Sport

 

Gimpl Reigns in London

Monday, November 16th, 2009

The spectacle that is the LG Freeze event set up on the banks of the Thames, with the formidable Battersea Power Station forming an impressive background.

Sequence of 3rd placed rider

Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, managed to get up on the judges gantry for some eye level shots

The onslope action lifted the 15,000 spectators, all craning skywards to glimpse their snowboarding heroes in action;  Ben Kilner, Nate Kern,  Jamie Nicolls and Jack Shackleton were sent out to defend our nations pride against the World’s best. Back in the dark days when Skiing was the only wintersport, Eddie the Eagle flew the flag for us and we applauded and cheered mediocraty.

Jack Shackleton UK

Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, managed to get up on the judges gantry for some eye level shots

Thankfully those day are banished to history with a vengeance, as a host of talented British snowboarders nurtured through the Brits Snowtour, climb up the World Rankings and look set to light up the Olympics in Vancouver in little more than two months time.

This competition, the UK leg of the FIS World Cup Big Air is a qualifier for the Olympics, so the stakes were high for all the UK riders entering with lofty olympic aspirations. The Brits didn’t disappoint, Nate Kern for a while looked like he would make it to the final, with a super-massive first round air, the Scandinavians sensing an upset, went all out in the second round, with experience and weight of numbers the Norwegians, Swedes and Finnish riders came good in round two. Stefan Gimpl, winner of the Nokia Air and Style 3 years running, an Austrian legend, launched his challenge for the crown early, with an unbeaten first round air.

Stefan Gimpl's Qualifying jump

Shot with GX 20, Manual setting, F9, 1/180sec, ISO 100, Tamron 70 - 300mm telezoom lens

In Heat 2, Jamie Nicolls UK stepped up to the plate, this young man made his World Cup debut last year but was disappointed and frankly lucky to be alive when his small frame, despite flatlining it from the top of the drop in, didn’t have the mass to propel him beyond the dreaded knuckle of death. Since then, Jamie has been gorging himself on whole chickens, buffalo steaks and little people - let’s not kid ourselves, launching yourself hard and fast into the sky to land 30 m away is not easy, to do it with grace and style takes practice, lots and lots of practice.
Jamie (UK) stomping a 720
Drop in time, with the introduction by Ed Leigh and a massive cheer echoing up the ramp, Jamie went high and true, spinning and grabbing a 720 for a mid table score, first round safe air out of the way Jamie went one better in round two landing a grabbed backside 900 to claim 27th place, his ascent as a professional snowboarder continues, meanwhile his compatriat Ben Kilner another young gun who at 19, has a little more experience, demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with.
Ben Kilner Inverted at Freeze
A first round air that had the crowd cheering in disbeleif as he threw down a huge stylish 900, that left him rubbing shoulders with the top riders, if followed up with a clean safe air, a place in the final awaits (Ben Kilner clean fresh air, are you kidding !!?) ”Death or Glory Kilner” went inverted  and just failed to stick his landing 14th place and the highest placed among the Brits was his consolation. good work Ben.
Gian Luca powers to 2nd place

Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, Pentax TTR power pack and AF58 flash operated remotely,

As the light went down the big boys came out to play, the  format for the final was simple: 10 riders, each have 3 jumps and the best 2 count. Roope Tonteri FIN with a double backflip, then Ulrik Badertschaer NOR with a 1260 looked like early candidates for the podium, but in competition format Gimpl, the chirpy and dimunitive Austrian, is unstoppable and landed the best trick of the contest in round two. Gian Luca Cavigelli of Switzerland and Domen Bizjak, Slovenia’s finest, pushed Stefan close, but the crowd’s favourite and birthday boy took a well deserved win in the London leg of the World Cup big air series. Congratulations Stefan.

Austrian raid is successfull

Shot with GX20, Manual Mode, shutter speed 180, F9, ISO 100. Using Sigma 18 - 50mm Lens, and an ND Grad filter, Pentax TTR power pack and Pentax AF58 flash gun operated remotely

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Red Hot

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

brands-hatch 2009

With access to the Track and Pit Lane for the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, I was like a kid in a candy shop.

This prestigious Festival of Racing is a tough testing ground for the potential future world champion’s. In 1998 the newly crowned FIA F1 driver Jenson Button stood on the podium taking top honours, with naked ambition and reputations to enhance, the Sports 2000 and the BRSCC Formula 3 Championships represent significant rungs in the ladder to Formula 1 success.

Knowing I couldn’t compete with the seasoned Action Sports Photographers who were lugging camera’s with telescopes attached to them around, I with my relatively piddly 300mm Lens decided to bring a bit of Happy Glam to the party in the shape of Lauren Dunn.

Lauren Wrenching a nut

We teamed up with AH RACING who were slightly flabbergasted, but very willing to allow us access to their cars and tools for our inpromptu photo shoot, the team started competing at Brands Hatch 4 years ago, now running with 3 cars in the Duratec and Pinto classes driver Mike Johns achieved his and the team’s best result to date with 3rd overall in the Historic Class.

The Historic Class may not sound hardcore, but driving with no ABS or traction control at breakneck speed, with 20 other speed freaks tearing after you is certifiable so AH RACING we salute you. Starting his career in Formula 1 stock cars, mechanic Alan Henderson then progressed to historic touring cars working on BMW, Lotus and Cortina’s, motor racing has been a life-long obsession, we hope we brightened up his day and thank him sincerely for his co-operation, let’s hope his missus doesn’t read this.

As we set up Alan whipped out his phone camera and joked “I’ll tell the missus we have a new pit crew member” as Lauren started to get warmed up, he then piped up “Actually I’d better not, she’d never let me come back!” we all fell about laughing for a couple of minutes, except for the mechanics of the other team sharing the pit, who were all still stood open mouthed not quite sure what to do with themselves.

Lauren brings the polish

We toured the entire complex and managed to get up to the TV Gantry, this is where Lauren came into her own, wearing 6 inch red stiletto’s is challenging at the best of times, (not that I’d know…….honestly!) doing it while balancing precariously on a stainless steel hatched floor while throwing down vogue moves is the mark of a true professional.

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UK Big Air Competition

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Action from the Day

Brits Indoor Big Air Final 2009
2* TTR Rated World Tour Snowboard Event

With DJ Tony B cranking out some quality snowboarding anthems, snowboarding personality James Thorne compering and Ben Knox, Jack Shackleton, Andy Nudds, Sparrow Knox, Sam Turnball, Sam Rodgers and Lottie Kierle all chucking down hammers through the practice and qualifying heats, The Brits Indoor Big Air 2009 was shaping up to be an epic battle of the titans.

Clear the 16 meter gap, or at your own peril bring the knuckle of death into play.

Ben Knox was first to drop in on the biggest kicker ever seen in the Brits Snow Tour series (Fact!), on the top of the slope the atmosphere is decidedly edgy, a whippy kicker had seen several riders catapulted out of contention and consciousness, encouraging cries escort Ben to the kicker, flat lining from the top Ben went huge with a Safe Air, landing nicely on the sweet spot, the tension breaks up top, riders start chatting again,  Andy Nudds looking focussed gets a fist from Ollie Jackson, then throws down a perfectly stomped 720 to set the bench mark high, Sparrow Knox drops in switch, spins a 720 and clips the knuckle, a huge Invert from Jack Shackleton saw onlookers diving for cover as he drifted out of the landing zone.
Sam Turnball is an upcoming talent who hit the knuckle in the worst way possible, (head first) fortunately Sam’s shiner will enable him bragging rights for a few weeks, already milking it hard in the bar, the other Sam, Sam Rodgers of the female variety decided not to be outdone, over cooking a frontflip spinning 540 degrees on the wrong plane to also land on her heid, wait as I come to think about it Kat, Lottie and Emily all landed upside down at some point, the ladies competition really was a battle of attrition as the runner up shown here, face replete with an Ice burn chin pays  testament to.

 Women's Winner

 As the men’s competition wore on, Sparrow’s huge and technical airs ensured a podium finish, Jack Shackleton got his eye in, stomping an inverted 540, ( he claims he didn’t mean it) Andy Nudds continues to step up under pressure, and after the qualifiers it was apparent that anyone trying to wrest gold from his grip would have to pull something very special out of the bag. Ben Knox tried, going all out on both his runs, but Sat 19th Sep was Andy Nudds’s day and this youngsters progression through the sport continues apace, part of the victorious “Battle of Waterloo 09” squad, Andy Nudds is a Big Air specialist, set to take it to the International stage.

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Look out for Jack pictured above and Nuddsy joining
the other UK Challengers for the LG World Cup Big Air
Takes place @ Battersea Park on the 30th October.

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Rockingham Castle

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

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About a week ago a couple of friends and I went to Rockingham Castle, we’d woken up on the Sunday morning and found the weather had been kind to us in that it wasn’t raining for a change!  We didn’t go inside, as our interest lay in the views of the castle and its grounds.

We wandered around the courtyard, from where you had the most stunning view of the Northamptonshire countryside.  There is an old school and Church attached to the castle too, the whole place is steeped in history and has quite a romantic feel.

My favourite photo of the day is the one of the bench, we were sat on another bench across the garden, and this particular bench was calling to me as it looked more decrepit than the others, and was in a little corner surrounded by rose covered walls.  My friend and I got some very strange looks - not least of which were from his wife!! - as we sat on the gravel in the middle of the pathway to get the photo we wanted.  Our efforts paid off however, we were both happy with the end result.

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We also had to sit in the middle of the gravel pathway getting curious glances to take this photo.  This was rather more challenging and we had to spend a long time getting the exposure right on this - we either blew the highlights getting the tree exposed correctly, or the tree was too dark and the gravel was correct..  A little time and effort ensured that we got there in the end.  I’m not so happy with this as the composition doesn’t sit too well with me, but being able to get the exposure right means a lot in itself.

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This is a more general view of the castle and its impressive garden from the centre of the formal garden.

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And this one shows the stunning view you can get from the Castle.  I would recommend a visit here, its a very photogenic place and a lovely way of spending an a sunny afternoon.

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Girls Can Box !!

Friday, September 18th, 2009

What’s the argument,…… there is none, having attended the ABAA awards at the Heart Of Portsmouth Boxing Club and photographed the younsters in action (girls and boys), it was stupendously obvious that some of these girls were dedicated ambitious and talented.

Madelaine Fires off a stinging jab

Q Shillingford is a legend within Amatuer boxing circles devising the courses now being run throughout the UK, his determination and drive have seen an exponential rise in the number of schools and community centres embracing the ABAA boxing discipline and has provided employment for a growing number of newly qualified boxing coaches.

Providing children with the tools to lead a positive and healthy lifestyle is a cause worth backing, so I was honoured when Q asked me down to capture the action.

“Kerthump, Thump Thump Kerthump Thwack”,
Hayley is a real prospect
Must be a heavy weight behind me sparring I thought, as I crouched shooting some close ups of kids ducking and dodging  the outstreched pads of the coaches, who I must add are much more professional in their approach than “Spanners McGee”, as I turned to follow a youngster onto his next discipline I realised that the almighty racket emanating from the bigger ring was in fact a 7 stone girl knocking the stuffing out of her coach and despite the stinging pain being absorbed by his hands, through the pads he was smiling with a sense of pride, I guess because his young protege was learning her trade well.

Q is also none too shady at marketing so I wasn’t surprised when in the middle of shooting, I noticed the CBBC Newsround team enter the gym, I mangaged to get a few nice reportage images of the presenter and Q having a chat and also of some of the girls being interviewed on camera, being able to offer the parents large sized framed prints and canvas wraps seemed to go down well, I was able to attract potential new customers to my website in the quest to build a sustainable clientele list.

CBBC Newsround team arrive

So when the London Olympics roll on in 2012 I’ll be watching and cheering on any british girls, be nice to have an Olympic Champion female boxer and if some of the girls featured in this blog stay foccused, you might just be able to say, you saw her in action here first.

Girls pose with CBBC Presenter

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The Ashes Have Come Home!

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

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The Ashes have come home!  Not that they ever leave this country whether we win or lose but that’s not the point!

The stage had been set for an enthralling day and what a day it turned out to be!  The sun hasn’t exactly been a frequent visitor this summer but there was no escaping it at the Brit Oval, not that everyone was trying to avoid it!  Having spent most of the day engaged in some healthy “discussions” with a bunch of Aussies sat behind me, I noticed a mixture of supporters watching the drama unfold from their balcony overlooking the stadium.  There’s something quite special about the Ashes and it’s the supporters of both teams that play a major role in making it that way.  It’s a stereotypical love hate relationship steeped in history but ultimately good humored.

Although there is an intense rivalry between the two sets of supporters there is also nothing quite like the banter. With the advent of the Barmy Army it’s become an art form through years and years of practice.  Having been dominated on the field by our arch-enemies far too often, we’ve often had to settle for being the superior power in the art of banter.  Not so this time!!

The game was so far out of the Aussies reach that surely the only result possible was an emphatic English victory.  Or was it?  Supporting England in any sport can be a stressful and uneasy experience.  Always full of expectation shortly followed by the dawning realisation that we’re actually quite average and prone to losing spectacularly.

the-appeal22

After enduring a moderately terrifying few hours watching them accumulate runs seemingly at ease, it seemed that the impossible run chase was now a definite possibility.  Enter Fred!  A moment of genius signaled the end of the Aussie resistance.  After the run out of Ponting, wickets began to tumble and it was just a matter of time before the world’s smallest trophy returned home.  With only about 30 minutes of play left the last wicket fell sparking absolute bedlam on and off the pitch!  A truly memorable experience.

The massive, if not slightly surreal banners all around the ground were perhaps quite fitting for the occasion.  Finally the cricketing ghosts of Ashes past were being laid to rest.

cricketing-ghost1

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Wheelie Fast

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

Wheely Fast

This was taken at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. It was my first attempt at a action panning shot and I am very pleased with the outcome. The wheelie really added to the movement and was a bonus. It certainly took me out of my comfort zone (Macro & Wildlife shots)  but it was a enjoyable experience and a great day!

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S.K.A.T.E

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Flatland Heights

PLain Lazy Skating

With Tom and Emo both screaming  out to be discovered as the UK’s next big fashion Gurus and Jay caught on cam inventing a new way of skating - coined as the Sitting Locust, this move is for experienced skaters only, grip tape burns never heal! especially a double cheeker, so kids don’t try this move wearing thongs unless you have an aversion to toilet seats, cos thats the only seat you’d be able to use  for a while. Shot using a GX20 with a 70 - 200mm zoom lens attached, initially I wanted to get a bit of distance between me and the skaters for a couple of ungaurded shots. Keeping the zoom lens attached, I then shot a series of shots focussing on just the skater’s feet and the board as an impromptu game of SK8 on the red triangle kicked off.
skater close-ups
With a memory card full I headed to Southsea sk8 park for a quick burn,  after carving the Snakerun, the Peanut Bowl and the Halfpipe all of which feels a lot like snowboarding and an hour of failing gallantly and heroically to fulfill my skating ambition to Olly up a 4″ kerb, I decided to stop, prime my camera and take pictures of “real skaters”. I noticed a few skaters fronting up like something was about to go down, I used to breakdance and recognise a burn off when I see one!  You see when a skater says “fancy a game of Skate?” in a parallel universe a Chav version of him is Bare chested beating on it with fists covered in gold sovereigns screaming to 6 other Chavs “Cmon I’ll take you all on, lets Ave it!!”  Back in this Universe I attached my hot shoe infra red transmitter and a remote flashgun then got low down to freeze the action, 180, F4.5 ISO 100. With Star Jumper, Running Man and Puppet Boy guesting, the slideshow link below really does have some serious skater body movers.
Its a Skate Off

Run Forest run

The images in the links to a couple of Skate and Snowboarding Galleries were all All shot with the GX20.

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UK Snowboarding Roadtrip

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Portsmouth to Tamworth

For the first time in 18 months the Expression Session Crew, Hailing Straight Outta Portsmouth were on a road trip together and on a stifling hot day we headed to the huge indoor fridge we know and love as Tamworth Snowdome, I’d heard that the good ole boys at For Boarders By Boarders, whose nights have quickly become legendary were hosting a freestyle snowboarding competition and dishing out prizes, the official event photographers were Fear of the Park, time for some undercova brutha style guerrilla photography, but more of that later.

Greg tucks in

Driver Perks

Greg drove, on account of having the only available roadworthy vehicle, in grattitude we force fed him strawberries and cream, Mooommmph, ammmmmm, myyyaaaaaaammm was interpreted as hmm, ah lovely please force feed me more strawberries and cream.

Arriving in plenty of time, OK….. Just in time for the start of the session, we kitted up. Lottie and Greg were in fine form, mixing it with the best riders, I was challenging hard for the best spill of the night edging a box, using my vertebrae to grind it with true style, but that Daz Cockson is always up for a challenge and one upmanship, eating snow in grand style, falling victim to the gas pipe, (Daz is a true Slopestyle Jib legend props bruv)

Lottie riding the pipe

Lottie Kierle

Tough Competition

The competition was relentess and with a great park set up, there was some amazing riding on show, repping for the

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ladeez Lottie Kierle, Linzi Ashdown and Jools took on all the toys and were stomping tricks authoratively, Lucy Prior was riding full on, with smooth 180s in the quarter pipe and hitting the big Flat Down rail and Gas Pipe with gusto.

Ross Needham, Johnny Russell, Charlie Idda and Mark Raper were all throwing down hammers, with Greg getting into his stride the Finals beckoned  for two of the Expression Session team.

What happened next can only be described as the biggest ever Travesty Of Justice the sporting world has ever seen!

Finals Fiasco

As the 10 names for the final were called out Greg’s and Lotties were omitted, as Self Appointed Team Coach and Manager I had to act Fast, “Gather in team” I blasted out across the snow Lottie and Greg looking a bit bewildered traipsed over, “right guys I want you back out there, we still have a chance, we are going to play it  like we heard your names, the PA is rubbish and I’ve checked out security and think I can hold them off , if it comes to it, so go out there and win this thing and remember the mantra Jump Grab, Spin!. Don’t let me down!” still bewildered Lottie and Greg wandered off to the chairlift muttering insolently, I made a note of that for the next coaching session, poor discipline!

FBBB Tamworth finalistfbbb-tamworth finalist

I sprinted out of the freezer into reception “can I have a high viz media jacket please?”  fixing me a smile,  the receptionist  leaned over passing me a garish bib. Hi Viz jacket on camera strapped on neck  and time to shoulder barge the Fear of the Park boys out of my shots coz Lottie and Greg were in the Final, must have caused the organisers a right headache when trying to score 10 riders when there was 12 riding.  Everyime Lottie and Greg went round the judges must have been shuffling their papers furiously, thinking Who the Flap is that, meanwhile I was getting the shots I wanted, the plan was working.

fbbb-tamworth

Snowboarding

The finals saw the big guns demolishing the “Gas Pipe”. 270s, 360s and 450s on and off were the order of the day as on each run the stakes were raised with ever more impressive trickery, the official starting list for  Men’s final was:

Gary Andrews, Ross Needham, Tom Hunt, Si Foster, Matt Higson, Mark Raper, Johnny Russel,
Greg Seymour——–Fact, saw it and have the pics to prove it and repping for the the ladeez, Sarah Morgan, Lyndsey Ashdown, Kirsty Smith, Lottie Kierle——Fact I saw it and have the pics to prove it

Results

Best Rider of the Night - Johnny Russell

Johnny Russell Lording it over Tamworth

Best Trick – Ross Needham. Smoothest Nosepress ever, ever ever.

Best Stack – Darren Coxson. NDE I think I saw some blood too, but Daz is made of strong stuff and was soon his chirpy self again.

The Tamworth snowboard nights run from 9 - 1 am Saturdays and after a hard shred, everyone mills around the carpark, pepes catching up with old shred buddies and making new ones too, the scene is relaxed and despite the competition on the slopes the camaradarie within the sport is amazing, we chilled and chewed the fat for a while, catching up with Ben Saka a young gun who rode with Lottie at the Saas Fe leg of the Brits tryouts last year.
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lottie-reflection

Greg’s van is superbly kitted out for road trips, I had shot gunned the front seat, Greg being  driver already had dibs on the back and Lottie had her tent, we headed for a place to park up and grab some Zzzzs somewhere / anywhere nearby, we plumped for a motorway service carpark, Greg and I settled down noisily, the thought of Lottie pitching and sleeping in her tent was making me laugh, but I had to keep it inside until finally I let go, when I heard her quietly say, “I’ll just get in my tent then” when we stopped laughing we relented and allowed lottie to crash in the van too. Dozing off was bliss, especially beleiving I had pulled a flanker, by bagging the prime sleeping location, my delusion was shortlived. I dreamt I was drifting sleepily towards the sun, the sun kept getting brighter and hotter, brighter and hotter and closer, much closer, the heat was stifling I had to get away,  I woke, Arrrrrghhh, Sun glare temporarily blinded me, the heat in the front cabin combined with the tight fit sleeping bag I’d somehow managed to zip  inside out, and my less than hasty exit when feeling extreemley claustraphobic resulted in the wild eyed scramble to the door and eventual exit that saw a random Polish lorry driver visibly worried about his personal safety, I gulped in large volumes of cool morning air and headed off for a cup of tea. I returned and the sleeping cherubs were stirring, we all headed in for a full English (Cept Lottie who had a beanburger a banana and some thistle tea).

Heading to the car several throaty roars, announced the arrival of 40 supercars en-route to Silverstone, I grabbed the camera Lottie modelled for me as I exposed for her reflection on a shiny car, petrol heads everywhere will be screaming at their pc with the name make and model, to me it looked shiny expensive and lended itself well to being imaged in an arty type picture, a nice way to round off the trip.

 

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