More photos from Spartan Race

 I have had quite a lot of queries from competitors asking if I had photographs of them from the 29th July Spartan Race at Bassingbourn. I only photographed the first four heats (10, 10.30, 11 and 11.30 starts) as I was there to photograph the CRUFC teams.  Their photographs are at:
 http://www.crufc.co.uk/images/gallery/first_xv/2012-13/spartanchallenge290712/

I took a lot of other photos and so have also put up images from the first two heats on Flikr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28596054@N07/

I will upload the third heat competitors shortly to the same site.

spartan Race website is www.spartanraceuk.uk

London Kings Cross

The newly completed King's Cross entrance is stunning from the song wall outside to the Western concourse with its vaulted roof -Europe’s largest single span station structure. As to whether  photography is allowed - the guy in blue spotted me looking up at the roof with my camera - not allowed! OK if you are photographing friends in the concourse! So on the way back in the evening another session with no problems this time - I wondered if including myself as in last shot would make it legitimate.

Covent Garden

 Sue and I went up to Covent Garden to take down the London Salon Exhibition today. Spent a bit of time afterwards soaking up the Olympic atmosphere. There were lots of volunteers 'Team London' giving out maps and helping tourists. The mounted police were a bit more serious than the trio in helmets.

Spartan Race July 2012

 A few images from the Spartan Race held at Bassinbourn Barracks. A very large number of people took part  in the event (over 2000 I believe though didn't count) They had various challenges to do over a 6km course. With Phil, Lionel and Gary, I was to photograph the Cambridge Rugby football teams but this proved quite tricky as the Puma on their shirts was sometimes only visible as they passed. I reckoned the Swamp Swim would be the best place to get them individually but this was abandonned after the first heat as three poeple (including the one above) required rescuing from the  'elite' athletes. In the end I stationed myself at the River Walk which was full of very smelly mud but managed to pick out most of the players, Caught up with them again at the end when they were jumping the fire logs.
Spartan Race details can be found at www.spartanraceuk.uk

The Big Turnout

Coinciding with the arrival of the scorching weather, we ordered a skip to clear out our large double garage as we are having it converted to a bedroom for ourselves. It may take quite a few days even if the weather cools a bit. If it stays this warm it will be a lot  longer! Murphy, now 17 years old, takes all such chnages in her stride.

Below a very hansome Shield Bug on a fall-down plum - interesting the difference in colouring between sunlight (left) and shade (right) lighting.

Colours at Silverstone

Silverstone Classic Cars

We spent the weekend at the Silverstone Classic Racing Festival. I hoped for some rain to add a bit of atmosphere and drama to the images but we got wall-to-wall sunshine. The late evening race for Endurance Group C cars gave the most interesting race images. Otherwise it was a good opportunity to try panning techniques. Images above are taken at 1/400, 1/200, 1/160, 1/80 and 1/30 seconds, respectively. 

Butterfly Count

As it was a lovely sunny morning,  Sadie, I and Millie took the opportunity to complete our Butterfly count in Toft Wood. We recorded 15 Marbled Whites, 10 Meadow Browns, 2 common Blues and 2 Ringlets. The other common species, Small Skipper, Small Heath (above) and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet (above) are not on their list. Do take part if you have 15 mins to spare  ( http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/).
Sadie then decided it was time to go and tried to put Mille's lead back on. We now only have Millie as we had to let Ruby go about a month ago as she had too many uncomfortable lumps. Four of her six siblings have died already this year. They were 11and a half so not a bad age for large pedigree dogs. We hope Millie will be around a bit longer (11 in September)

Wicken and Burwash

 A warmer day brought out a few insects at Wicken Fen today and an Emperor Dragonfly at Burwash Manor. The butterfly is a Large Skipper - hook-shaped black ends to antennae.