Photographer of the Year awards

This is my 500th blog post and I'm delighted to learn that I have been shortlisted in the Digital Camera magazine 2011 Photographer of the Year awards. My pic of a surfer at the 2011 O'Neill Cold Water Classic event has made the top 30 out of thousands of entries from all over the world, in the action category. First prize is £1,500 and there is another £1,000 for the overall winner.  The results should be announced by Christmas.  The link to the pic is;

http://www.photoradar.com/news/story/photographer-of-the-year-2011-action-and-movement-shortlist#ad-image27

Viking torchlight processions

Lighting up the torches in Halkirk using a red flare



Lighting the Varnandag beacon at Thurso beach



The Vikings arrived back in Caithness this evening. The Lerwick Jarl Squad and the Thurso High School Interact Junior Jarl Squad marched with lighted torches through Thurso and then Halkirk to light the Varnandag beacons at Thurso beach and Halkirk riverside. They then entertained a packed Ross Institute.

Da Doonie Day is tomorrow and it will be held in Wick. The Viking galley will be burned at Wick harbour.

Caithness Utd U17s vs Forres

Caithness Utd U17s beat Forres 8-0 at Harmsworth park today. I snapped the last 20 mins and Alan Hughes scored a couple in that time.

Caithness Utd U13s vs Forres

Caithness Utd U13s beat Forres 13-0 at the lower Bignold Park this afternoon. I caught 20 mins of the match.

Caithness Utd U15s vs Forres

Caithness Utd U15s beat Forres 7-0 at Wick's artificial pitch today. I snapped the first 30mins and it was 0-0! The team was presented with a new strip by AMC Engineering at the start of the match.

I also snapped the U13s and U17s matches vs Forres, which were all played in Wick in brilliant sunshine. Pics to follow.

Caithness RFC U16s vs Ross-Sutherland

Caithness RFC U16s drew 22-22 with Ross-Sutherland at Millbank on Saturday just prior to the seniors match vs Aberdeen University. The Caithness players were a lot smaller than their opponents, but got stuck in.