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I admit that if I had to choose the class of Mountain Bike racing to photograph top of the list would probably be Downhill.

It's just that a photographer is always looking for the 'dynamic peak' moment of action... we aren't able to tell our story with moving pictures like a videographer. A single image has to tell a story.

So that pic needs some 'dynamic action'. At least that is the photographers dream! In the end we have to work with what we have... and sometimes we get great pics when we weren't expecting them.

So I offer my thanks to the GVC Mountain Bikers for entertaining me this morning whilst you raced the twisting circuit laid out in fields at Norgiot. This was a XC race (not a Downhill) but it still produced the 'goods' for me!

It's always a help for us 'togs when a race takes place on a circular course as we have multiple opportunities to capture our pics. The negative is that there is a temptation to take MORE (too many) pics!

So the result of this mornings MTB XC is a new gallery that features around 180 pics! You're spoilt for choice!
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST GVC MTB XC PICS

I photographed the launch event of the Goal50 charity aimed at raising money to support young children in South Africa.

The Sylvans Juniors were the first team to be invited to raise money by asking for donations of £1 coins which are then stuck to a collectors card. When a card is full it is swapped for a new one.

I think this is a great idea. As a boy I enjoyed collecting a variety of cards and I know my grandson also collects Football cards.

There are several different Goal50 cards to be collected. Lets hope the idea really takes off!

I've added a few pics to this Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GOAL50 PICS

It's too much to expect every race of a Winter Cross Country series to be run in glorious sunny weather so I made the best of those pleasant conditions at race one of the 2021 FNB XC Series.

This race at L'Ancresse was over the Stonecrusher Course which offers true Cross Country running with tricky uneven ground in some places and several energy sapping climbs. OK, maybe one thing was missing... read on.

The size of entry was impressive. Every runner now has a chance of competing in each event through into the New Year. It will be interesting to see how many turn out in the mid-winter rain and gales and the missing XC ingredient MUD!!

A new Gallery of pics can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE FNB STONECRUSHER XC PICS

The surf's up at Vazon.... a few pics from the archive.

I continue to sort through some untouched folders which are a legacy from the time I was sorting out the modernization and renovation of our new home.

There are more folders lurking in the dark corners of my hard drives... so that's the dark evenings sorted out then!
CLICK TO VIEW THE VAZON SURFING PICS

There was a true 'Guernsey Together' buzz around Footes Lane when GFC returned to Isthmian South-Central league football after the extended break caused by the Covid situation.

The GFC Manager had been careful to manage the expectations of club supporters making it clear that after being laid up since February 2020 the players would be missing match fitness.

But once the crowd had welcomed the team back on to the Footes Lane turf GFC got off to an impressive and spirited start. They were fired up and eager to hit the ground running... literaly!

So just ten minutes in they were two up and continued on for a deserved 3-1 win. We all wait eagerly for their next local outing.

I've added a gallery of pics featuring the action here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GFC v SUTTON COMMON ROVERS PICS

I've enjoyed a busy weekend that included everything from an Apples exchange for Cider drop-off at the Rocquettes Cider Farm to the 2021 Christmas lights installation featuring a giant bauble!

Between those assignments there was time for a few pics of the Dogbreaker run... whoever came up with that name? There was Autocross racing at Chouet and a fantastic football game at Footes Lane, GFC v Sutton Common Rovers... well done to our boys for the 3-1 win.

I've just added a Gallery featuring the Autocross Round 2 of the Winter Championships here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS RACING

Who’d have thought that so many people would be into looking at pictures of hardcore action?

Those pictures are some the most recent ones that I’ve taken and they feature guys and gals in hardcore slippery action.

And before you get too worked up let me be clear. I’m talking about the weekends Petit Bot hill climb... the one raced in torrential rain!!

I’m commenting about this as my website has been taking a lot of hits in the last 24 hours... over 35,000 picture views!!

Not all visitors have been looking at the hardcore racers as there are thousands of other pics in the Galleries but thanks for the interest.

If you want to see what you have been missing follow this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE PETIT BOT HARDCORE RACING

I was asked to cover the annual HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne remembrance service again this year.

Four hundred and sixty-nine lives were lost when the Germans torpedoed the British ships during WWII. Some bodies were washed up on the Guernsey shoreline and Islanders paid their respects when they were buried by the occupying forces with full military honours.

It's a couple of years since I last photographed this service which is held in Le Foulon cemetery alongside the graves of the sailors. This year the service was attended by around five hundred people.

The format was familiar and formal - following established etiquette. Something that you would expect from an event organised by the military!

I've added a small gallery of pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE HMS CHARYBDIS & HMS LIMBOURNE GALLERY

The 2021 GK&MC Petit Bot Hill Climb was the wettest I can remember... and there have been a few of those!

Conditions deteriorated as the torrential rain set in which led to the inevitable... the Clerk of the Course called an early finish. This was warmly received by the marshals who were soaked through.

It's no exaggeration to say that when faced by strong wind and torrential rain working as a bespectacled photographer entails continual wiping of lenses, viewfinder and glasses. I find that I miss more shots than normal and sometimes I have to shoot almost blind, trusting the camera to find the focus!

Also looking after and protecting the cameras is important but the knowledge that these wet days often provide great pics means we just have to take our chances.

So with the rain dripping down my back and my waterproofs failing in their waterproofness and the steamed up viewfinder the day was challenging and very uncomfortable, but a memorable one.

After completing the edit I think it was worth the endurance because as I had hoped I captured a few cracking shots.

And now I've had a shower and a beer it was an (almost) enjoyable day!! Follow this link to view the very wet 2021 Petit Bot hill climb:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2021 PETIT BOT HILL CLIMB

Whilst sorting out a couple of old folders I've found a few pics that never made the edit. They are now safe and as the days get shorter I seem to have found a job to keep me occupied during the long evenings!

How about this new Gallery for starters. It features Third Time Lucky when they played The Fermain Tavern in 2019... Times where a lot different then!

Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THIRD TIME LUCKY PLAYING AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

I've had a gentle reminder that I hadn't uploaded my pics from the 30th August hill climb. That is now sorted!

But I did have a sort of excuse... carry on reading to be informed!

This is my sick note to the Clerk of the Course that tells the story.

Dear Chemy – Clerk of the Course.

I’ve written this sick note to you to explain that Andrew isn’t feeling very well today.

It seems that yesterday someone made Andrew drink a lot of beer at the Vale Earth Fair.

When I asked how much he’d drunk all he could remember was that it was lots and lots and lots! Poor thing.

This is also why he was late arriving at the hill today.

I hope you will show him some compassion and give him credit for making the courageous effort to get out of bed this morning.

I also ask that you make allowances if the standard of his work isn’t as good as normal.

I’m sure Andrew will be fine in a couple of days... or after having another beer.

Love, Carol

OH, and in case you are wondering. It was me who forged the sick note.... just like I used to do at school.

My wife is amazing but there is as much chance of her showing me any sympathy when I have a hangover as there is of me breaking the ‘Terres hill record!!

The picture above confirms that I wasn't functioning fully :-)
CLICK TO VIEW THE 30-08-2021 HILL CLIMB GALLERY

The Imperial Hill Climb holds its place in the Guernsey Motor Sport calendar as a special event... but only once every two or three years!

So there is always a sense of excited anticipation when the diary page is turned to September and 'Imperial Hill' is seen.

For the 2021 edition everything was near perfect with the dry and warm weather playing an important part and the relatively uninterrupted racing (no disruptive return to pits at this hill) giving all competitors a chance to push hard and chase records and PB's.

The total number of records were... well I actually lost count! There were that many!

One of the galleries helps you to appreciate what a fantastic setting the Imperial Hill Climb enjoys. The backdrop of Fort Grey in the bay, the pub at the start line and a chance for the competitors to return to pits using a back lane so allowing uninterrupted racing!

The Imperial Hill Climb ticks a lot of boxes!
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2021 IMPERIAL HILL CLIMB

The weather may have been near perfect for the 2021 Butterfield Half Marathon but nothing will ever make finishing this race any easy job.

Marathon running in all its formats requires competitors to dig deep into their reserves of stamina and mental strength.

However that fact wasn't enough to put off a full entry of runners for this years event.

Indeed a Marathon challenge is one of the 'boxes' to be ticked for many people it seems. Well done to all those who took part. All of you proved you have the willpower and determination to train and commit yourself to achieve a goal.

As for me... well I did what I do, take pictures!

Click the link to view my Butterfield Half Marathon gallery:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BUTTERFIELD HALF MARATHON PICS

It was all about roads and racing for my first two assignments this morning.

The problem was it was a very early start. I had to be on 'track' for a 6:45 race start for the GVC 25 Mile TT over a new circuit starting at Cobo.

As I drove down to the coast it was still dark and I questioned whether I was wasting my time. All photographers need light to capture an image... at least a little!

But by race start I could make out the riders and with a bit of help from some flash I was able to start working.

There is a new gallery featuring my pics. Click on the link below to view them.

But this job was just the start of a busy morning and once the TT had finished I had to head south for another form of road racing... this time it was the Butterfield Half Marathon.

The edit of those pics is underway. Check back tomorrow to take a look.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GVC 25 MILE TT

Just to remind me that the seasons are rolling by I had to shoot my first football game of the new season under floodlights at Blanche Pierre Lane.

None of the local flood lit pitches are easy to photograph at but the evening games are going to come along thick and fast so a sports photographer just has to get on with the job.

However there is one welcome change this year as the worst lit of the pitches will not be hosting any night games this year... at least not before the lighting is renewed.

So us photographers won't be pushing the limits of our cameras at Corbet Field. YEY!!

This link is to Wednesday's flood lit game - Under 15's Saints v Rangers at Blanche Pierre Lane:
CLICK TO VIEW U15 SAINTS v RANGERS UNDER LIGHTS

For many people if you mention the beach they will instantly think of golden sands, warm sun, going for a swim and rock pooling for crabs.

But there is another group of folk who see a beach in a totally different way.

For them it is the smell of overheating engines, oily hands, rubber tires and noise, lots of noise!

How could this be?

Well the second group are the Autocross... or Banger racers if you prefer.

These guys (and girls) are banished from the sands for the summertime but once the season progresses into Autumn they are back doing what they love. Making noise and racing... and drawing a large crowd of spectators who seem to have missed the sport almost as much as the drivers.

This is also my signal to get back down to Chouet beach on a Sunday to photograph the action. Pics of Race 1 of the Guernsey Autocross Club winter championship have now been added to a new Gallery.

Follow this link to view the action:
CLICK TO VIEW RACE 1 OF THE AUTOCROSS WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP

It’s OK, I’m fine.

But that was a shockingly close encounter for me.

Whilst photographing the start of the Graniteman Triathlon I found myself (nearly) taking a landscape picture!! Strictly speaking it was probably more like a seascape really!

This has left me quite unsettled as I haven’t ventured near that genre for nearly twenty years. In fact not since I started taking pics professionally!

Somehow the types of photography that gave me so much pleasure during my Royal Photographic Society and Camera Club days don’t seem to have space and time in my current working week.

Whilst editing the photoshoot of the 2021 Guernsey Graniteman Triathlon I realised that maybe I need to re-awaken some of that old passion. However I also have to concede that there are many truly talented landscape photographers in Guernsey who produce outstanding work.... and also don’t mind getting out of bed for the early morning atmospheric light.

I’m definitely more of a night person. So upon further reflection I think I’m going to stick with what I do.

I’ll leave the scenic pics to those who know what they are doing... and can get out of bed!

Oh, and if you are wondering what made me start thinking about all this, the photo at the top of this Blog will help you understand.

My full Gallery of Graniteman Triathlon pics can be viewed by following this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2021 GUERNSEY GRANITEMAN TRIATHLON

If any events are going to confirm that we are emerging from the Covid 19 restrictions and getting back to 'near normal' the two evenings I have spent in Beau Sejour theatre photographing the School of Popular Music Battle of the Bands are the ones to do it.

For 2021 there was a 'double header' with the addition of an Under 18's battle on the first night followed by the Corporate Bands battle on the next eve. THIS GALLERY FEATURES THE CORPORATE BANDS

As we now expect, the standard of talent in the young bands was very impressive. The tuition, the practicing and the notable live performance experience already amassed by these guys was clearly on show in some amazing performances.

The audience in Beausie was really supportive raising the confidence of the bands resulting in a difficult choice for the four judges. Ultimately is was Sonic Bomb who took the trophy home.

Take a look through the galleries featuring each band and some of the atmosphere...
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2021 U18 BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The 2021 edition of the School of Popular Music Corporate Battle of the Bands was performed in front of a sellout audience in the theatre at Beau Sejour.

This was also the venue for the previous nights Under 18's Battle of the Bands... a full gallery of pics will follow.

The atmosphere in the theatre was fantastic, full of anticipation and no doubt quite a few nerves, but once the bands took to the stage they were supported by the large and vocal crowd. There was a mix of seasoned performers together with 'first-timers' but the bottom line is that everyone did brilliantly.

This gallery features all the bands, the atmosphere in the theatre and the opening band, Sonic Bomb, fresh from winning the Under 18's Battle the previous night.

Follow this link to view all the pics....
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2021 SoPM CORPORATE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

On Saturday the 'King of the Ring' returned to KGV for 17 bouts of White Collar Boxing offering a full late afternoon and evening of entertainment.

The huge gathering was reported to be around 2000 for Round 4 of the King of the Ring.

The warm summers evening relaxed the supporters who needed little encouragement to drink and party from late afternoon and through the evening. The Breda can count on some of the tables would have needed a calculator to tally!!

Revelers clearly enjoyed the entertainment with many of the fighters ticking the 'try boxing' box.

This gallery showcases some of the atmosphere and all seventeen bouts....
CLICK TO VIEW THE KING OF THE RING ROUND 4 PICS