Veteran Car Run 2014, B2TT Big Push, and Thetford MTB winter series galleries now live

A busy weekend with some Muddy races on foot (Back to the Trenches) and bike (Thetford MTB Winter Series 1) and our annual coverage of the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car run as the official photographers.

We have seen lots of things change over the past 11 years of covering the Veteran Cars.This year they went down the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, instead of down the side of St James Park on Birdcage Walk - so that made for some different shots with the palace and the Victoria Memorial Statue just glowing in the early morning light.

This year was one of the more challenging years with heavy showers travelling up the route getting everyone drenched at least once - where depended on how fast they were going and where they had managed to get to at the time.

This year there were four well known celebrities driving on the course - Ben Ainslie the Sailor/Yatchsman, Sir Steve Redgrave (Rower), Paul Holywood (Chef), and Ross Brawn (Motorsport and F1)
You can search for their images by simply searching on their surnames in the gallery http://bit.ly/LBVCR-2014-Photo-Gallery 

It's not a race, it's an endurance event - and having clarified that small point for insurance purposes, it wasn't a surprise that Ben Ainslie made it to Madeira Drive first...

Ben Ainslee - passengered the last bit on the first car to finish at Madeira Drive in Brighton

Race Logo	Gallery Link
Back 2 The Trenches The BIG PUSH 2014	http://bit.ly/B2TT-Big-Push-Nov14-Photo-Gallery
Thetford MTB Winter Series #1	http://bit.ly/Thetford-MTB-1-2014-gallery
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2014	http://bit.ly/LBVCR-2014-Photo-Gallery

The Running Awards
vote vote vote (for this this this) - Please remember to vote for this Blog here and see if we can win something (not actually sure what) and finally have something to brag about...

In Pictures:
The Back2theTrenches team had a fantastic day in the perfect weather for getting muddy, challenged and generally "tested" across the landscape.

Just one way to go down a slide...

all washed clean

The fire jump poses are getting better

Train Slide !!

Good to see a race director putting themselves through other races and a bit of "market research"

Louise makes it through the barbed wire crawl 

Its all about the teamwork

New mud pack for the arms - made it through the crawl

Some Veteran Car Run Highlights

It never ever rains on the Veteran Car Run day

Paul Hollywood in his cake tin and a soggy bottom

Relief at not having had to row through the rain for Sir Steve Redgrave

Ross Brawn finishes and heads for the Pits for a slightly longer stop than anticipated

Sir Steve Redgrave hides his relief at finishing

Ron Commentator explains something quite important

It gets busy as they all have a quick chat at the finish with the commentators

This still counts as finishing ok !

Tony flashes a car full of young ladies

Everyone gets stuck in to fix stalled cars

Double thumbs up at the finish

Cuckfield didn't suffer the usual traffic problems

Just a touch too much heat for this one

Thumbs up for finishing with that rain and wind behind them out to sea

Enjoying the london views

Look Dad, no seatbelts !! as they cruise past the home of British Lawmaking 

When it did rain, some members of the public stayed out to watch

The relief of finishing, even if it was after sunset and you were last - you still made it !!

Right, please don't forget to give us your vote and see you at the Purple Patch Grand Union Canal Half Marathon on Sunday as there are still some entries left on the day...

Until next time !
Anthony

Beachy Head Marathon and 10k 2014 now live

It was the most perfect conditions we have ever experienced for The Beachy Head Marathon and 10k on Saturday.
As you can see - it was a very clear days with views all the way over to Worthing in the distance...

The view at 5pm from Beachy Head towards Seaford Head, Brighton and Worthing

Namely and specifically the nice conditions were - no frost, no rain, no hail, no gale force wind, no ice, no burning sun, some light. Something wasn't quite right. The weather was so good, even Stu decided to just run relaxed and enjoy the views and the race (if you can call 3:09 "relaxed" )

So, seriously - the photos from the day will probably never be this good for a while - the weather was near perfect.

Having said that, I know what this course can do during a day (Northerly ice hail storm last year anyone?), and it was at 5:30pm when I came off the top of Beachy Head overlooking Belle Tout and broke cover from the lee of the hill curve that the 5 degrees wind chill off the 12 degrees air temperature started to cut through my winter sallopettes and other various winter clothes. Usually I'm exhausted by 4pm but still felt fresh to the end, the effect the weather can have is immense on long days like this, and I think I'm right in saying it's the same for the runners !!

Having the wind behind you up the Seven Sisters and the final climb up the Head must make a very big difference.
It's always good to see a new face win the race, and given the lead field through the early part of the course it was good to see a very competitive race - led home by Stephan Wenk #2170 in 2:55:39 and Jo Singer of Vic Park #1866 in 3:32:48

One thing that really stood out for me this year was the number of Parent/Family/Child pairs running the Marathon together - and how with the weather and light conditions we're really unlikely to get those sort of shots again - so if you're in one of those - please don't miss the opportunity to get them.

Race Logo	Race Gallery link
Beachy Head Marathon	Race Gallery: http://bit.ly/Beachy-Head-Marathon-2014-Race-Gallery
Results ?	The results are here

Please remember to vote for this Blog (not just this one, the 500+ in total I've written over the past 6 years) here and see if we can win something !!

Gandalf chased Stephan only so far up the First Hill, He still won it despite a calf cramp rest 

Easy and up the hill from Jevington

Second Hill Done victory dance

Already turned to a Zombie at Hill 2

He still showed his number better than anyone with a Tri Belt

Synchronised Jazz Hands

"WHY AM I DOING THIS!!!"

Orpington caught checking the local cab companies that accept dogs

Seeing the Head ahead you can't really blame Orpington

Gareth points out that will be Goodenough, Ian.

Dad takes responsibility for entering the race. Daughter Approves.

Only 3 miles early on the final dip

Honest and being in touch with your deepest feelings is important 

Andrew here is seen wearing the latest autumn Fashion - SSP Buffs available from the shop soon

Hollywood thinks long and hard about entering next year

Happy Minion

Suzie receives a guard of Honour

Ruth decided to push up the old Belle Tout lighthouse

That downland view as the sun cut through

Running *Down* That Hill Ms Bush

Larkfield AC, larking about !!

I think the dog wanted more than a number to eat ?

Sometimes we catch people by surprise

That Brutal Buff has hair extensions added

It's very hard to run like this...

Caution not to poke out your fellow pilots eyes when flying along

the joy of finishing

Bracknell make it all the way

That view across the south downs

The new Alfriston Bridge

Down to the start of the Seven Sisters - the last bit of flat !

Not a way to make the race easy ! They are supposed to run with you...

Exceat completed and it's flat !!!

Correct finishing technique !

Burgess Hill practice the Hokey Kokey. I think they put it all in ?

Debbie nails it. Again !!!

Very big congratulations to everyone at the Eastbourne Council, the volunteers, the race directors, the marshals, feed and water stations it's a fantastic achievement, almost a big a deal as completing the race !!! Well done everyone !

Next weekend is the Veteran car run from London to Brighton (our one car event per year) and the November Back2theTrenches if you like your Muddy Fun and obstacle racing, so here's hoping this incredibly good weather keeps going ?!!!

Until next time
Anthony