Photoshoot with Sofie Burley

Sofie Burley

We learned about manual studioflash photography at college last week, this included: using an appropriate lens; an introduction to the various flashheads; setting the ISO rating; taking light readings; adjusting the power of the studioflash and setting the aperture to get the most suitable exposure. This week we spent the entire class putting our new knowledge into practice.

I had arranged for pro model and photography student Sofie Burley to assist us in our shoot. Much of studio work is trial and error, as various apertures are tried in an attempt to get the best photographs.

This picture above right was taken with my Canon EOS 1000D and two 'barn door' flashheads with the following settings: ISO: 100; Exposure: 1/125 sec; Aperture: 8.0; Focal Length: 85mm.  Whilst the one below used a beauty flash.

Photos

Rugby Was My First Love..........

We played in colour too........

I started playing rugby in my early teens for Stewarton High School, in fact I played for the first ever Stewarton school rugby team.  I remember it as if it was yesterday.  It was away at the now defunct Speirs School in Beith and we drew 0-0.  I then played for Kilmarnock Academy and Kilmarnock Rugby Club, under the tuition of Campbell Bone, before heading down to Southampton for a couple of years and then to Hamilton. When I moved to Edinburgh in 1979, I joined the local work’s team Ferranti RFC (now merged to form Inverleith) and played for them for almost 14 years before retiring when I moved through to Glasgow in 1995.  In fact if you do a search for Ferranti RFC you'll see that myself and Mike Gordon kept the name alive for a while by running under Ferranti RFC, if I had stayed in Edinburgh I would now be running for Ferranti AAC.


My main position was open side flanker (No.7), although on occasion, I played in the other two back row positions, as well as second row/lock and famously played prop against Duns in the borders. The game was refereed by top Scottish ref Jim Fleming.

Ferranti Vs Moray House at Saughton Park

I made a bit of a name for myself in the rugby world as a no compromise tackling back row player and even received a bit of attention in the press and radio. I made some great friends playing rugby and it’s a time I look bar on with some pride. I captained the club and fulfilled a number of roles on the committee and had the pleasure of delivering a number of after dinner speeches to the rugby fraternity. I shared the top table with the likes of Findlay Calder, Scott Hastings and Sean Lineen. It’s perhaps surprising that given my love for rugby that I haven’t been to a game in around fifteen years. I guess I felt that I had served my time and I must admit that I’ve always enjoyed playing rugby much more than watching it.  I do still look out for the Inverleith and Kilmarnock RFC results though.

However as I wasn’t feeling up to a run on Sunday, or much else for that matter, I decided that I would accompany my new lodger to the Glasgow Warriers game against Ospreys. We were just a wee bit late in getting to Firhill, where we joined with over 2,500 other supporters to cheer on the Dark Blues. I thought that £20 was a bit steep to watch a game but it’s a profession now for top players and somebody needs to pay their wages.

It was a gorgeous, sunny winter’s day but I must admit it wasn’t a great game. Ospreys were right in the faces of Warriers and on more than one occasion the local players received ‘man and ball’. There were a few school boy errors in the back row, some things never change; the usual handbag exchanges and inconsistent penalty and conversion kicking. Glasgow started poorly but upped there game, especially in the second have and ran out worth winners, defeating the reining Magnum League champions by 31 points to 23.

Richie Vernon, the 23-year-old Glasgow No 8 caught my eye with an impressive display, which might be rewarded with a place in Andy Robinson's side to face New Zealand next month. However there could be no argument that Warriers’ 6’10, Richie Gray was the man of the match. The Glasgow born Lock was literally head and shoulders above the other players on the pitch.

I don’t know when I’ll next make it to a rugby match but rest assured, I won’t wait another 15 years!

Scottish Athletics National Cross Country Relay Races, Cumbernauld 2010

Pic by Karen Craig

Tired, sore muscles and sweating......... that was me before the National XC Relay Championships.  I had come down with the dreaded lurghy on Thursday when I had to cut my hill training session from three laps to just the one.  I even missed my usual Saturday morning jaunt to the Glasgow parkrun, staying in bed with a Lemsip instead.  If the afternoon’s race hadn’t been a relay, I would have stayed in bed but not wanting to let the Club down I loaded up with pasta and headed out to Cumbernauld to join the other Kilmarnock Harriers.  Ayrshire’s finest had one women’s team, of three, and three men’s teams, of four, participating in the prestigious event.  I was running the second leg for the C team.   

Women's Race

I watched some of the women’s race, where Killie did really well with a great performance by Kara Tait in particular who completed the undulating 4k route in a time of 16:25.  Kara handed over to Paula Wilson, who ran a course PB of 17:54 before Liz McDerment completed the ‘glory’ leg in a time of 19:39, to make a total time of 53:58.  Good enough to place Kilmarnock in 26^th spot.

Pic by Chris Upson

Men's Race

I warmed up as the first leg runners lined up for the men’s event.  Last year’s mud bath had been replaced with a beautiful sunny afternoon, however it was bitterly cold and I toyed with the idea of wearing a long sleeve vest and/or gloves.  In the end I settled for the tradition vest and shorts and headed towards the cross over pen.  The battery in my Garmin had died and although I had been offered the loan of a watch, I decided to run timepiece free.  Before I knew it I could see Harald Bartl heading for the finish line and I made my way quickly to the front.  Harald is in great form and completed the first leg in an impressive time of 17:05, to place 95^th out of 129.  I sprinted off just behind Central’s Stuart Watson.  I thought about sitting behind him but decided to try my hardest and overtook him in the initial stages.  However it wasn’t long until a group of 5 or 6 runners caught up and left me in their trail.  I made my way around the course, I wasn’t too upset as one runner and then another passed by me on the route as I recognised some of them as being much better runners than I am.  The lurghy was taking its toll and I was feeling shattered as I struggled up one hill after another.  The crowd kept me going though, even though my head was down, I was trying my best to keep going.  I didn’t need my Garmin or watch to tell me that my pace was slowing.  I tried to make up some time on the flat sections but the rain during the week had ensured that many of these were quite heavy underfoot.  Falkirk’s Mark Dunnachie caught up with me and commented on how hard going it was as we ran along shoulder to shoulder for a while before his class showed and he left me behind.  I went hell for leather on the steep downhill stretch before struggling up the last hill and along the ridge before heading down past the start line and then back towards the finish.  I managed one last push in the final strait to cross the line ahead of Greenock’s Bernard Kangley.

Pic by Kenny Phillips

I was absolutely shattered, I had given my all but I knew that it wasn’t good enough. My cold had made the race so much harder than it should have been.  I sat down against a tree for a while as I got my breath back and my heart rate down before being heading back to the Killie tent.  I didn’t hang around too long, deciding instead to get changed into warm clothes and head back towards the car.  I supported the other runners and chatted with friends as I made my way across the park.  It was great to see so many running buddies, just a pity that I wasn’t in better form.  

I headed back to Glasgow where a hotpot, followed by a hot bath eased my hunger and helped soothe my aches and pains.  I was too tired for a Saturday night out and settled for a quiet night in with Wallander and some vin rouge.

When I checked the results on Sunday morning (well done to Scottish Athletics in getting them on-line so promptly) I was more than somewhat surprised to discover that my time was 18:34, a course PB of 15 seconds and three minutes off of my 2008 time.  

Kilmarnock ‘C’ Team had finished in 100^th place with a total time of 74:10.  John McClarty had completed the third leg in 19:09 and Kenny Wales the final one in 19:22.  

The ‘B’ Team had place 80^th Connell Drummond completed the first leg in 15:46; Les McDerment the second one in 16:01; young Murray McDonald the third one in 17:23 and Graham Cairns the final one in 19:10, a combined time of 68:20. 

The ‘A’ Team placed 39^th with junior Ross Connelly’s first leg of 15:07; Cammy Wilson’s fastest Killie leg time of 14:42; young Grant Beattie’s penultimate leg of 15:53; and Scott Martin’s ‘glory leg’ of 15:34; making a combined time of 61:16.

Comparing my time with compatible runners, I now realise that, despite being unwell, my performance was acceptable and I shouldn’t have been so down about it yesterday.  Congratulations to everyone who participated in the event, including all the youngsters who had run before the seniors. It really was a great day and I’m pleased to have been a part of it.

Now where and when is the next race? 

Full Results

Video

Pics by Chris Upson:
Men's Race
Women's Race

Last Ever Saltcoats Five Mile Road Race?

Just found this on You Tube it's from 2008. ...... and Yes I did beat Paula.

Ayrshire Cross Country Relay Championships, Irvine 2010. Full Results

Senior Men

Fastest Laps
1st David Millar Irvine AC 12m 14s
2nd S Wylie Girvan AAC 12m 16s
3rd Neil Burnside Ayr Seaforth13m 02s

Team Placings
1st Irvine Athletic Club A 51m 45s
2nd Kilmarnock Harriers A 55m 07s
3rd Girvan AAC A 56m 00s

Full Results
252 Irvine A SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 A Allardyce 1 51:45 13:14
3 J Findlay 1 38:31 13:13
2 D Millar 1 25:18 12:14
1 P Cullinane 2 13:04 13:04

254 Kilm A SM running lap
Leg competitor posn time time
4 C Wilson 2 55:07 13:45
3 G Beattie 2 41:22 14:22
2 S Martin 3 27:00 13:45
1 R Connelly 4 13:14 13:15

253 Girvan A SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 S Wylie 3 56:00 12:16
3 A McTaggart 5 43:44 14:55
2 R Bark 6 28:49 13:40
1 G Hamilton 7 15:09 15:09

263 Ayr Sf A SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 L Baker 4 56:06 14:38
3 B Duddy 3 41:28 14:58
2 A Rae 2 26:30 13:28
1 N Burnside 1 13:02 13:02

250 Ayrod TC A SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 A McFarlane 5 58:58 15:44
3 D Munro 4 43:14 15:01
2 A Dunlop  5 28:13 15:07
1 G Turner 3 13:06 13:06

258 Irvine B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 J Sneddon 6 59:44 14:58
3 I Berryman 6 44:46 16:46
2 G Irving 4 28:00 13:49
1 B Craig 5 14:11 14:11

255 Kilm B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 L McDerment 7 60:32 14:59
3 G Cairns 8 45:33 15:31
2 H Bartl 8 30:02 15:38
1 C Drummond 6 14:24 14:24

256 Kilm C SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 A Bryden 8 62:44 15:52
3 R Skillen 9 46:52 15:53
2 A Murray 9 30:59 15:27
1 W Duffy 9 15:32 15:32

262 Irvine C SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 J Connell 9 63:27 18:29
3 A Rennie 7 44:58 15:29
2 C Miller 7 29:29 14:10
1 S Connell 8 15:19 15:19

257 Kilm D SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 K Wales 10 68:20 17:24
3 B Darroch 11 50:56 17:09
2 I Goudie 11 33:47 16:34
1 J McLarty 14 17:13 17:13

251 Ayrod TC B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 S Bailey 11 70:33 18:16
3 S White 13 52:17 17:14
2 C Davidson 14 35:03 18:03
1 K Girvan 13 17:00 17:00

260 Troon T B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 D Bolton 12 70:57 20:13
3 D Hill 10 50:44 16:21
2 P Malone 12 34:23 16:43
1 G McKenzie 15 17:40 17:40

261 Girvan B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 S Flanagan 13 71:14 17:17
3 J Maxwell 14 53:57 18:41
2 J Rennie 15 35:16 18:17
1 S Flanagan 12 16:59 16:59

259 Troon T A SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 G Dobbie 14 71:51 19:46
3 S Blan 12 52:05 17:38
2 D Etcheles 13 34:27 17:45
1 I McNee 11 16:42 16:42

264 Ayr Sf B SM running lap
leg competitor posn time time
4 n/a
3 n/a
2 T McCulloch 10 32:32 16:34
1 P Laing 10 15:58 15:58


Senior Women

Fastest Laps
1st Kara Tate Kilmarnock 14m 48s
2nd Louise Hill-Stirling Ayr Sf 14m 52s
3rd Toni McIntosh Ayr Seaforth 16m 07s

Team Placings
1st Ayr Seaforth 47m 50s
2nd Kilmarnock Harriers A 48m 04s
3rd Troon Tortoises A 53m 52s

Full Results
240 Ayr Sf SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 L Hill-Stirling 1 47:50 14:52
2 T McIntosh 2 32:58 16:07
1 L wallace 4 16:51 16:51

236 Kilm A SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 L Sloan 2 48:04 16:57
2 P Wilson 1 31:07 16:19
1 K Tate 1 14:48 14:48

216 Troon T A SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 K Robertson 3 53:52 19:28
2 A Noble 4 34:24 17:41
1 N Fleming 2 16:43 16:43

239 Ayrod TC SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 E Jessop  4 55:17 21:03
2 A McNulty 3 34:14 17:24
1 L Murdoch 3 16:50 16:50

237 KilmB SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 M Goldie 5 57:16 19:31
2 A Cornforth 5 37:45 20:03
1 L McDerment 5 17:42 17:42

238 Kilm C SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 n/a
2 T Kerr 6 39:21 19:23
1 K Quinn 6 19:58 19:58

217 Troon T B SW running lap
leg competitor posn time time
3 n/a
2 A Johnstone 7 45:56 23:45
1 K McKean 7 22:11 22:11

Irvine Beach Post Race Pics

A couple of photos and a compiled paronama taken after the race at Irvine.

Ailsa Craig

The Firth of Clyde

Paronama compiled from six photos

Ayrshire Cross Country Relay Championships

They're Off!

I had a pleasant journey down to the Ayrshire coast on Saturday for the county’s Cross Country Relay Championships. Despite a number of national races taken place at Irvine’s Beach Park this was my first appearance at the scenic location. There was a decent turnout from the local clubs with the host club having three teams of four in the men’s event but sadly no teams of three for the women’s event. Kilmarnock had four men’s teams and three women’s; Troon Tortoises: two men’s and two women’s: Ayr Seaforth: two men’s and one women’s; Girvan: two men’s and no women’s; and Ayrodynamic Triathlon Club: two men’s and one women’s. A total of 15 men’s teams and seven women’s teams, around 80 athletes in all, up significantly on the previous year.



I was pleased to be informed that I would be running the second leg, rather than the anchor/death/glory/last one of the previous week. Even better news was that the men’s and the women’s races would be held simultaneously. This would mean that I would be competing against other racers rather than just the clock.

There was perfect weather as the senior athletes chatted and warmed up as the junior athletes completed their races. One of the great things about cross country races and relays in particular is that athletes get more time than usual to mingle with each other, sharing the pre and post race banter and camaraderie. Around 2pm the seniors set off. I was in the D team and John McLarty was our first runner, as he made his way around the 4k course, I completed my warm up and made my way to the hand over pen. After the elite runners had sestet off on their second leg, I moved closer to the front and cheered on Natalie Fleming as she almost caught her Troon colleague Iain McNee as they crossed the line, in 16:43 and 16:42 respectively. Next home was Ayrodynamic’s Louise Murdoch in 16:50, surprisingly, ahead of Ayr’s Laura Wallace in 16:51. Girvan’s Stephen Flanagan was next in 16:59, followed one second later by Ayrodynamic’s Kenny Girvan. Kilmarnock’s John McLarty handed over to me in 17:13 and I set off in 14th place.

My Start

 

 

The first part of the course is wide and flat and heads out towards the Firth of Clyde, climbing the first hill at 200m, I was rewarded with a gorgeous view over the sea to the Isle of Arran. The route then took a sharp left turn and went along the ridge before descending, vending right, crossing a path and climbing a steep hill. I was impressed to see Girvan’s John Rennie and Ayro’s Colin Davidson running up the incline and any thoughts which I may have had about walking up it were nipped in the bud. I was rewarded for my climb with stunning views of Ailsa Craig in the distance and the two runners ahead. We made our way down towards the beach and through the sand dunes. I had caught the two runners at this stage but was frustrated at the lack of overtaking opportunities. I was stuck behind John as Colin negotiated the sand dunes better. I seized the first chance to overtake John and set off after Colin. The route took a sharp left and headed upward and inland. I caught Colin on the hill and had taken 4:30 for the first kilometre. The route took another left and zigzagged through the Beach Park. I managed to overtake Troon’s Anne Noble as the route headed back towards the coast and then Ayro’s Alice McNulty. The only person I could now see in front of me was Troon’s Peter Malone. The second kilometre had taken me 4:43. After another 250m or so I caught the bearded giant. I was now running against the clock and headed towards and then along Marine Drive. I wasn’t sure about the course but with the end almost in sight the markers took me back into the park. The third kilometre had taken 4:17. The course then meandered a little before reaching the wide and flat section which forms the start/finish of the race. I gave it my all as I made my way towards the finish line cheered on by fellow runners and supporters to cross the line in a total time of 16:34. I was shattered and had a lie down on the grass before regaining my composure and joining in with the others to support the remaining runners. My Garmin indicated that the course was 3.75k long and that my final 750m had been run at an average pace of 4:03 min/k, 4:25 for the race.

My Finish

I had handed over to Brian Darroch in 11th place and Brian did well to maintain our position with an individual time of 17:09. The ‘glory’ leg fell to Kenny Wales whose time of 17:24 was good enough to gain one place. Our team had finished 10th, with a combined time of 68:20.

Men’s Teams
Kilmarnock Harriers A Team placed second, to Irvine, with a time of 55: 07. The B Team placed fifth in 60:62 and the C Team eighth with a time of 62:44.

Women’s Teams
The Women’s A Team also placed second, behind Ayr Seaforth, with a time of 48:04. The B Team placed fifth in 57:16 and the incomplete C Team sixth.

Stars
Kara Tait ran the fastest lap of any woman with a time of 14:48, whilst Ross Connelly was the fastest Harrier with a time of 13:14. All Harriers can be pleased with their performance including Michelle Goldie who ran her first cross country since leaving school.


One Honest Man and Two Bonnie Lassies (Toni McIntosh and Laura Wallace)



Course

Photos by Lynsey Cooper 

Results                                                  
Senior Men
1st Irvine Athletic Club A 51m 45s
2nd Kilmarnock Harriers A 55m 07s
3rd Girvan AAC A 56m 00s           

Fastest Laps
1st David Millar Irvine AC 12m 14s
2nd S Wylie Girvan AAC 12m 16s
3rd Neil Burnside Ayr Seaforth13m 02s



Senior Women
1st Ayr Seaforth 47m 50s 
2nd Kilmarnock Harriers A 48m 04s
3rd Troon Tortoises A 53m 52s

Fastest Laps
1st Kara Tate Kilmarnock 14m 48s
2nd Louise Hill-Stirling Ayr Sf 14m 52s
3rd Toni McIntosh Ayr Seaforth 16m 07s