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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

So after last weekends sports shoot featuring tennis racquets at the Inter-insular tennis championships there was a swap of racquets for this weeks shoot at the Guernsey Island Closed Badminton Finals!

Badminton offers similar challenges to photographing indoor tennis. Firstly the lighting is never bright enough to satisfy a photographer who is trying to freeze the action. Also there is quite a restriction on access. It is hard to achieve the angles of view that would be ideal and of course a photographer must not interfere with the play... that includes getting in the eye-line of the players.

But professional sports photographers will always enjoy that challenge!

The last time I photographed these finals was in 2018 (before the world changed) and it was great to see a mix of familiar faces and new ones contending the various titles.

I've now added a Gallery featuring my pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2021 GUERNSEY CLOSED BADMINTON FINALS

I was a little limited on time to photograph the Tennis Inter-insular against Jersey but it was great to see some of the great performances by the local squad.

The resulting 9-3 win was pretty decisive and the reward was for the Guernsey squad to pick up the Bucktrout Trophy for the first time since 2007!

Well done Guernsey. We are proud of you.

I've now added a small Gallery of pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE TENNIS INTER-INSULAR GALLERY

It was a busy and varied weekend of work.... just how I like it!

This time most of it revolved around sport photography and it was a reminder of how broad the whole 'sports scene' is in Guernsey. Also it showcased how the Islands sports stars can hold their own against visitors from afar... and not so far!

I've already added Galleries featuring the latest GFC game against Chertsey Town. This high ranking side in the Isthmian South Central league had to work hard for their narrow win against our side.

Another enjoyable assignment was at the Velo Club MTB XC in a fantastic setting. Those pics are also already online. See the News item below.

The latest Gallery update features seven Bouts of boxing from the Guernsey Dinner Boxing Club night at St Pierre Park Hotel. This was another chance for local competitors to go head to head against a visiting team and they produced some impressive performances against the Stevenage ABC team.

And just to add to the variety I also covered the 2021 Tennis Inter-insular at the Indoor Tennis Courts where the Guernsey squad really showed their class by beating Jersey 9-3. What a great finish to the weekend.

What will next weekend bring?
CLICK TO VIEW THE GUERNSEY v STEVENAGE ABC BOXING GALLERIES

My backlog of pics keeps me busy whenever I have a few spare minutes.

Back in 2019 there was quite a bit going on around here. We were completely renovating our bungalow. My office was a monitor balanced on a small table in a corner amongst piles of boxes.

So whilst I still managed to get out to capture some pics the edits were often sidelined.

When I now look through those folders it only seems right that I make an effort to complete the edits. So today I've added a gallery of pics featuring T20 Cricket, Guernsey v Jersey at the College Field in May 2019!

It looked a beautiful day... perfect for cricket!
CLICK TO VIEW T20 CRICKET - GUERNSEY v JERSEY

The Vault in St Peter Port has become the mainstay of live music in town largely due to the tireless support and organization by Mark Guillou.

Mark's involvement in the local scene goes back so far it would be rude to start quoting figures. But I'm going to guess you would need all the digits on one hand to count the decades he has been playing in bands!

Recent years has seen him settle in The Vault organizing Open Mic nights and busy weekends of live music.

I'm aware that I don't give the coverage this live venue deserves. After all, as I've already said, this is where you can be sure to get your gig fix and photographing bands is what I do!

Sadly the popularity of the Vault is what makes it a difficult place to take pics. The area around the stage is very tight to work in. Also the lighting is a real challenge. Of course both those aspects make little impact on the audience as the packed nights prove. It's just us precious photographers who complain!!!

I do however make occasional visits and I've uploaded pics from a few weeks ago when Coastal Fire Dept. and Clameur De Haro made an appearance.

Click on these links to view my pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF COASTAL FIRE DEPT
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF CLAMEUR DE HARO

The 2021 Siam Trophy weekend offered a full days entertainment for Guernsey and Jersey Rugby supporters at Footes Lane.

Three games had been organized. First was the Veterans game playing for the Nash Cup. The Guernsey Vets set the standard by beating Jersey Vets 55 - 19. No doubt about the best team after a score like that.

So it was the Ladies turn next and Guernsey Raiders Ladies set off at a pace and they didn't take the foot off the gas until the final whistle. The result was a score of 46 - 7. A decisive Guernsey victory over the Jersey Reds Women.

I managed to cover the later part of the second half of the ladies game and I've added a Gallery featuring those pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2021 LADIES SIAM TROPHY

Saturday down at Footes Lane couldn't have packed more sport onto the pitches.

Once again supporters, players and officials proved how important sport is to the community in Guernsey. The value goes beyond the simple act of following your team. It is sports 'total package' of benefits that make an immeasurable impact on so many of us.

Friendships form around the mutual enjoyment of being part of a 'clan'. Peoples busy and stressful lives can be put aside for a few hours and troubles are forgotten in the moments of elation.

There were thousands of spectators spread around Footes Lane to watch three Rugby games including the Centenary of the Siam Cup. Whilst these were taking place there were hockey games played on their pitches. And Guernsey Football Club entertained Tooting & Mitcham in the Isthmian South-Central league!

We didn't manage to win every game but did that really matter when so much good comes out of these events?

If you ever ask that question to a sportsman/competitor you will probably get a funny look and the answer. Well of course it does....

I've added a new Gallery featuring pics of the Centenary Siam Cup here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE CENTENARY SIAM CUP