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Roy de Jersey is one of those people who seems to find a couple more hours in each day than the rest of us. He always has several projects on the go and he showed me a few as we walked around his workshop before this photoshoot.

Roy is a big fan of classic bikes, particularly if they can be raced - which he still does, and his engineering skills have kept many old bikes 'alive' and on the road.

Roy also has a special talent when it comes to model-making and recently had this recognised when he won his class in the Guernsey Eisteddfod with this beautifully crafted and detailed model of the Cutty Sark.

I was invited along to capture a few pics of the Cutty Sark and I have to agree with the Eisteddfod Ajudicator's comment that Roy's two years of fine detailed work are near perfect.

Roy already has another model boat started... I should expect another call in about two years time!
VIEW PICS OF ROY DE JERSEY'S CUTTY SARK

If someone was to ask the question 'Why do we need the Fermain Tavern'? Last Friday would have to be the answer!

It was last Friday that the 'Tav' presented another famous band (another one of many). This time it was The Blockheads... yes you all know them from the days when they were Ian Dury's band.

The Blockheads won't mind if I suggest that they have been around a bit. They have certainly amassed a good collection of experiences along the way and perhaps more importantly they have a stockpile of talent that can be brought to any of their live performances. And there are some pretty good songs in their repertoire too ;-)

This is a guaranteed combination to lift a gig into something special... and it did just that on Friday.

So, to get back to my earlier question. The 'full-house' of punters who enjoyed the rare talents of the Blockheads were able to savour all this locally in our 'very own' Fermain Tavern!

That fact alone should tell you why we need the Fermain Tavern... and why we need it to stay as our premier live venue. At a Fermain gig you get the chance to stand just three feet from popular music's new and established icons. How privileged does that make us?

The point is that NO OTHER Guernsey venue will ever replace what we already have here at the 'Tav'. The only other venue that very occasionally puts on a worthy (that's questionable) original band might be Beau Sejour... but really, there is no comparison and nothing remotely regular in their promotions.

But more to the point is the question, 'Where is the atmosphere when you have to stand in a Sports Hall drinking out of plastic cups'?

Please remember what we have in the Fermain Tavern. It is a great venue and needs our support. Paul Staples has done a fantastic job to keep the momentum going for the last few years but now it is time for some-else to take over. We must offer our support so that the 'Tav' continues its fine history of Live Music.

I was able to get right up close to the Blockheads and captured a few pics. They are now online:
VIEW PICS OF THE LEGENDARY BLOCKHEADS

This morning Talbot Valley lived up to its reputation of being one of Guernsey's prettiest places.

I was fortunate to spend a few hours there whilst photographing the Guernsey Velo Club's MTB Downhill racing, Round-2.

There was a good turn-out of MTB bikers riding the twisty down-hill course. Each competitor had two timed runs on this sunny morning... and it really was a couple of hours well spent by riders and photog's alike :-)

For me, speaking as a photographer, the light was really useful offering me the chance to use slow shutter speeds, back-lighting, flash and panning techniques.

I definitely ticked a few boxes there then!

I've added a new gallery of pics here:
VIEW PICS OF MTB DOWNHILL SERIES ROUND-2

A chance meeting today in my town office (The Cock & Bull) reminded me that I still needed to update a couple of Galleries from waaaay back...

Richey Powers is making a return visit to Sark to get together with his band mates in The Recks and he happened to walk into the said town office! Richey is the charismatic frontman of The Recks.

He updated me with some of the festival/gig bookings that The Recks have lined up for 2015 and it is an impressive list. I'll not announce anything here at this time as I'm not sure if the details have been released yet... but it is safe to say that the band is really getting noticed.

So my Galleries have now been updated with a few pics (that had been forgotten) of The Recks playing at The Fermain Tavern. They were supported on this occasion by To the Woods so their Gallery has also had an update.

Check-out the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF THE RECKS
VIEW PICS OF TO THE WOODS

Can I just say a huge thank-you to everyone who has visited this web-site since the weekend. I'm staggered by the enormous interest in my work :-)

The automatic counter that runs at the bottom of the page has shown well over 50,000 new views which makes my efforts all worthwhile!

I hope you have found pictures that interest you and that you are encouraged to make a return visit every so often. I can guarantee that you will always find new updates.

.... oh, and don't forget that you can buy an occasional pic on-line which will encourage me to keep offering up-to-date coverage of all these events ;-)

Thanks again,
Andrew

Now that is what I call a top weekend... or at least I will when my aching bones feel better ;-)

I think I should have gone into a training regime before the non-stop shooting this Bank Holiday. I always forget how tiring it is to carry so much heavy kit hung around my neck! No wonder so many Sports photographers walk with a stoop... I'm well on the way myself :-(

But the pain is nothing that a hot shower can't fix... and I now have the reward of some great action shots.

The latest Gallery update is for the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Bank Holiday Hillclimb.

This event was interrupted by a major oil spill along a length of track stretching from the start-line all the way into the tunnel. I think there was an immediate fear that the whole day could be lost as this happened during the early practice runs, but after the competitors pulled together with every broom on the hill a safe clearance was made and the fun could start again. Well done everyone.

So, with good racing weather (and for taking pics) I managed to capture plenty of action and I've had a restful day sitting on my behind editing the results.

There has already been over 40,000 views of my weekends work so I'm well chuffed. Thanks for all the interest!

Hillclimb pics are now online:
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC BANK HOLIDAY HILLCLIMB

Well, it has taken a while. Sixty years to be precise! But today I have discovered that I have an exceptional talent.

Now I know that some of you will not be surprised by this (at least my family won't be... I hope!) However for the rest of you who might have missed my special gift I'll explain.

Today I have shown that men can indeed multi-task!

I'm not sure if this is a first, but the fact that I have just completed a full edit of my pictures of the Autocross Summer Championship whilst actually watching Andy Priaulx race in the British Touring Car Championship must position me up there with some of the greatest (male) talents the world has ever seen!

OK, maybe I'm taking this a (little) bit too far but I'm dead chuffed! This weekend was always lined up as a very busy one for me and the need to keep on top of the shoots was important if I am to tick off a few of the jobs my missus has on her 'to-do' list next week :-(

If things continue to go this well I can see that steam-cleaning my cottage walls and a bit of painting will feature in next weeks work load.

Thinking about it, maybe I haven't been so bright after all!

Pics of the Autocross can be viewed here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-3 OF THE AUTOCROSS SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP

With Andy Priaulx taking pole on his return to the British Touring Car Championship the weekend was already looking pretty good.

Then there was the local action to look forward to and it started on the coast road at Vazon with the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Sprint meeting... nice!

It was a little chilly down at Vazon making me think about borrowing a couple of tyre warmers to ease the cold... but the bikers wanted them for themselves ;-(

I've been burning the midnight oil to get a full-action gallery of pics from the Sprint on-line. It is definitely a case of keeping up with the editing as the weekend is going to be so busy... Autocross, Hillclimb and Gigs, here I come!

Sprint pics can be viewed here:
VIEW PICS OF THE FIRST SPRINT OF 2015

Well the title should say it all...

I've no time to talk, so this is a very quick quickie update :-)

I've uploaded a new Gallery featuring Round 3 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Winter Kart Championship:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND 3 OF THE WINTER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

On Saturday I had the best 'work office' that anyone could wish for.

I was taking pics of the first day of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's annual 2-Day Trials meeting and this was happening on the hillside over-looking Fort Grey and Portelet Harbour.

Now, if you are a local person, you will already know what an amazing spot this is when the sun is out and the sea is blue.

If you have never visited Guernsey then I promise you that the view would rival the very finest in the world... and like I said, this is where I did a days work. Well somebody has to do it ;-)

Day 2 wasn't quite so amazing, but hey, you have to take the rough with the smooth!

If you want to get an idea of what I am talking about take a look at the new picture gallery. Unfortunately you really had to be there for the full effect:
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC 2-DAY TRIALS

There was a fair bit of action in my weekend...

The mix of assignments included 'fast and furious' (read Autocross racing and Karting).

Then there was the fantastic action and atmosphere at Footes Lane for the E H Trophy Hockey Semi-final where Guernsey took a 2-0 win over Didsbury Northern. (see my previous Blog).

Finally it was action of a more controlled nature at the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Two-Day Trials meeting which took place around the beautiful Guernsey coastline together with some inland Sections.

So you can imagine I was kept 'in action' myself whilst chasing around to the various events... but I'm certainly not complaining!

It is a privelage to live on this wonderful Island which offers such a diverse amount of subjects for a professional photographer to capture in all their drama.

I've just added a new Gallery featuring Round-2 of the Guernsey Autocross Club's Summer Banger Racing Championship.

More pics of the weekends action will follow...
VIEW PICS OF THE GUERNSEY AUTOCROSS CLUB'S BANGER RACING

There is nothing like a win to get any sportsman excited. This goes for any game.

Some may argue that sport and competition should be partaken for the fun and exercise... that alone should be enough for you!

But I maintain that they just don't get it. What sport is about is playing to win. If there are a few other benefits along the way then they are just a bonus!

The challenges on the way to the win can be fun. The ups and downs are all part of any game. But the end goal (in this case) is what a team and its supporters are looking for and when it comes it's well worth celebrating.

As a Sports photographer my aim is to illustrate the play and hopefully capture some of the story. But my ultimate objective is to freeze that moment of elation and the joy of accomplishment that comes with victory.

The capture of the perfect celebratory shot can be a little like fishing for a record fish or maybe a better 'photographic comparison' would be to think of it like trying to photograph a rare bird. You will almost certainly need lots of patience together with the luck of being in the right place at the right time. And too that mix you hopefully add a little pinch of experience that moves the odds in your favour a little ;-)

So I was pretty pleased with myself when I captured a sequence of shots at the E H Trophy Hockey Semi-finals this weekend. I was able to tell the whole story in pics... from the ball going in the goal to the excited celebrations. In fact I want to jump around as much as the players.

It was a win, win for everyone... and that's what it is all about :-)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF SPORT CELEBRATION

The small spectators area overlooking the Squash courts at Beau Sejour was packed for the weekends 2015 Guernsey v Jersey Squash Inter-Insular.

The event ran with reduced numbers of competitors due to some being put off by the high cost of travel. This was a great shame but it didn't reduce the amount of interest in the competition.

This year there was an added attraction as Guernsey's professional International player Chris Simpson found time to represent his Island giving locals a rare chance to see him in action. Chris achieved a career best high with a World Ranking of 20 in 2014 and managed an easy win against Mike Hopkins from Jersey.

The photography is a challenge as the glass back wall of the courts catches reflections of the spectators which, when combined with the dirt and smudges that appear on the glass after a days play, means most pics are spoilt to some extent. It's also very hard to move around in such a packed area... but the best has to be made of what is there!

I've added a gallery of pics featuring some of the games:
VIEW PICS OF THE 2015 SQUASH INTER-INSULAR

It's a case of the faster the better when it comes to Downhill MTB racing.

Add to the pot some slippery conditions and it is just about perfect for challenging racing... MTB racers like it fast and slippery!

So it was all smiles for the first round of the Guernsey Velo Club's Downhill series in Petit Bot valley this morning.

Perhaps it was the spectators and photgraphers who actually had the hardest job... just trying to stay on our feet on the muddy slopes.

But it was worth the effort as the action was really entertaining with a couple of impressive 'off's' for good measure.

I've already added some pics to a new Gallery. Take a look here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND-1 OF THE 2015 DOWNHILL SERIES

It has already been mentioned on social media but I want to add my support and agreement.

I want to acknowledge and give credit to the Fermain Tavern in Guernsey for all they do to support a very wide genre of live music on their stage.

There is nothing new in this. There are decades of history to look back through that include many, many different acts, big and small, famous and unknown. This eclectic mix of live entertainment has managed to offer the latest contemporary music a platform to showcase their creativity whilst still finding room for old favourites.

Tom Girard, Guernsey's most prolific commentator on the local music scene both as the BBC Introducing presenter and as the Guernsey Press music critic has already praised the 'Tav' for what they offer. Tom is without doubt the most knowledgeable local man when you refer to our live music scene so if he is impressed you can be sure there is something to shout about!

After putting Tom at the top of the list I come somewhere below when a register is made up of gig-goers... I do see a lot of bands too.

But my interest is in taking pics (that's what I do) and I rarely feel qualified to pass judgement on a musical performance. If a band gets my feet tapping that'll do me ;-)

However even I enjoyed last weekends foray into 'high tech' music at the 'Tav'. Have I just invented a new genre?

The headline band was Semu Ca from Jersey who managed to make amazing sounds from a bunch of multi-cabled kit. Support was from iPad musician Citizen-X... and just to prove that the 'Tav' presents live music in all its forms Tantale offered up their own brand of 'traditional' guitar band originals. There was something for everyone in that line-up.

Keep up the fantastic work Fermain Tavern, you deserve our support.
VIEW PICS OF SEMU CA PLAYING LIVE AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN
VIEW PICS OF TANTALE PLAYING LIVE AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

If you are a regular reader of this Blog you will know that I'm always going on about the quality of light... of course I am as that is the essential element needed for me to work.

It's also a big plus when I'm on an outdoor shoot if the temperature is biased towards warm and comfortable as well :-) The previous Autocross race was a huge fail on that count!

So it was a second treat in a row for me (as it was pleasantly warm) on Sunday when I had to spend a couple of hours on Chouet Beach taking action pics of the Autocross Club's Banger racing. This was after Saturday's sunny day spent on the cliffs for the Motocross. Nice work when you can get it!

Maybe I will complain (a little) about the quality of light on Sunday as it was cold and dull... here I go again!

However there is never time to think too much about that when photographing Banger racing. The action is so non-stop and you have to spend your time 'watching your back' in case the cars leave the track.

This is both scary and exhilarating at the same time, but hey, somebody's gotta do it ;-)

My action shots are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS BANGER RACING

The first half of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Motocross Championship is complete... normal racing will resume in the Autumn.

However Race-4 went out with a climatic bang (so to speak). The weather was fantastic on the glorious Guernsey cliffs with the track drier than all the previous rounds... it even became a little dusty!

The pay-off for those racing, marshalling and photographing was that it was a very pleasant experience.

Maybe this is why I ended up with nearly two hundred pics - 'make hay whilst the sun is shining' is the saying, I think :-)

I've added a new gallery to feature today's Motocross racing:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-4

I know I've said it before but RentOClean are a really good choice if you want a band to get a party going :-)

This is the task they performed admirably last week-end at the Fermain Tavern when they supported Rumpus for their return to the 'Tavern' stage in Guernsey.

It's always going to be a challenge to 'connect' with a crowd who are eager to see the headliners but RentOClean's set includes several songs that guarantee to get the punters singing along.

There is the added bonus that their return to the stage seems to herald the reappearance of summertime (well maybe I should say spring). Either one means that we can begin to look forward to better days ahead.

I sense a few beers, a few sun-rays, many gigs and a Festival or two will all feature in my future. Party on!
VIEW PICS OF THE PARTY BAND RENTOCLEAN

Rumpus... now that's a good name for a band!

If I put the name into words we come up with something like this...

Rumpus, Noun: disturbance, noise, uproar, confusion, commotion, disruption, furore, rout, row, tumult, fuss, fracas, brawl, brouhaha, ruction, bagarre, ruckus.

I couldn't of put it better myself. But in this case I have Chambers Thesaurus to thank ;-)

Last weekend saw the return of Rumpus to play at the Fermain Tavern after a gap of perhaps six years. Way back then Rumpus were favourite visitors on the local scene.

So last weekend the scene was set. Could this band generate the same enthusiasm after all that time? Were their 'old' fans going to still come out to support Rumpus?

I knew the answer as soon as I walked into the 'Tav'... and that was even before the band took to the stage. In fact it was RentOClean entertaining the punters. Good set BTW.

But back to the headliners. We all know the famous advertising line 'It does what it says on the tin'. Well in this case we have an example of a band doing what they say in their name... you will have to look back up this blog for the full description.

I hope you need no more comment from me. Was it a great night? Do you really have to ask?
VIEW RUMPUS AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

Well it seems on this occasion I was a little bit late getting to the party :-(

The party in question turned out to be the last ever gig by RorSchach held at the White Hart.

The band had a special claim to fame as the members included father and son Janson & Liam Bewey.

Now I don't think Janson is going to mind if I say that he has been around the music scene for quite a while now (rumour has it that it is about 50 years!) I'm sure that even he couldn't recite the complete list of bands he has played in.

But I'm going to guess that one of the most memorable must be RorSchach. There must be a special feeling when you can share the stage and a love of live music with your son.

Whilst Janson has played in many popular bands (at least locally) it is Liam who seems poised to make the break unto the national scene with his band 'Of Empires'. Liam has made the big move to live on the mainland... something that really has to be done if you have ambitions to break into the larger scene. This is why we may not be seeing Liam playing locally again for a while.

My best wishes go out to him and I hope that extra, final bit of luck comes the band's way. Unfortunately you still need an element of luck however hard the band works.

Anyway I made good use of RorSchach's last gig to take a few pics. At least there is now a record of Janson's latest band to add to the history of the Guernsey live music scene :-)

Follow this link to view a few pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF RORSCHACH'S LAST GIG