News / Blog

Well I think Sunday's MTB XC at the Underground Hospital had to be one of the muddiest so far! And it was raining from every direction at the same time... or so it seemed! Horrible to keep a lens clean.

I managed to capture a few photos. And if you think they lack mud, well you're right. This photographer is old and wise. I headed for the shelter of the hill and firmer ground 😉

My photos are now online:
CLICK TO VIEW THE MTB XC PHOTOS AT THE UNDERGROUND HOSPITAL

This was my first visit to the Guernsey Women's Basketball League this year.

I get the feeling that the women's game is becoming stronger every time I photograph them.

Basketball is a much more physical sport when compared to netball but this certainly doesn't stop the ladies enjoying their play!

I've added a gallery featuring the latest photos of the game between Ravenscroft and Oracle Diamonds here:
CLICK TO VIEW RAVENSCROFT v ORACLE DIAMONDS

The first half of the FNB Priaulx League game between Rovers and Saints passed without too much drama but the second half was a little more interesting, Rovers took a lead when the Saints goalie fumbled the ball after a back pass.

A 1-0 result for Rovers would have reflected the balance of play but the home side gave away an equaliser from a free kick! It's never over until the final whistle!

I captured some of the action and the photos can be viewed here if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW THE FNB PRIAULX LEAGUE FOOTBALL PHOTOS

Sometimes it is good to have so many different sports to photograph.

The variety offers a backup when something goes wrong with one genre as probably there is an alternative to bail me out... I'm talking about having a sport or two to photograph each weekend.

To give you an example. The wet winter we have experienced has meant that many football games have been cancelled due to the pitch being soft, wet and muddy. But, as I stated, I usually have a back-up plan!

In this case? Well I name a sport that loves soft ground and MUD. It can only be Motocross!

I headed off to Pleinmont on Saturday morning to photograph the GK&MC championship racing and the mud was just about perfect!

I had to leave early to be at Port Soif for a 2pm footie game - and just to prove that sometimes all things turn out well - the pitch was perfect too. Happy days!

My Motocross photos are now online if you are interested:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST MOTOCROSS RACING

Round 6 of the Cycleworld Cyclecross Series was raced around the grounds of Blanchelande College. The circuit made use of the fields and gradients together with the hard surfaces... so a bit of everything really!

Oh, it was a serious workout for the riders too!

The morning started with rain but this eased to leave us with a misty scene. Something that really helps a photographer so I was a happy chappie!

I've completed the edit of my photos and they are now online. Click the link if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 6 OF THE CYCLOCROSS SERIES

I was late in arriving at Chouet for the latest Autocross meeting but it was still worth making the effort. The different track layout offered some great shots.

There was plenty of sand... well we were on a beach! But it was the pools of water that were the stars. It's hard to beat the drama of a Banger at full chat splashing through standing water!

My gallery of photos is now online if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PHOTOS

A HUGE well done to St James Guernsey for organizing the two nights of the Decibel Weekender. Gig goers were treated to a great line-up of bands including many top visiting artists.

The venue has been busy over the last couple of years working on the performance space. Clearly a big investment has been made in state of the art sound systems and the acoustics are sorted with new curtains. And to top it off there is new lighting..... just to keep the photographers happy you understand!!

Keep an eye on the St James diary for the next events... there are many!

I did my bit and took a few photos of both nights. Click the link if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 ST JAMES DECIBEL WEEKENDER PHOTOS

There was a good entry for ROUND 3 of the GVC MTB XC series.

Riders were treated to a ready supply of bacon butties and a really special circuit to race on.

Situated just across the road from the reservoir the track offered everything that makes XC MTB a challenge... different surfaces, tight technical sections, gradients and open straights.

There was even a bonus for photographers as the vineyard and reservoir sections offered me a variety of backdrops for my photos. A win, win, I think!

And speaking of photos, I've uploaded a gallery if you want to take a look?
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST GVC MTB XC PHOTOS

Those amazing men and women in their stripped out Bangers were back on the Chouet sands for the first time in 2024 on Sunday.

Each of the cars has to be stripped of all glass to avoid polluting the white sands. But that alone is not enough as it was clear that the winter evenings had been spent removing EVERYTHING that isn't essential to making the car move!

Extra modifications are also made to the cooling systems to avoid radiators becoming clogged with sand. Roll cages and 'crash plates' are also added to the sides. Better safe than sorry!

All this work removes the individual identity of the cars and often it is nearly impossible to recognise the make and model!

I popped along to Chouet to capture some of the action and my photos can be viewed by clicking this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 BANGER RACING CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS

As I have just a couple more birthdays before I hit 70 years (I hope) I think I may have learned a few lessons along the way. That is one of the few 'benefits' of getting older. Age brings with it a lifetime of making mistakes. But as we know, this also brings the wisdom to NOT make the same mistake again! If only, eh!!

I mention this as the young Under 18's Guernsey football team all learnt a lesson in last Friday's Stranger Cup game against Bels. I was only there for the first half during which the youngers put on the style with their confident and skilful performance.

They only slipped up in added time by giving away a single goal but they left the pitch with a well deserved lead of 3-1.

I then had to leave to photograph a Basketball game and I was quite surprised when I was given updates on the second half of the football to hear that Bels had turned the game around and into a 4-3 lead!

This is where my comments above come into it. It seems, from reports I heard, that in the second half the U18's sat back on their lead and they let Bels come back into the game. Hopefully they have learnt a lesson... and remember it!

However you should never rule out a second twist in any sport because the U18's did managed to score one more goal to pull back to a 4-4 draw.

But could it have been different? Maybe next time they will have learnt from their mistakes!

I've uploaded a few pics if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW THE BELS v GUERNSEY U18's STRANGER CUP PHOTOS

....and another update!

Photos of the Stranger Cup football at St Peters, Sylvans v Rovers, are now online. Unfortunately for me I missed the only goal of the game as the ball hit the back of the net just as I was walking down the drive at St Peters Sylvans.

I guess that sort of thing will happen when my two assignments on Saturday afternoon were both at 2pm... one at Bordeaux and the other at St Peters! I've got some pretty big lenses but that's pushing things a bit too far!

However I did get enough photos of the footie to make up a Gallery. Click the link if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW SYLVANS v ROVERS IN THE STRANGER CUP

I enjoyed photographing a Cornerstone Basketball League game on Friday night.

There was a new team on court facing Le Mont Saint in the men's league.

The V1Pistons team was made up of a lot of faces familiar to me but between the two teams there were a few less familiar too.
It's always healthy to bring in new blood and youth as this keeps everyone on their toes and it can re-invigorate the passion amongst the old timers!

I hope to pop along to more games soon as the sport is always entertaining.

My time was limited as I had already covered the first half of a Stranger Cup football game but I've added a new Basketball gallery with a few pics here if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW LE MONT SAINT v V1PISTONS BASKETBALL

Round 5 of the GVC Cycleworld Cyclocross Series was raced on Sunday morning.

The course featured just about every type obstacle and track surface making a race where no rhythm could be found! This format of the sport really saps the energy as bikes have to be carried over the soft sand and up steep steps.

It's safe to say that racers were pleased to see the finish flag!

I've added a Gallery of photos which give an idea what the riders faced:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 5 OF THE GVC CYCLOCROSS SERIES

I don't know if the idea behind the creation of a hill when they filled Bordeaux quarry was to establish a perfect Cross Country course... but that seems to be what we've ended up with!

The gradients and twists with a few muddy patches - well it is Cross Country - have produced a popular event in the Guernsey Athletics calendar.

I photographed Saturday's Bordeaux FNB XC and if you're interested click the link to view the photos.
CLICK TO VIEW THE BORDEAUX FNB XC PHOTOS

Last Friday evening I was sent off to KGV to photograph a Stranger Cup game. It was a chilly night and I think I must have looked like an expectant father as I paced up and down the touchline trying to keep my feet warm!

But it was certainly worth a bit of discomfort to be able to enjoy a pretty special performance from one of the sides. Lining up were Rangers against the youthful Guernsey Under 18's side.

To give you a heads-up, the final score was Rangers 0, Guernsey U18's 4. That scoreline should give a small clue of the run of play but I reckon the U18's still had a couple more goals 'in the back pocket' if needed.

They impressed with their skills. They showed great commitment, creativity and youthful energy and I'm sure they are going to keep us entertained with their talents for years to come.

I've added a few pics to a new Gallery if you are interested:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE STRANGER CUP PHOTOS

GVC riders were out this morning at Le Guet for Round 3 of the Ian Brown MTB XC series.

The terrain presented the riders with plenty of gradients to sap their energy and I spoke to a few who said that the 'rest period' for the seasonal celebrations had dropped their fitness levels.... so that's why there was so much huffing and puffing!!

My Gallery of photos is now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GVC MTB XC AT LE GUET

Guernsey Raiders were rewarded with a hard-fought win against the visiting Tunbridge Juddians at Footes Lane on Saturday.

With Raiders holding a four point lead and with ten minutes left on the clock the visitors pinned the Raiders high up the pitch and maintained relentless pressure making it a tense finish to the game!

Local supporters certainly experienced, and ultimately enjoyed, their sides resolve and strength against the onslaught!

This was sport at its most roller-coaster ride entertaining! Great work Raiders.

I've added a Gallery of my photos if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW GUERNSEY RAIDERS v TUNBRIDGE JUDDIANS

Well I wonder if the luck will last for the whole of 2024?

It was certainly a great start!

My only assignment on New Years day was to photograph the Guernsey Athletics Handicapped Cross Country at the L'Ancresse full course. This is always a fun event and it seems to clear body and brain of the festive fog.

The event also shows how hard it is to 'grade' the runners into handicap groups with the ultimate aim to have them all cross the finish line at the same time. There are always a few wildcard entries that beat the system.

But I have to say that, after the 'rogue runners' there was certainly a massed group of finishers and more than a few competitive sprints to the line. This New Year race really brings out the smiles from runners who don't usually feature high up the list.

As for the afore mentioned good luck. Well you will see from my photos that we all enjoyed a nice bright... and DRY morning. Then later on the heavens opened in biblical style.

Fingers crossed we can repeat the good luck many times during the year.

My New Years Day Cross Country photos can be seen here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE NEW YEARS DAY CROSS COUNTRY

Guernsey Football Club have found themselves in the danger zone of the Isthmian South Central League this season.

But simple stats don't always tell the whole story. GFC have been promising better results many times during the season but, frustratingly, have given away late goals making a win quite an elusive thing.

However the team have kept up their spirits and ambitions and they now have two wins in the pot and maybe the 'curse' is broken?

So now we head into the new year and we can dare to hope that GFC will get the reward they have been so close to in 2023.

I've uploaded photos of the 4-2 win they produced over Sutton Common Rovers. Click the link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW GFC v SUTTON COMMON ROVERS

One of the Motorsport events to watch that I recommend to people who have time spare on a Sunday is Trials.

If you are looking for free entertainment on a Sunday afternoon you will enjoy following the riders as they attack impossible slopes, rocks and tree stumps on their machines.

All you really need to do is wrap up against the cold and wear sturdy footwear because you will be tackling some slippery slopes too!

If you can't be bothered, all is not lost, because you can always view my photos. 🙂

Photos of yesterday's meeting are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST TRIALS PHOTOS