News / Blog - Events News

Brutal winds make the first XC of 2025 a battle....
01st January 2025

Around ninety hardy islanders faced the storm on a very blustery L'Ancresse Common for the traditional New Years Day Guernsey Athletics handicapped Cross Country run.

In those conditions there really is nowhere to hide and shelter from the high winds on the seaside common.

Perhaps the only small bonus is that after battling the head wind the course turns back on itself and the wind becomes a welcome aid.

The 2025 event was well handicapped with a spread of start times over more than 30 minutes but it was impressive to see the finish straight packed by all levels of runners.

I've added a few photos featuring the racing:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2025 NEW YEARS DAY XC
Vale Earth Fair 2024 photos.... worth the wait?
12th December 2024

We've reached the time of year when I like to tidy up my work and I've just realised that I never completed the edit of my photos of the 2024 The Vale Earth Fair.

Maybe I'll blame the fact that as the decades pass my recovery rate after a festival seems to take longer and longer!

So, once I noticed my error I had to fix it.... and it's now done!

I managed to cover quite a lot of the VEF this year and there's a big Gallery featuring hundreds of photos of the highlights on my website.

If you're interested just click the link below:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 VALE EARTH FAIR PHOTOS
Music for Everyone... the perfect title
01st December 2024

The Guernsey School of Popular Music continued its support and encouragement of its students with the 2024 'Music for Everyone' event at Beau Sejour.

Created to offer all ages of student a showcase to share their new talents on a big stage it is obvious how much joy and satisfaction the performers feel. You can see how confidence builds as students are supported by the versatile tutors band.

I've said it before but it's worth saying again. I think these events are some of my favourites of the year.

I hope you enjoy my photos and maybe they will illustrate some of the atmosphere in the theatre at Beau Sejour.....
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 MUSIC FOR EVERYONE PHOTOS
They came out of the darkness....
29th November 2024

Well, after experiencing the darkness at the first GVC Evening Enduro at Delancey Park, I was expecting the latest night-time event to be as big a challenge.

But I wasn't expecting it to be quite so hard to photograph as it turned out to be.

With no moonlight or indeed any lighting on the Trail it was PITCH BLACK!

So what photos I managed to capture were taken in manual exposure and pre-focused. Lit only by a couple of my old cycle lamps and the help of a few spectators!

The use of flash lighting in such dark conditions was a no-go as it was likely to startle and distract the riders as the sped along the narrow uneven track!

It was also a battle against the extremely bright and contrasting lighting the riders were kitted out with. Those modern lights are amazingly bright!

But we all like a challenge don't we and it is quite fulfilling when you get a few worthwhile shots.

There's a Gallery online here if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE RONEZ TRAIL EVENING ENDURO
SoPM produce another vintage year......
28th November 2024

Another vintage year......

With each year the Guernsey School of Popular Music (SoPM) has raised the bar with its Corporate Battle of the Bands event at Beau Sejour.

The night sits in the middle of a 'three-header' between the Under 18's Battle of the Bands and the 'Music for Everyone' showcase.

The team from SoPM don't hold back or take the easy route and consistently top their previous efforts. I've added Galleries featuring all the highlights of the 2024 Corporate BotB's to my website.

To view photos of all the SoPM events click the link below:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF THE SoPM EVENTS
Sexy Pigeons are on a winning streak......
27th November 2024

The standard of performances just gets better and better with each year's Guernsey School of Popular Music 'Battle of the Under 18's Bands'.

The SoPM Tutors have perfected the process of organizing their biggest weekend of the year.

Over the years the weekend has grown to feature three separate events.

First up it's the 'Battle of the Under 18's Bands' which features five talented bands.

The winners in 2024 were The Sexy Mosquitos. Photos of the winners and all the other bands, The Fourth, Polystyrene Pigeons, Cheezy Beanz and Aviation are featured in these Galleries....
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 BATTLE OF THE U18's BANDS
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Can we get back to the glory days at the 'Tav?
13th November 2024

Those of you who were also born in the mid-fifties like me..... heck, that makes me feel really old when I say it like that!

But back to the point. If you are from around that era you will probably have great memories of the live music scene that centred around the Fermain Tavern.

You will also probably agree that everything has changed so much over the recent decades... including the music scene.

Whilst we can never go back... and probably wouldn't like it if we did... I was encouraged to hear that there are a few plans in place to get The Fermain Tavern back up and active.

I heard this whilst enjoying a four band line-up at the 'Tav on Saturday. Fingers crossed that they can make it work.

Whilst I was there I photographed Kiya Ashton, Pillars, Coastal Fire Department and Hollow Youth. It was just like the good ol' days, eh!

Click the link to visit my new website and use the 'Search' option to find photos of the bands:
CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR THE NEW BAND PHOTOS
Tough contests at the GABC October Fight Night......
22nd October 2024

Whilst I wasn't able to photograph the whole night of Boxing as I was covering the Guernsey Press Pride of Guernsey Awards night, I was still able to capture six Bouts of the recent GABC October Fight Night.

This years event featured a visiting team from Liverpool and the final tally of wins favoured the visitors with a 6-5 result.

That total illustrates how close the fighting was and the Guernsey team certainly put on a great show. Well done guys.

I've now completed the edit and photos of Bouts 7-12 are now online if you are interested. Just click the link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 GABC OCTOBER FIGHT NIGHT
The Zedra X Challenge is competitive but also great fun....
10th October 2024

I've just completed the edit of hundreds of photos featuring the 2024 Zedra X Challenge held at Footes Lane.

The event offers hundreds of young athletes the chance to take part in a Cross Country race... with a difference!

Various obstacles have to be tackled which adds to the challenge and the fun.

Fun is an important ingredient of the afternoon as whilst prizes are given for the top performers it really is the taking part that is important.

If you would like to see what the Zedra X Challenge is all about take a look at my Galleries here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 ZEDRA X CHALLENGE PHOTOS
Lots of new records... including one of my own!!!!
02nd October 2024

For the first time this year the Hillclimbers had a dry event... well apart from a shower just as the day was starting!

But the Imperial hill tarmac was soon dry and the multitude of new records proved the racers weren't going to miss the opportunity!

It seems that I was also chasing a new record. I don't think I've ever taken so many photos at a hillclimb! Maybe it was sunstroke or the fact there were SEVEN runs!

I was going to delete a load of the photos but then I decided to spend a couple of days on the edit.... so there are now hundreds (around 800) of the Imperial hillclimb photos online.

Please consider how much time it takes for me to give this coverage. If you like a photo please don't just copy it, thanks.

Click this link to view the completed albums....
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 IMPERIAL HILLCLIMB PHOTOS
Spoonfest 3.... let there be Live Music!
25th September 2024

Conceived by the guys in Teaspoonriverneck, Spoonfest has become a celebration of Channel Islands live music.

During its short life SPOONFEST has created a small niche for itself in the musical arena in Guernsey. A hand picked line-up always showcases some of our best bands and a look around the audience will reveal that many of the Islands most active musicians support the event.

Spoonfest 3 at St James presented Play Nice, Hollie Thorne, Semu Cà from Jersey, Teaspoonriverneck and SkySkrapers.

Sadly I missed Play Nice but photos of all the other Bands have now been added to my website Galleries.

Click the link if you want to take a look.....
CLICK TO VIEW THE PHOTOS OF SPOONFEST 3
Better late than never.....
23rd September 2024

The combination of several factors meant I struggled to fill a Gallery with pics of the GVC Downhill Racing Enduro at Talbot Valley.

I made a bad start to the morning by going to the wrong venue - even though I'd been told where to go a few hours earlier at a gig.... but it was very noisy, that's my defence!!

'Where was everyone at Petit Bot?'. What an idiot, eh!!

When I eventually arrived at Talbot Valley I found that racing was over two courses through the wooded and slippery slopes making access a challenge and finding the optimum position to photograph the best action even harder!

So after all the hassle I suppose I should be relieved to have anything for the Gallery!

The pics are here if you're interested:
CLICK TO VIEW THE TALBOT VALLEY ENDURO
A great day out in Sark... and I get to call it work!
15th September 2024

Gaelic Football is a Sport that I rarely have opportunity to photograph, which is a great shame as I love this game.

But what elevates Gaelic Football to legendary status is when I can combine photographing this Sport with a trip to Sark. Add into the mix a good number of beers in the sun with some live music and it really can't get much better.... can it?!!!!

Last Saturday I joined the early boat load of visitors and team members heading off to Sark for the annual clash of the Channel Islands Irish!

The Jersey Irish GAA Club were due to face the Guernsey Gaels Gaelic Football Club on Sarks Millennium Field. And there was a promise of many cold beers and live music to end the day!

I'm fairly certain that even the loosing side... Guernsey, I'm afraid, still had a great day out. I certainly did! I hope to get over again next year too.

But really I was only over in Sark to work, eh!

So just to prove it I've just added a new Gallery of my photos!
CLICK TO VIEW THE JERSEY v GUERNSEY GAELIC FOOTBALL PHOTOS
Only the toughest smile through the pain......
01st September 2024

I think I've made a similar comment before, but I think it's worth repeating.

The Sport of Triathlon, and maybe specifically in its Granite Man format always surprises me.

Surely it must rate as one of the toughest ways to get your 'workout'!

But the pain doesn't seem to put off an eclectic mix of competitors eager to face the challenge!

And the thing that surprises me most? I see more smiles from the athletes - even when they are facing the massive granite slopes of Ronez Quarry - than in any other Sport I photograph!!

I applaud you all, you odd people!

I've now added a Gallery of my 2024 Granite Man photos. Click the link to view them.
CLICK TO VIEW THE SMILES AT THE TOUGHEST OF CHALLENGES
Run Like Ted..... if you can find him!
31st August 2024

Photos of a special Elysium gig at The Fermain Tavern are now online.

The Pink Floyd Tribute Band's gig was titled 'Run Like Ted'. The event was organised as a send-off for the bands Saxophonist Ted.

Just one thing was missing at this great gig.... Ted (who couldn't make it due to a bug!)

If you want to view my Photos just click this link and don't forget to look at a huge Gallery of my Elysium photos in my archive too.
CLICK TO VIEW THE ELYSIUM RUN LIKE TED GIG
Guernsey Cricketers progress to the T20 European Finals....
29th August 2024

The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier C Final was held on a sunny mid-week afternoon at the KGV.

Guernsey faced Denmark after winning their places in a series of knock-out games.

Whilst Guernsey had shown good form during the earlier games there was a tense atmosphere amongst the many supporters who had managed to get away from their day jobs!

After Denmark opened the batting and set the target for Guernsey at 159 the Guernsey side set about the chase and ultimately achieved a notable win with eight balls to spare.

Guernsey will now progress to the Europe Regional Final next summer.

I've added a Gallery featuring some of my photos here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 ICC T20 EUROPE QUALIFIER C FINAL
No time to talk.... too many photos to edit!
25th August 2024

Lots happening over the last weekend and what a great variety of events to photograph!

The edit of all of them will take a bit of time but I've already crossed one off the list.

Photos of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club 2-day Sandracing meeting are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 2-DAY SANDRACING PHOTOS
A harbour full of laughter and fun.......
24th August 2024

Tradition has it that come the last week of August St Peter Port Harbour becomes the scene for fun, fancy costumes, crazy games and lots a sea water.

The occasion is the annual Harbour Carnival organised by the Guernsey Round Table as a fund raiser for the various Charities that they support.

Sadly this year the Man Powered Flights were cancelled but there was still lots to laugh at!

I covered the event for the Guernsey Press and the published photos together with lots of extras can be viewed by clicking the link below:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE 2024 HARBOUR CARNIVAL
The 2024 Donkey Derby delivers fun.....
20th August 2024

It's always a fun afternoon when I'm assigned to photograph the Lions Club Donkey Derby.

The format barely changes from year to year.... but why change a winning formula?

This year the Lions Club had arranged a beautiful sunny summer afternoon and that encouraged a great attendance of eager punters keen to lose a couple of quid at the Tote as everything was organised for raise funds for Charities.

I've uploaded a new Gallery to display my 2024 Donkey Derby photos.
Click this link to view the Donkey Derby photos:
CLICK TO VIRW PHOTOS OF THE 2024 DONKEY DERBY
Is Bowling Guernsey's most successful International Sport?
20th August 2024

I visited the Bowls Guernsey Association's 2024 Finals at Vale Rec, Corbet Field twice over the weekend to photograph some of the play.

Bowling takes place indoors during the winter months and then moves outside to enjoy the sun (when our summer allows!)

The Sport remains popular with the slightly old generations but it is great to see some youngsters now taking part and indeed getting results off Island too. Just like the senior players which have notched up many International successes!

In fact I wonder if Bowls is Guernsey's most successful Sport on the world stage?

My latest photos can be viewed by clicking this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE BGA 2024 FINALS PHOTOS