News / Blog

Well the 2023 Motorsport season is now in first gear and gaining speed.

Last weekend provided three events for me to polish up my photographic skills and timing.

Yes, I do get rusty during the break and it takes a couple of events to get my timing back!

But one thing doesn't change and that is the buzz that comes from the noise, smells and action of an Autocross race as the driver bounces the engine off the rev limiter.

So after the previous update to the Motocross racing Galleries I've now added an Autocross Gallery. And there is yet more to come as I also photographed a Trials meeting. Those pics are next.

Follow this link to view the Autocross pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS ACTION

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club MX riders were in action on the Pleinmont cliff-top track on Saturday.

It was good to see a better entry for this race - and there were a couple of riders away on their hols - so a competitive championship is ahead of us.

As usual I was slipping and sliding on the steep banks trying to find the best viewpoints... whilst overloaded with kit!!

I've added a new gallery if you wish to take a look. Click on this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST MOTOCROSS PICS

It was great to be back at St Pierre Park Hotel last Friday for another evening of Dinner Boxing.

This was the first Guernsey Dinner Boxing Club event of the year and featured a Guernsey Team v the Western Counties.

On the night here were nine well matched and hard fought bouts. They offered plenty of action and entertainment for the diners and the local team took the honours with the most wins. Well done guys.

The next Dinner Boxing event is on Friday 17th of March. If you are interested in attending you need to be a member of the Club. Contact me if you want details of how to go about joining.

Oh, and now the Club is open for the Ladies too. Why not get a group of friends together and book a table?

My pics are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEBRUARY DINNER BOXING GALLERIES

The Guernsey Baskeball League winners wont be decided until the last games of the season. It's going to be a nail biting finish.

One of the possible outcomes was sorted at Beau Sejour on Wednesday in a game that matched Praxis Pumas against Ravenscroft.

It was Ravenscroft who looked the stronger side. For a time it seemed they would have a comfortable win but the Praxis Pumas didn't read the script. After trailing by 10+ points they fought back to be one down.

However Ravenscroft dug deeper, changed up a gear and enjoyed a worthy win.

This leaves the game on Friday as the possible decider. If Comets win they win the league, if they lose Ravenscroft just need to beat Le Mont Saint to take the title!

I've uploaded my pics of Tuesdays game here:
CLICK TO VIEW PRAXIS PUMAS v RAVENSCROFT

Here is a quick link to my recent assignment to photograph the T&C Roofing Snooker League at the Gremlin Club.

These jobs are always interesting as a photographer is probably the last person the players want to see when they bend to set up their next shot.

The technique I use is to chose the longest and fastest lens that will work in the room. That way I hope to be back out in the darkest part of the room - but still be in line of their shot.

The next thing that is (or used to be) a problem was the 'clatter' that a professional level camera makes when the shutter is pressed.

Maybe you noted that I said 'used to'.

One of the great benefits that the modern mirror-less cameras give to a photographer is the freedom of not having to worry about that 'clatter' at a crucial moment of play. It's a revelation!

Shooting Golf also benefits from the Mirror-less advantage.

Just for your information I was shooting with a NIKON Z9. NIKON have been my choice of camera for decades and I love them.

I've added a small gallery of T & C Roofing Snooker League here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SNOOKER LEAGUE PICS

Now we all know that sometimes we are in just the right place, sometimes we aren't!

These things are in the lap of the Gods... or so we like to think.

But maybe not? I ask this as, if it is JUST down to random luck, how is it that Russ Allen seems to be in just the right place at the right time so often? Clearly talent can swing the odds in his favour.

This question also holds relevance to my work as a photographer. But clearly I'm not so talented in my positioning.

Yesterday at the GFC v Marlow football Russ 'found' himself in the perfect spot to score GFC's first goal. Actually I was quite well placed to capture the complete sequence including the celebration. Maybe luck, maybe talent? That is the question. Ha, ha.

But my luck/talent had worn off for the second GFC goal as when Sam Murray scored with a dramatic overhead kick my view was mostly blocked. You can just make out his flying boot in my pics.... if you look carefully!

Hmmm, I enjoyed having a bit of talent... while it lasted!

Now I've decided that to make myself feel better I'm going to go with the idea that everything is just down to luck. Good and bad! What do you think?

My GFC v Marlow pics are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY GFC v MARLOW PICS

After being dry, warm and comfortable whilst grabbing a few pics of the Women's Basketball at Beau Sejour I had to make the dash to Footes Lane for the GFC v South Park football.

There was plenty of time to cover these two events even though their start times were just 15 minutes apart.

The only bit that bothered me was the weather forecast... Rain or Drizzle imminent.

And of course that is what greeted me as I arrived at Footes Lane... Heavy drizzle!!

But a little bit of weather can't be enough to stop a Sports photographer. In fact, frustratingly, those conditions will often provide the best pics!

The reward for the discomfort came in the form of a second home win in a row for GFC. Keep up the good work guys! I'll see you on Saturday - hopefully in the dry.

A few pics of the GFC v South Park game are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF GFC v SOUTH PARK

The Guernsey Basketball Women's League is proving to be a very competitive one this season with potentially a three-way battle lined up for the finish.

Against that background the game between two of the contenders, Imperium Comets v Ravenscroft Ladies, was a crucial one.

The result went to the Comets who showed their willingness to fight right to the end... a perfect example of why Basketball can be so entertaining to follow.

My short visit to Beau Sejour produced a small Gallery of pics. Click the link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW IMPERIUM COMETS v RAVENSCROFT LADIES

Where there was darkness, now there is light.....

When I was given some assignments I used to think I was in someones (the Picture Editor's) bad book as they were so frustrating and challenging.

Assignments that made the list were night games in the Guernsey Football League. The thing with those jobs was that the floodlighting was abysmal! I think it could have been improved if the Clubs had simply asked the supporters to bring a torch!

But everything comes (eventually) to those who wait patiently. And I'm pleased to say that I'm now officially a 'happy chappie' photographer.

This pleasant experience occurred on Tuesday evening after I had 'that call' asking me to cover the Ravenscroft League Under 18's football game between North and Sylvans at North Field. Kick off time 19.30.

Now North Field was one of the dark holes I used to hate... but not now. New, modern floodlights have been fitted and what was a horrible job is now pure pleasure.

I haven't stopped smiling!

You can view the pics I took by following this link:
CLICK TO VIEW U18's NORTH v SYLVANS

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2023 Karting season hit The Track on Sunday for Round 1 of the new season and I popped along to capture some of the action before moving on to KGV for some football.

The limited time available combined with me arriving just as an incident requiring the Paramedic to check over a young driver - who was fine - meant I didn't have a chance to photograph all competitors. Maybe I'll have better luck next time.

This is a link to the karting Gallery if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 1 OF THE 2023 KART CHAMPIONSHIP

I photographed four events over the weekend and this meant I literally traveled from the top of Guernsey to the bottom and back again including a few places in between!

One of the jobs was on the south coast cliffs and conditions on Sunday were perfect at the Motocross track for the latest Guernsey Velo Club MTB Cross Country races.

Riders clearly agreed as there was a large entry for both races.

Pics of Round 4 of the GVC XC series are now online. Lots and lots of pics in two folders.... Juniors and Seniors.

Follow this link to view all the MTB Galleries:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE MTB GALLERIES

As expected my assignment to cover Division One Basketball at Beau Sejour was full of action, entertainment and tension.

As a sport Basketball seems to be perfectly designed to yield fast paced action and drama and that was certainly on offer in the game between Edmundson Electrical Chargers and Le Mont Saint.

The Chargers finished on top but they had to fight back from a 22 point deficit to take the win. In the final seconds of play it could have gone either way!

I highly recommend to you, if you are bored with the TV schedules, to pop along to one of the Basketball nights at Beau Sejour. You are guaranteed to be entertained.

You can view my pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW EDMUNDSON ELECTRICAL CHARGERS v LE MONT SAINT

Nice work GFC. That was an important win against Sutton Common Rovers. The local team worked hard to hold on to the one goal lead against a side that lacked discipline. This ended in them having a player sent off.

Of course. as we have seen many times before a team seems to raise its game when playing one man down and Rovers certainly pressurised Guernsey FC in the final minutes.

But the GFC defence held strong as the final whistle was blown. An very important win GFC.

Now on to the next one👍

I've uploaded a few pics of the game here:
CLICK TO VIEW GFC v SUTTON COMMON ROVERS

What a roller-coaster that was at the Rugby on Saturday.

Guernsey Raiders faced a tough game against Henley Hawks on a blustery pitch at Footes Lane.

But it was the Raiders who made the best of the conditions and held a narrow lead at half-time. After the re-start Raiders worked hard and managed to pull out a fourteen point advantage. Things were beginning to look positive.

But as we know, a team needs to maintain discipline and motivation all the way to the end and the Raiders seemed to give away their advantage allowing Henley Hawks the chance to take a one point lead on the 77th minute!

However Raiders were then given one more chance to take the win after a penalty was given. But this last kick of the game was missed as the ball floated in the strong wind.

So like I said above it had been a fairground ride of emotions leaving us with a final score of 26-27.

I've added a new Gallery featuring my pics of the game here:
CLICK TO VIEW GUERNSEY RAIDERS v HENLEY HAWKS

GFC continue to struggle to find winning form in the Isthmian South Central League.

Saturday's game against Thatcham Town was as frustrating for the players and Coaching staff as it was for the supporters.

We all left Footes Lane at full-time hoping that maybe next time we will have something to celebrate?

I've uploaded a new Gallery of pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF GFC PLAYING THATCHAM TOWN

Well that was hard work (for riders and me!). The festive overindulgence's were there to be seen on the faces of some of the riders (and me!) at today's Guernsey Velo Club Cross Country.

A course had been laid out around the Guet. As many of you will know the lay of the land around the old fort and lookout is steep and slippery. The old conifers have laid down a thick layer of pine needles on the slopes and the tree roots hide ready to throw a rider out of the saddle and into the brambles!

However, maybe because of those seasonal festivities, there was a good sized entry for the first MTB race in 2023 and the weather behaved... it was the afternoon before I got a soaking at the GFC football game!

I've now uploaded a gallery of MTB XC pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE FIRST MTB RACE IN 2023

Well I had hoped to start 2023 with a nice comfortable assignment.

But it seems that was a little too much to hope for. The 2023 New Years Day Handicap Cross Country was blessed with a damp start.

Luckily the rain didn't really turn out to be very heavy and the mild morning meant that being out in the fresh air was a good choice after New Years eve!

My return visit to L'Ancresse was for the Guernsey Athletics New Years Day Handicap Cross Country. The format of the race meant that there was no mass start so I concentrated on the finish and it turned out that the handicaps did their work leading to a packed finish of the mid-field.

I've added a new Gallery featuring my pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 NEW YEARS DAY CROSS COUNTRY

A bit of disk cleaning on a rainy day - well there isn't much more to do in this horrible weather!!

So I've just uploaded a few pics of the 2022 CI Table Tennis Qualifiers which failed to get ticked off the never ending 'To-Do' list! Well they ARE ticked off now ;-)

Here's the link to the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2022 CI TABLE TENNIS QUALIFIERS

The weather Gods have been looking after me for the last few photo assignments.

Over the Christmas break I've had to photograph the Boxing Day Cross Country, a Junior Football Tournament and a Trials Bike event.

All of these happened in dry weather and were comfortable because of that. The fact that outside of those times it seems to have rained almost none stop makes me feel that I've been somewhat lucky!

So now the question is... 'How long will my good luck last?'

I'm hoping to hold on to the good fortune for a little longer into the New Year with my first job being another Cross Country on New Years Day.... watch this space for the answer!!

For now I've just uploaded a few pics of the Boxing Day XC here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2022 BOXING DAY CROSS COUNTRY

It was just what we all needed in the middle of the Festive Season.

After the over indulgences of Christmas and before doing it all again for the New Year the perfect remedy was fresh air, motorsport and a workout on the steep and slippery slopes of the Pleinmont headland.

There was a good entry of veterans and youth and all those in-between for the Guernsey Motorcycle & Car Club Trials meeting.

I popped down after my morning assignment to clamber around the slopes trying to find the best angle to show off the skills of the riders.

The Gallery of my pic is now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GMC&CC PLEINMONT TRIALS EVENT