Sunday 31 July 2011

REP BTF Aquathlon Championships now live


The Free Download Race Gallery for the British Triathlon Federations National Aquathlon Championships, held at Littlehampton Marina and hosted by Raw Energy Pursuits is now live and online here:

http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=1q6zh0x

 Mick usually puts out a great race report on Tri24-7 and the event website, so I won't attempt to second guess the official words here. Suffice to say yet another great event put on by Team REP - if there was ever the classification of races - "boutique" and "high end" describe how well these ones go.  The weather was perfect too which always helps.
Held at Littlehampton Marina, the aquathlon here makes great use of the riverside layout and the private location for what becomes a crowd friendly race.

Race start, with the banks lined with family and friends supporting


Swim exit is simple up the large slipway

Steve Mac smiling too much - as usual

Elite leader on swim exit, throws a punch at the crowd

Some New flags for Team REP

The best double thumbs up finish all day


Nobody on record has ever had an argument with Andy the BTF Ref.

How to mark you transition place

Medals my pretty...

Overall Mens winner James Lock
Overall Womens winner - Eloise Crowley
So always a great day out at the REP events, put the Birdman Swim in two weeks time into your diary - if only to then watch people jump off Worthing Pier.

Don't forget the Milland Valley Trail half marathon next Sunday too..

Right, off to watch the last episode of Harry Potter at the cinema in 2D. First trip out for over 5 years to the films, babysitter booked, actually here already - so wish us luck.

Until next time
Anthony



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Friday 29 July 2011

Bexhill 5k 2011 now live



 The Bexhill 5k Sussex Grand Prix is now live and ready for your choices here:
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=1hkzh0n 

On a warm summers (honestly) evening on wednesday the shorter 5k of the Sussex Grand Prix was held at Bexhill by the sailing club and organised by Bexhill Runners. There is a great report and link to the results here : http://www.bexhillrunners.co.uk/newsletter/detail.php?id=000591

The races included three junior races as well as the senior race, and they all included a lap - giving ample opportunity for supporters, parents and spectators a great view of events. Well done to Bexhill Runners for another well turned out event and the marshalls and supporters alike for making for a very friendly atmosphere.
DJ PaulH on the mic ensured events went smoothly

Some were more ready than others for a race

Strong starts from the juniors

A more casual approach to the start line countdown

Yes, Taxi please back to the Sailing Club, in about 10 minutes

Good running out from the turn

Finishing straight concentration

You can tell when people are trying their hardest.
Many thanks for the suggestions that were sent in to my conundrum in the last blog. I think most of us are on the same wavelength. The fact that I record these things with Google Analytics was of interest to a few of you - so if you're interested in some of the images that seem to be "popular" amongst our visitors, I try to update this gallery here every now and again : http://bit.ly/npiu3j
Quite why people try to take a screen copy rather than the better quality free download copy for those events where it's provided confuses me a little, otherwise it's good to know that race images remain as popular as ever. Next trick is to get people to buy them - so if you recognise anyone on this gallery - feel free to buy them a present as they would probably like it ! (or put them in the stocks for bringing shame on your club)

If you fancy something fun to watch - it's the British National Aquathlon Champs on Saturday at the Littlehampton Marina - organised by Raw Energy Pursuits - http://www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events/british-aquathlon-championships-west-sussex/ Some chap called Nick Herbert is taking part - isn't that the local MP ?

Anyway, it should be fun and fast, so some good racing to be had, and the cafe to watch from is rather nice too, so see you there.

Until next time
Anthony



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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Down-Tow-Up-Flow Half marathon and Downland Challenge now live


After a wonderful sunny Sundays running the race galleries for the following races are now live and online, ready for browsing and buying:

The Purple Patch Down-tow-Up-Flow Half Marathon :http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=239zgxr
And you can rate it on Runners world here

The Haywards Heath Harriers Downland Challenge 5mile and 30mile ultra : http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=157zh09

Links to the race websites and their results can be found on the respective gallery pages.
As a quick headline link - if you enjoyed any of your running this weekend then click here to Enter the Purple Patch Maidenhead Half Marathon on September the 4th, knowing the route and the area I will vouch that it's going to be a great race.


The Hills (The Beacon to be specific) are alive with the...
If you don't know the Downland challenges it's a 5 mile and also an Ultra race. The 5 mile race goes straight up the hill (the race HQ is at the foot of the escarpment - you get a feel for the climb from these pictures) to the Jack and Jill windmills, along a bit, then back down, back up, and then return along the top to fall back down the hill to the finish. So that's two massive climbs and two hard descents. Not for the fainthearted it's been on the Sussex Grand Pris list for a few years, but not this year so entries were understandably down a bit. Meanwhile the Ultra goes off up the hill, and then along quite a bit (well for 15 miles, until you turn around and come back) so generally off over the Beacon, towards Lewes, but follow the SDW and you eventually get to the turn near Southease, have a cup of water and come back ! Simples...and perfect weather if you enjoy fantastic views for miles across Sussex.
Another great race put on by the Haywards Heath Harriers - just look at the stunning views...

Eets nice yes ? What a view !

Shotguns ready, Pull. Mr Bolt should upgrade, arrows are so last year.

Hey, what's up ? It's downhill from here - to the finish, windmills in the background.
 The Purple Patch Runners Down-Tow-Up-Flow Half Marathon is run between Marlow (rugby club) and Eton (yes the playing fields) along the banks of the River Thames. It alternates in direction each year, and this year was downhill all the way. With perfect weather, either running along a river, (or up a hill in Sussex) would only have been bettered by sitting by the river and having a picnic.

If you don't fancy hills, then the DTUF Half was quite scenic, and this chap Rupert Shute from Reading Road Runners took the new course record in 1:17:45

The A380 of in-race airplanes

Synchronised Flying, you can see the early route in the distance along the bank

Smiling as they go past the boats at the marina

Pink Laydee

Far too happy Sisters after 13 miles along a tow path - making a great finishing shot
So that's a very well done to everyone at Purple Patch Running some fantastic marshalling who had to put up with some very testing locals at times, traffic pinch points, and remaining alarmingly enthusiastic for over 3 hours. The two lovely ladies I met at Bourne End marina couldn't have been more helpful and for that I thank them. Also many thanks to the marshal at the top end of the finish field who let me drive in without delay - I made it to the finish with about 5 seconds spare before the winner came in - (no thanks to the peloton of cyclists on the Cookham lane doing 10 miles an hour that lost me 10 minutes) - and got the shot.Yaay !
Rupert Shute on his way in for victory and the new record
 I think I'm looking forwards to the next Purple Patch Running event - the inaugural Maidenhead Half Marathon on September the 4th. That gives you about 6 weeks to get training through the school summer holidays to get ready.

Other stuff:

Talking of quests, I had an email the other day from a "bit of a blagger". They and the club they claimed to represent will remain nameless (but not shameless), but suffice to say - please don't email me asking for a free team photo (which we didn't take), claiming everyone had bought their images (when nobody had). Additionally, apart from "please don't lie to me", I will add "please don't steal my images", because the person in question had right clicked (i.e. taken copies) on 14 ex 24 images we had taken of him. It shouldn't come as a shock to know we record that stuff. The odd right click by mistake can happen - but 14 times - I don't think so.

Obviously wise people like yourself know that taking copies of images - even with the watermark on them - is stealing. Call it shoplifting if you like, and just like traditional shoplifting (which is theft) - just because you can do it - doesn't mean you are morally obliged to do it.

As I explained to the blagger/thief/shoplifter our gallery hosting, fuel, equipment, maintenance, salaries, cataloguing, computers, software, transaction fees, marketing etc all cost money, and in all this I work for free late into the night and haven't had a holiday in about 5 years, but before I start to sound like Alan Sugar, please don't try and BS me. For what is now priced at under a fiver for a lifetimes memory - I think that's good value that shouldn't be stolen.

Did you know we raised over £2000 for race charities in the past 12 months alone, and your help for us to do that is appreciated by many people who benefit directly from the money raised through photo sales, so right-clickers out there - you're doubly bad people, you're not just stealing the food from my childrens mouths...

Clearly people like their photos - our free download service is proof of that -  but what should I do with right-clickers ? Answers please !! (email me - info@sussexsportphotography.com ). I'm up for anything from deletion to naming, but can you help me by suggesting something else I can do in between to convert them to customers ?  Let me know ! Help me to make things better for everyone ! Thank you.

In other news - the Milland Valley Trail (Half marathon) on August the 7th could probably do with your last minute entry before Friday. Get in there - and see what route wizardry Tom has been up to.

Until next time, enjoy the nice gap in the weather - my tomatoes are coming on a treat. Ideas for a daughters 4th birthday present are also welcomed.

Anthony

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Thursday 21 July 2011

Phoenix Summer 10k 2011 now live


The Gallery for the Phoenix Summer 10k is now live and online here: http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=47izgxk


The results are here from those super chaps at Sport Systems: http://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/results/Brighton%20Phoenix%2010K/654

Start of the inaugural Phoenix Summer 10k 2011 at the Kings Lawns
Well that all went well. On what turned into one of the calmest evening on the seafront that I've seen for a few years the inaugural Phoenix AC Summer 10k ran off into the setting sun for 5k, and then turned around, and then they came back. Very quickly.

Clear views across to Worthing Pier from Hove

To say conditions were ideal for an evening 10k, and that this course is flat - very flat, is an understatement. It's flatter than the Brighton 10k on Madeira Drive because it doesn't have the 2m or so rise past the Thistle hotel on the seafront. That's how flat it is. And then with no wind at all, a recipe for PB's ? If you did, make sure you get a photo to remember it by - because you're not going to get conditions like this again in a hurry !

Dean Lacey crossing the line in 30:24

The winning time was Dean Lacey of Cambridge Harriers in 30:24 an age grading of 88.73 - which is very fast for a gentle evenings exertions ! He was being closely chased down to the wire by home club runner Ian Leitch, who to be fair slowed towards the line to show a gap of 5 seconds.
Emma RIchards winning in 37:37

First woman was Emma Richards in 37:37 an age grading of 79:53, holding her regular spot at the top on these Sussex GP races.
Usually a sorting of results by age grading puts a young Vet40 or Vet50 at the top, but credit to Dean - he stayed top of the list even on that one.

Dave Carter took the boy for a run in 36:24 !

The Peleton at the front to clear away the sun seekers. None obstructed.
A cheeky overtake at the end after running together.Competitive..
The charity involved with the race

Very well done to the organising committe from Phoenix AC and Andy Bone the race director - a great first time for the race. Fingers crossed for a warmer one next year, but I doubt it will ever be as still and PB friendly as this was.

Next Races

The weekend sees the Purple Patch "Down Tow, Up Flow" Half Marathon from Marlow to Eaton, and the Haywards Heath Harriers Downland Challenge at Clayton near Hassocks, ultra or 5 (vertical) miles...

Otherwise it's the start of the summer school holidays and the race diary thins out considerably.
As usual there is the Milland Valley Trail Race on the 7th of August, which is half marathon roughly in distance and a very friendly gathering and comes highly reccommended.

So,  enjoy this cool period for a bit of good quality training before it hots up at the weekend.
Until next time,
Anthony

p.s. Many thanks to everyone who asked for their kindness and concern. The Brain MRI is clear, so my numb face is just that, not a stroke, I'm off the statins, and the urgent cardiologist appointment is now in early august. Fingers crossed and all that, at least I now have a copy of my tachycardic ECG.

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