes after I've just photographed a two day Trials Bike event. I only had limited time to spend at the event so I really needed to work hard to get the pics that I planned.

I like to make use of the setting that trials bike sections are laid out in as realistically many of the riders will not offer me the dynamic action that I know they think they perform. My job is to make the competitors look amazing and a bit of help from the background can help!

However there are always a few elite riders who really provide an opportunity to get great shots. But even capturing those is a problem as Trials sections are spread over a wide area (miles apart) and it is all too easy to miss them completely whilst moving around.

I'd studied the various sections (you make your own luck) and I had earmarked one steep granite rock climb as the most promising for the 'shot of the day'. I now had to hope that I would be in place when the elite riders came to the obstacle.

Luck was with me (just) as with just minutes left before I needed to get to the next assignment the top guns turned up. All the planning came together, I was in the right place, the lens was correct, the settings all dialed in, I just needed the action to happen as I hoped.

And it did! I got the planned shot and there wasn't really any luck involved! I love it when a plan comes together!

I've added a gallery featuring all my 2-Day trials pics here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2022 GMC&CC 2-DAY TRIALS PICS

Whilst St Martin were securing the FNB Priaulx League at St Peter's GFC managed to earn themselves a worthy draw against Uxbridge.

The visitors took a leaf out of GFC's book by starting at a fast pace. They looked dangerous a couple of times before they scored after just seven minutes.

The GFC now had a battle on their hands. Whilst keeping up their spirits the local side struggled to dominate the game and none of the pressure could break down the Uxbridge defense.

It was the bench that was able to influence the result by substitutions made with about twenty minutes to go and GFC scored a deserving goal to end the game at 1-1.

I was at Footes Lane capturing the action and my Gallery can be viewed here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW GFC v UXBRIDGE

You'd think that a Downhill MTB race would be a bit of a doddle, wouldn't you?

Basically you sit on a mountain bike at the top of a hill, let go of the brake and before you know it you're at the bottom... easy peasy!

Well maybe I have that wrong? I think today's GVC MTB Downhill race held on the slopes at Pleinmont did a good job of proving that I know nothing about the effort needed to descend the slopes at speed... it is a race after all!

All this became clear as I listened to the moans and groans of the riders as they passed me whilst I took pics of their grimacing faces, ha ha.

I imagine that they were rewarded with muscle burn and a sense of achievement once their two runs were over. I have to say well done to all of them. I hope my pics of their racing remind them of the pain. Only joking!!

Follow this link if you want to view my pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MTB DOWNHILL PICS

Guernsey Football Club hosted Marlow FC at Footes Lane on Saturday.

Marlow are fancying their chance at achieving promotion this season and had thrashed GFC 6-0 in a previous game.

But our local team have been enjoying a recent good run and they showed impressive form against the visiting team taking a 2-0 win as a reward for their hard and consistant work.

GFC have now removed the immediate pressure to get clear of the relegation zone and on their current form it's probably not too big an ambition for them to climb well into the top half of the Isthmian South Central League.

Well done GFC... keep up the good work!

My pics of the game are here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF GFC v MARLOW

It wasn't just the 2022 Comprop Rally that kept me busy last weekend.

My work actually began on Thursday evening when I popped along to the Rally scrutineering to capture some behind the scenes pics.

Then the racing began on Friday with two evening stages... just perfect for me to get my timing and trigger finger up to speed!

But the serious stuff started on Saturday morning which meant a 5.30am start for me!

Why such an early alarm call? Well I wanted to get into one of the first stages before it was closed.

I had checked out all the stages when they were published and I'd noted my favourite vantage points and angles. I had a plan for a couple of positions that were too dangerous to stand.... but they were perfect for a radio controlled remote camera! The early start was needed to give me time to make sure everything was setup and working properly before the first car arrived.

If you browse through my Rally pics thinking that I shouldn't of been in such risky positions, don't worry, you now know how I captured those shots!

So all day Saturday was spent moving between stages chasing the Rally racing action and by 5pm I knew I had some good shots in the can.

By now I was pretty knackered after dragging over 25kg of kit up and down the stages. Frankly I just wanted to get home and put my feet up!

But that wasn't an option as I was straight off to Beau Sejour as soon as the rally finished. The Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club had organised their 'February Fury' event. This featured 10 Bouts of boxing with a GABC team facing a team from East Wales.

After refuelling with a chocolate bar and an energy drink I was ring-side capturing another form of action sport.

Gratefully the 10 bouts went without holdup or hitch and my day finished earlier than expected and I was home by 9.30pm.

It's safe to say that by the time my head hit the pillow I was ready for a good nights sleep... after such a long and tiring but fun day!

I've completed the Rally and boxing edits and the Galleries are online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE FEBRUARY FURY BOXING
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2022 COMPROP GUERNSEY RALLY

After missing two years of racing due to the restrictions imposed by Covid regulations the Guernsey Rally was back in 2022 with new sponsors Comprop.

The lost time had been well used and the 2022 Comprop Guernsey Rally was bigger and better than all the previous years. The public are now getting a feel for how a rally event is organized and it was clear that spectators had done their homework as many vantage points were lined with crowds of people. There was a great atmosphere all through the stages.

I'd managed to plan my different shooting positions and achieved most of the shots I had intended. The only fail was because the very last stage on Saturday was cancelled due to running out of time.

The variety of angles I captured was helped once again by the remote camera I set up on a couple of corners. This meant that you can actually see me in some of my own shots!

Two pics for the price of one! It's magic!!

These galleries feature the most extensive coverage of the 2022 Comprop Guernsey Rally....
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2022 COMPROP GUERNSEY RALLY