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My first assignment of the day was to photograph the GK&MC Motocross racing at Pleinmont. It has been a while since I have been up there so I was looking forward to capturing some dynamic action.

However it was a bit disappointing really. The entry was a very low twelve riders! Having asked around the pits it seems there were several factors at work, school holidays, Covid and some riders wanting to stay fit for next weekends racing.

I have to admit that my enthusiasm was dampened once I had the necessary shots in the bag and I felt that spending the afternoon repeating my work wasn't going to do it for me!

So, what to do with a spare couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon?

How about a bit of Rugby photography?

So after lunch I headed down to Footes Lane for the National League 2 South rugby... and it wasn't a mistake.

Rugby is a fantastic sport to photograph as the action is much more predictable than many sports and you are guaranteed a few keepers!

I had salvaged the day and was more than satisfied with the outcome even though it was very stressful supporting Guernsey Raiders who, at half time, were trailing well behind and looking like they were going to take a brutal beating.

But they came back in the second half like a different team and pulled a tense win out of the bag, 28-26!

My pics of Guernsey Raiders v Barnes RFC are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW GUERNSEY RAIDERS v BARNES RFC

Having started last night to edit around 700 pics of Friday nights Dinner Boxing at St Pierre Park Hotel I took a brief break from my desk this afternoon to photograph today's GVC MTB Downhill racing at Petit Bot.

Predictably the slopes were pretty slippery and they took a few victims with some pretty spectacular crashes. Every one that I saw resulted in the rider quickly getting back in the saddle to finish their run.

Rather than leave the MTB pics hanging around waiting for me to finish the boxing pics I thought I'd quickly complete the MTB edit.... so there's a new Gallery featuring those pics already online to look at here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MTB PICS FROM PETIT BOT

This is just a quick 'heads up' telling you that I'm on the case....

Actually what I mean by that is I've started to edit about 700 pics taken at Friday's Guernsey Dinner Boxing Club's evening at St Pierre Park Hotel.

I've already added pics of the three headlining bouts and all the others will follow shortly.

This is a link if you want to view them as they are uploaded:
CLICK TO VIEW THE DINNER BOXING PICS

As a pensioner I look with envy at the energy, boldness and creativity of youth. Their lack of fear combined with an optimistic outlook is a powerful thing. It is exciting.

Youth also represents the future. It brings with it hope and change.

Youth can also be quite formidable when it comes face to face with the older generations!

This was a scenario faced by Vale Rec when they played the Guernsey Island Under 18's in a Strangers Cup football game at KGV.

Vale Rec were given quite a run-around by the young legs who chased every ball, worked well supporting each other and clearly loved the game. All the attributes I listed above were on show and it was a pleasure to see (not so good if you were a fan of the Rec)... BTW I'm a neutral when photographing a game!!

As I left at the end of the game I was positive that the future looks safe and inspiring in the hands and feet of the youngsters.

Oh, and after that ramble I forgot to give you the score. 2-6 for the U18's... and it could have been more!

I've added a few pics to a Gallery here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE VALE REC v ISLAND U18 PICS

It was a tough hour's workout amongst the pine trees of the Guet.

A circuit had been laid out for the GVC MTB XC riders that twisted back and forth covering the whole area with every slope available included all adding to the torture.

It was clear from some of the groaning that completing the hour plus a lap race pushed riders to their limits.

From my point of view I was worn out just following the racing up and down the slopes!

The venue also challenged a photographer as the day was bright and sunny creating high contrast and many shadows from the multitude of tree trunks.

So rather than aiming to capture the 'peak' action I spent most of the race trying to time the pics for when the rider was in sunlight rather than shadow.

At the end of the morning I had enough keepers for a Gallery. View it here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GVC MTB XC PICS AT THE GUET

Sadly this time the GFC couldn't produce the late comeback that they achieved on their last outing.

Once again they had fallen behind the visiting team , Benfield on this occasion, and at 1-3 down it needed something of a special intervention to rescue a result.

But the Gods... or actually the Ref in this case was against such a rally as his yellow card made ten appearances slowing the flow of the game.

It also has to be said that some of the Benfield squad must have just finished their time playing drama queens in a Panto as they habitually 'went to ground' when GFC had possession.

But it seems this is a common feature in Isthmian League football and our GFC team are just going to have to accept it and ensure that it is them that take a lead and then they can enjoy the element of control that would bring.

My pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GFC v BINFIELD PICS

As the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club start their 2022 full calendar of events the hopes and spirits are high as racers look forward with spanners crossed for no more Covid disruptions.

Between this Club and the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club motorsport fans can compete locally in just about every genre of the sport... within the limitations of what a small Island can host.

If you look at the list I think you must agree....

Hillclimbs at four venues
Karting
Motocross
Rallying
Sand Racing
Trials
Sprints at several venues
Speed Events
Twisty Sprints
Autotests

....and there is also the Guernsey Autocross Club Banger Racing on the beach!

So it was great for me to return to The Track to photograph Round-1 of the 2022 Kart Championship on Sunday whilst looking forward to a busy year.

My pics of the karting can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND-1 OF THE 2022 KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

After scoring the first goal GFC seemed to be making the perfect start to the game but just seconds later the visiting Basingstoke Town levelled the score after being given a penalty.

Guernsey Football Club then seemed to loose their way a bit. They were always on the back foot and the halftime score of 1-3 reflected the play.

But our local side dug deeper in the second half and returned to their familiar style of play by being more direct and chasing every ball. It still took all the minutes of play plus added time to pull back a draw... at four all!

Ultimately the result probably reflected the up and down nature of the play and I have to say well done to GFC for not giving up. This spirit was epitomised, as is often the case, by Ross Allen who turned things around with his two goals!

And I think there has to be a special mention for Glenn Le Tissier who came on from the bench with just minutes of play left and scored the Guernsey equaliser with his first touch! The final result 4-4, we'll call that a good result for the GFC>

My pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GFC v BASINGSTOKE TOWN PICS

What to do when you have a spare couple of hours before the next job?

How about catching up with our local rugby teams hosting visitors?

So I popped along to Footes Lane.

First up was a Raging Bull Shield Division 2 game - St Jacques Vikings v Bournmouth II.

Then there was just time to capture some first half action at the National League 2 South game between Guernsey Raiders and Barnstaple RFC.

Check out the pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE WEEKENDS RUGBY ACTION

Slippery under foot seems to have become my workplace of choice over the last couple of weekends!

Like last week I was trying to capture the two-wheeled action at a GVC MTB event.

This time it was Downhill racing at Pleinmont on a course set out on very slippery slopes near the old lighthouse keepers building.

The combination of muddy slopes and slippery roots made it hard for me to keep on my feet and it was observed that many of the riders were doing a much better job than me of staying upright!

Although it has to be said that several riders did come a cropper. I was relieved that every one of them remounted with only their ego taking a bruising! Of course getting out of bed on Monday morning they may feel their weekends spills!

I've added my pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MTB DOWNHILL PICS

So I popped my head out the front door and it looked quite pleasant. The weather forecast was good (no rain) so I reckoned that I was going to enjoy taking pics of the Priaulx League football down at Port Soif.

But I misjudged how a chill wind can whip through you when you are sitting pitch-side with no protection from an icy blast.

As we know the saying goes (something like) 'There is no such thing as bad weather.... just the wrong clothing'! This was certainly the case here.

Now I must remember to put my thermals in the boot ready for the next time. If I'd had them today I would have returned home nice and 'toasty' rather than chilled to the bone!

Lucky there was a fair bit of action to take my attention away from the discomfort with a final goal count of Rovers 2 - St Martins 6!

My pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROVERS v ST MARTINS PICS

This new Gallery completes my Sunday assignments in the mud.

As I eluded to in the previous Blog I found myself 'tip-toeing' through muddy tracks and climbing slippery banks all day in an effort to get close to the two wheel action.

The latest pics are of the afternoon session at the GMC&CC All-Day Trials meeting. I concentrated on the sections set up at L'Ecluse in St Andrew.

For two of the sections the approach was along a very muddy track which the riders traversed with ease. I was less confident... but the worst didn't happen! I kept on my feet and both clothing and cameras returned home unsoiled!

So that was a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

The Trials pics can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC TRIALS AT L'ECLUSE

It was inevitable that the two jobs today would involve some mud.... we did have a lot of rain yesterday, eh!

So my day was spent trying to avoid an embarrassing slip into the mess.

I'm pleased to say I succeeded.

Both the jobs involved two wheel transport - man powered and motorized. And each one demanded confidence and skill to be shown by the riders due to the already noted mud!

I've just added a gallery of pics featuring the morning job... the GVC MTB XC at the Underground Hospital. Click the link to view those pics.
CLICK TO VIEW THE GVC MTB XC PICS

Today I checked the rain App before leaving home to photograph a round of the FA Cup at the KGV.

Just before setting off there had been a very heavy shower... the sort that would wet you through in a couple of minutes so when further heavy showers were predicted to arrive during the football game I got into my full wet weather kit! Why get soggy when simply dressing suitably saves the discomfort?

But I was only due to spend the first half at KGV before I had to dash off to submit pics before an early print deadline for the Guernsey Press. Thankfully, this time, the rain gods must have been looking after me today as the downfall didn't arrive.

Hopefully I haven't spent my good luck too early in the year!

Pics of the first half of the game are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE FA CUP CF INDEPENDENTS v SYLVANS PICS

Today, New Years Day, true to my word I found another Cross Country event to chase around after as part of my remedy to seasonal overindulgence.

This time the event had a twist to it. The format offered a bit of fun for the runners and, in theory, everyone of them had the chance to take a race win!

The Guernsey Athletics statisticians had been working late nights to calculate a handicap for each competitor. This meant a staggered start... but a prospect of a mass finish at the end.

Nothing like this is ever perfect and some of the runners clearly had a good day and achieved substantial improvements in form but there was defiantly a large block who battled for places a the finish line.

Here are my pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE NEW YEARS DAY CROSS COUNTRY

The surf was up on New Year's Eve at Vazon Bay, Guernsey. The strong wind meant it was messy but the fact it was a day off for many people meant it was just too good a chance to miss!

I spent an hour or so trying to capture some of the action and I've added a new Gallery where they can be viewed.

Follow this link to see the pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2021 NEW YEARS EVE SURFING PICS

The corrective measures needed to undo several days of seasonal overindulgence started today at Delancey Park.

However it's actually quite a stretch of imagination to think that the fine athletes who belong to the Guernsey Athletics Club threw discipline out the window at the Christmas dinner table. That task was well handled by this photographer.

So a 4km Cross Country was not much more than a stroll in Delancey Park for them and it was me who gained a (small) benefit as I chased around after them taking pics!!

Having now completed the edit I'm looking through the diary to see my next opportunity to return to my fighting weight.....

The pics of the Short Course Cross Country can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE CROSS COUNTRY PICS

I'm afraid that I'm an 'old school' photographer. I purchased my first camera whilst still at school using money saved from my Saturday job.

Of course as this was over 50 years ago that camera had to be loaded with film... 24 or 36 pics on a roll.

So I learnt that each press of the shutter had to be considered and not wasted. Also there was an additional cost to every shot as a film had to then be processed. That was more money out of my pocket!

I suppose that discipline got to be a habit and now that I take sports pics for a living I cannot break this habit of a lifetime of carefully firing off the shutter.

But modern day digital photography has brought many benefits and many advances that make our job so much easier. Think autofocus, fast and limit-less shutter rates and no film costs to name a couple.

I'd be silly not to take advantage of these improvements but I still can't get my finger into trigger happy mode. In fact I often dial down the maximum shutter rate as I get really annoyed if I take too many pics on a single press of the button, easy to do at fourteen frames a second! I like to try and capture just the peak moment and nothing more, however I'm sure that sometimes this means I do miss a shot!

Luckily those 50 years of taking pics sometimes helps with judging when maximum speed might be needed and Autocross racing is one of those times. It does mean that the number of shots I take during a meeting can run into a couple of hundred but that is the price to pay for being ready when something dramatic happens right in front of me.

That situation occured today at the Autocross racing on Chouet beach. Jade Ferbrache, who is well known for her skills riding large powerful bikes on tarmac, paid the price of pushing her car to the limit on a rutted sandy track. As she entered the pits corner her car launched into a massive double roll-over. Jade was wearing a neck brace and soon emerged from her slightly crumpled car unhurt.

So there we have it. Jade has added another roll-over 'notch' to her seatbelt and she now has a few pics to show the grandchildren one day!

In case you are wondering, I missed the very first moment of the roll but thanks to my modern Nikon digital camera I still got a sequence of 28 pics... that's more than I'd have got on a new roll of film! Maybe it's about time that this 'old school' photographer embraced everything that Digital photography brings to the kit bag... including the huge amount of pics it offers?

Follow this link to view the gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

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