Wednesday 26 February 2014

Pewsey Terminator and Hampton Court Half 2014 now live

With a Saturday of blue sky the day before, statistically we were expecting a plague of locusts or similar on the Sunday. But amazingly it was just a bit grey and dark and a bit of light rain, and a bit windy, but quite warm (which is always better than cold!)

Two important races took place this Sunday - they were the inaugural Hampton Court Half Marathon, and the 25th anniversary Pewsey Vale Terminator.

Race Logo Gallery link

Hampton Court Half Marathon
http://bit.ly/Hampton-Court-Half-2014-Photo-Gallery

The 25th Anniversary Pewsey Terminator:
http://bit.ly/Pewsey-Terminator-2014-Photo-Gallery

Here's the latest list of galleries on the website and the upcoming events you might be interested in.
Please remember - we only hold about 1million images on the gallery, so if you're looking for pictures from a year ago, then you'll need an archive search done for you http://sussexsportphotography.com/archives/

We remove the oldest galleries first, so please bear in mind that the Maidenhead, Pilgrim, Tonbridge and Ealing Half galleries from 2013 very soon !


Call for entries and new galleries in 2014Race Entry links and gallery links for selected races:


2014
JAN 2014
1st Wednesday - Serpentine NYD 10kGallery here - http://bit.ly/Serpentine-10k-Official-Gallery-2014
5th Sun - Sussex XC Champs @BexhillGallery here -  http://bit.ly/Sussex-XC-Champs-2014-official-gallery
18th Sat - G3#1 - GuildfordGallery here - free race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/G3-Race1-2014-Official-Gallery
19th Sun - Fred Hughes 10milesGallery here - http://bit.ly/Fred-Hughes-10-Official-Gallery-2014
25th Sat - SEAA XC Champs Parliament HillGallery here - http://bit.ly/SEAA-XC-Champs-2014-Photo-Gallery
26th Sun - Epsom PerchGallery here: http://bit.ly/Epsom-Perch-Official-Gallery-2014
26th Sun - Canterbury 10Gallery here: http://bit.ly/Barretts-Canterbury-10-Official-Gallery-2014
26th Sun - Thetford MTB3Gallery here: http://bit.ly/Thetford-MTB-round3-2014-gallery
FEB 2013
2nd Sun - Watford Halfhttp://bit.ly/Watford-Half-Marathon-Official-Gallery-2014
2nd Sun - Ashford and District 10khttp://bit.ly/Ashford-District-10k-2014-Official-Gallery
2nd Sun - ETL Bookham 10khttp://bit.ly/ETL-Bookham-10k-2014-Gallery
9th Sat - G3#2 - Guildfordfree race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/G3-race2-2014-Official-Gallery
9th Sun - Deal Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Deal-Half-2014-Photos
15th Sat - Brutal - Windmill Hillhttp://bit.ly/Brutal-Windmill-Hill-2014-Photo-Gallery
16th Sun - (Brighton Half Marathon)Sally did 2:11 and Ben did 1:52 yaay !
23rd Sun - Hampton Court Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Hampton-Court-Half-2014-Photo-Gallery
23rd Sun - Pewsey Terminatorhttp://bit.ly/Pewsey-Terminator-2014-Photo-Gallery
MARCH 2014
Sat 1st - G3#3 - Guildfordfree race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/aat-g3-entry
Sat 1st and 2nd - The Nuts Challengehttp://bit.ly/the-Nuts-Challenge 
Sun 2nd - Berkhampstead Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Berkhamstead-Half-Marathon-entry
Sun 2nd - Steyning Stinger http://bit.ly/The-Steyning-Stinger
free race gallery downloads
Sun 9th - Roding Valley Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/roding-valley-half-mara-info
Sun 9th - Surrey Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Surrey-Half-Marathon-entry
Sun 9th - Lydd Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Lydd-Half-Marathon-entries
Sat 15th - Brutal Bordonhttp://bit.ly/Brutal-10-homepage
Sat 15th - F3 Dorney Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/F3-Events
Sun 16th - Colchester Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-entry
Sun 16th - ETL Tempest 10 and Spitfire 20http://bit.ly/ETL-races
Sun 16th - Cranleigh 15-21http://bit.ly/MABAC-races
Sun 23rd - Richmond 13.1 and 10khttp://bit.ly/Richmond131-half-marathon
Sun 23rd - Back 2 the Trenches #1http://bit.ly/back2thetrenches-entry
Sun 23rd - PP Water of Life Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/PP_Upcoming_races
Sun 23rd - Brentwood Half Marathonhttp://www.brentwoodhalf.org/index.htm (sold out)
Sun 30th - Warrior Run #1http://bit.ly/Warrior-run-entry
Sun 30th - Paddock Wood Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/paddock-wood-half
Sun 30th - BHF Bournemouth Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/bournemouth-bay-run-2014

more to follow...
Hampton Court Half
Whilst for a new race over 2000 entries is an excellent turn out, and judging from the looks on peoples faces that were to be honest - happier than usual at the end of a Half Marathon - it must have been gutting to discover that there was a human error on the course that cut the bottom first loop of the route short by 0.4 miles to 12.7 from 13.1
This (alas) is by no means a unique occurrence, established races have marked out their courses turn points on the wrong lamppost making them too long, too short, through a tight gate, over the muddy ditch not the bridge, on bigger races than this. 
Frankly we have seen it all over the years. Averaged race time performances, pro-rata time corrections, adjustments to race paces - all will be timed and done to quantify the differences, but in all honesty - Nothing will replace the feeling for a lot of people that it isn't the correct distance, but remember the fact that when they were doing it they were having the race they wanted to have. 

It was genuine human error on this occasion. I've seen lead runners at other races running a similar course to a different race and thinking that the one they were on was the same - ignore the marshal and lead everyone off on a detour. So - sometimes - it's not the marshals fault. I've seen lead cars go too far ahead and the lead runner get to a roundabout (surrounded by crowds except for the route) and start asking which way they should go, and I've also seen junior runners who were so fast they caught up the back of the main race and got directed along with them instead of turned around.
I can guarantee I will see this happen at least twice more this year, so whatever you do - don't take it personally, it was a great course. My final top tip - if you are going to be at the front of the course - you should know it.

So - look on the bright side - at the finish you would look that 0.4miles fresher in the photos than if you had run that last extra energy sapping distance and thank goodness - because don't you all look the more awesome for it ! (and anyway 0.4miles is 640meters, so a lap and a half of the track - you probably did that in your pre-race warm up? - so it all adds up).

I will say one thing - big respect to the race director for issuing the news, information and apology over the distance mistake so quickly. That is the fastest I've seen that done anywhere, and there has been no censorship of comments on facebook, again something I've seen done elsewhere. It's a tough call to make and be as open as he has been.

In celebrity news from the Hampton Court Half
You might be interested to know that Rory Campbell, #733 won the race. Here he is in action: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?l=0P.E07-.0&pictureid=21874215634  
Yes, that's Rory, the son of Alistair Campbell (ex Tony Blair Press officer). He's certainly upped his performance for the race, from a 3hr marathon time PB last year, his 1:13:16 is even over the shorter distance a significant step up in performance - into the 80%+ age graded results.
If you like a good read - have a look at his list of donors on his charity page - and give him a bob or two for his excellent work at the front of the race - here: https://www.justgiving.com/Rory-Campbell5/

If you have any other celebrities that took part in the race let us know and have a look, then you might want to check out local MP Sadiq Khan, runner #2922 who clocked 1:48:27 chip time over the course.

The Pewsey Vale 25th Terminator
Another testing 11miles for those who like their hills, mud, wind and a wash in the river at the end. We even convinced a friend to drive 105 miles from Bromley for it, that's how strong the draw is for this challenge.
Unfortunately due to the rain, rain and a bit more rain, the wilderness leap after the canal was (sensibly) taken out from the course so the water drainage wasn't damaged. It was a bit muddy still on the path past it, and the extra hilly bits to make up for it obviously helped ensure the course had it's full impact !
A few of you took the invitation for a wash in the river crossing a little too literally - one person taking what seemed like a good 5 minutes to rinse off the mud ! Some of you took a full body wash dip too - possibly unintentionally ?
Well done to the race organisers Pewsey Vale Running Club on yet another excellently marshalled, parked, marked and supported race yet again. 25years is hard to achieve !

A small selection from the galleries:
Good airplanes

Monsters Inc

Flying Up that hill Kate Bush Style

Double Thumbs up

Xempo Pacers in step around the course

They were friends before this

When men bond

yaay for bunny ears

checking your phone on the finish line only leads to being overtaken

all smiles at Hampton Court

Excellent fundraising effort

The taste of success

All go at the start line at Esher College

They did the whole course like this. Men in Beards.

For the win !

Style on the sidewalk in Kingston


Meanwhile at the Terminator:

Full raging bull course attack !

The bridge is approximately this wide

Captain Tutu, to Termination and beyond...

All downhill from here, until the next uphill

Downhills make you smile

The one eyed cyclops photographer 

It's the Joy of the Terminator

Mud and water, what's not to love ?

Too late to be squeemish

Always good to share

Power through the right way

Trip the light fantastic

Good line and length

Why do people think a plastic tape will hold their balance?

Full Facial


So two excellent races from the weekend, enjoy the galleries and make sure if you've not got your photos from races back in last September you do so pronto, because they are about to go.

See you at the G3, Nuts Challenges, Steyning Stinger and the Berkhampstead half marathon next weekend - it's going to be another busy one !

Until next time,
Anthony









Monday 17 February 2014

Brutal Windmill Hill 2014 now live

Well done to everyone who conquered the Brutal 10 Windmill Hill on Saturday.
It's one of the hardest hilliest races on the Brutal Calendar, amongst the woods. A bit protected from the storms and rain that swept over the course putting it into near darkness, but not from the Canal crossing at the southernmost part of the race... 

Race Gallery link

http://bit.ly/Brutal-Windmill-Hill-2014-Photo-Gallery

We had four of the team out on the course for this one, what with it being part of the Mudstacle league we wanted to make sure we gave the Brutal the best coverage out of that league possible. So that's four photographers, at multiple points across the course (at least two each, if not three), which ends up with over 26,000 images online from the race. hmmm ! So the best value (if you don't spot it) - is to get the screen resolution collection for £19.99 - we have already seen some collections with 78 images in them sequencing them around the course - so some would say that's pretty good value.

Also very good logistics from the Brutal team for switching the parking to the hard standing across the road - better for everyone and despite a short walk back to the toilets and cars, easier to get a space and get changed afterwards.
More news and info down the page !

Call for entries and new galleries in 2014Race Entry links and gallery links for selected races:


2014
JAN 2014
1st Wednesday - Serpentine NYD 10kGallery here - http://bit.ly/Serpentine-10k-Official-Gallery-2014
5th Sun - Sussex XC Champs @BexhillGallery here -  http://bit.ly/Sussex-XC-Champs-2014-official-gallery
18th Sat - G3#1 - GuildfordGallery here - free race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/G3-Race1-2014-Official-Gallery
19th Sun - Fred Hughes 10milesGallery here - http://bit.ly/Fred-Hughes-10-Official-Gallery-2014
25th Sat - SEAA XC Champs Parliament HillGallery here - http://bit.ly/SEAA-XC-Champs-2014-Photo-Gallery
26th Sun - Epsom PerchGallery here: http://bit.ly/Epsom-Perch-Official-Gallery-2014
26th Sun - Canterbury 10Gallery here: http://bit.ly/Barretts-Canterbury-10-Official-Gallery-2014
26th Sun - Thetford MTB3Gallery here: http://bit.ly/Thetford-MTB-round3-2014-gallery
FEB 2013
2nd Sun - Watford Halfhttp://bit.ly/Watford-Half-Marathon-Official-Gallery-2014
2nd Sun - Ashford and District 10khttp://bit.ly/Ashford-District-10k-2014-Official-Gallery
2nd Sun - ETL Bookham 10khttp://bit.ly/ETL-Bookham-10k-2014-Gallery
9th Sat - G3#2 - Guildfordfree race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/G3-race2-2014-Official-Gallery
9th Sun - Deal Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Deal-Half-2014-Photos
15th Sat - Brutal - Windmill Hillhttp://bit.ly/Brutal-Windmill-Hill-2014-Photo-Gallery
16th Sun - (Brighton Half Marathon)(we're not covering this one, but some of us are running in it !)
23rd Sun - Hampton Court Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Hampton-Court-Half-Entry
23rd Sun - Pewsey Terminatorhttp://bit.ly/Pewsey-Vale-races
MARCH 2014
Sat 1st - G3#3 - Guildfordfree race gallery downloads http://bit.ly/aat-g3-entry
Sat 1st and 2nd - The Nuts Challengehttp://bit.ly/the-Nuts-Challenge 
Sun 2nd - Berkhampstead Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Berkhamstead-Half-Marathon-entry
Sun 2nd - Steyning Stinger http://bit.ly/The-Steyning-Stinger
free race gallery downloads
Sun 9th - Roding Valley Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/roding-valley-half-mara-info
Sun 9th - Surrey Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Surrey-Half-Marathon-entry
Sun 9th - Lydd Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Lydd-Half-Marathon-entries
Sat 15th - Brutal Bordonhttp://bit.ly/Brutal-10-homepage
Sat 15th - F3 Dorney Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/F3-Events
Sun 16th - Colchester Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/Colchester-half-marathon-entry
Sun 16th - ETL Tempest 10 and Spitfire 20http://bit.ly/ETL-races
Sun 16th - Cranleigh 15-21http://bit.ly/MABAC-races
Sun 23rd - Richmond 13.1 and 10khttp://bit.ly/Richmond131-half-marathon
Sun 23rd - Back 2 the Trenches #1http://bit.ly/back2thetrenches-entry
Sun 23rd - PP Water of Life Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/PP_Upcoming_races
Sun 23rd - Brentwood Half Marathonhttp://www.brentwoodhalf.org/index.htm (sold out)
Sun 30th - Warrior Run #1http://bit.ly/Warrior-run-entry
Sun 30th - Paddock Wood Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/paddock-wood-half
Sun 30th - BHF Bournemouth Half Marathonhttp://bit.ly/bournemouth-bay-run-2014

more to follow...
New Website
Some of you may have seen that after 11 years it was time for an update to the website. Alas on a personal note it means the end of any reference to antbliss.com which is where we started this journey in 2003, and a full transition of all online websites to sussexsportphotography.com branding and look, so please have a quick check and let me know if you like what you see !
I'll be continuing to add details and information to it as we go and as things change, but essentially it's good to go at the moment, so there it is...

Brutal Windmill Hill 2014
beware canine help - or you can get dragged down - search on #46

Splashy as you like it !

true gent, let her walk on the dryer bit

resting after the tough hill climb

come back !!!

good running fun !

jumping for joy, its almost 9k !

fast finishing time for first place man #296

The "wedding party" made it all the way round, nobody drowned the MiL

A good job well done !

Brutals make you happy !

always check your drawstring...

over the top

Bridezilla on the run

how about  this for a team photo ?

Special feature slide into the water...

grin and bear it - all is good

The bridesmaid on the run

well, that's one way of crossing the canal and keeping your hat dry...

True Grit for the first lady back into the finish #337 for the win.

So very well done to everyone who go through the Brutal, they are not easy, so don't be fooled into them by your friends. That's race three of the mudstacle league done (http://www.mudstacle.com/league), if you're interested we will see you again at the Nuts Challenge next month, and also Back 2 the Trenches at the end of Marsh. As ever - make sure your number is visible somehow from the front - we acknowledge this isn't always easy, and we're continually trying to figure out a good way of doing this.
A new innovation that we hadn't seen before was the front mesh pockets on the long running shorts - which are ok if the number doesn't end up too far around the side or when you're underwater. Food for thought. Perhaps Mesh pocket racing tops with them on the front ?...

Until next time, check out the race list above to see what else you might like. If you like cross country - try out the Pewsey Terminator next weekend ?

Anthony