Halkirk vs Wick Groats (2-3)

Alan Hughes fires in a cross

Sandy Sutherland and Gavin Swanson

Paul MacKay tackles Martin Sutherland

James MacKay fires in a cross as Ian MacKay closes in

Graeme Gunn whips the ball away from Sandy Sutherland

Ian MacKay fires a shot just over the bar

Alan Hughes outstrips Matthew MacKay on his way to scoring the 2nd

Alan Hughes scores the 2nd goal

Groats' striker Stewart Ross unleashes a shot as Stevie Blackwood closes in

The first round of the Colin MacLeod memorial cup was played this week. Wick Groats travelled to Halkirk tonight and came away with a tight 3-2 victory. I caught the first half and Groats led 2-1.

The Wick team was filled with players from the North Caledonian winter League, but Halkirk more than matched them with a mixture of youngsters and old hands. David Blackwood (well past his 40th birthday) was playing at left back and his son Stevie was at right back.

Groats scored after 10 mins when Sandy Sutherland volleyed a low cross into the roof of the net from only 6 yards out. Paul Mackay equalised after 40mins with a cracking left foot shot from the edge of the box. Groats replied immediately and Alan Hughes received a defence splitting pass and cooly slotted the ball past Iain Miller.

Halkirk Team:
Iain Miller
Stevie Blackwood
David Blackwood
Gavin Swanson
Graeme Gunn
Paul Mackay
Michael Bremner
Ian Mackay
Ruari McCartney
Lee Elder
Matthew Mackay

Wick Groats team:

Graeme Miller
Jordan Howden
Sean Stewart
Alan Sinclair
Gavin Sinclair
Martin Sutherland
James MacKay
Grant MacNab
Stewart Ross
Alan Hughes
Sandy Sutherland

Other scores

John O'Groats 10-0 Keiss
Top Joes 0-8 Pentland Utd
FS Club 6-3 Watten
Thurso Pentland 0-3 Lybster
Staxigoe 3-0 Swifts
Castletown 7-0 Wick Thistle
High Ormlie Hotspur 0-3 Acks

Caithness CC 24 Mile Hilly Time Trial

Allan Sutherland - winner

Dave Harter - 1st veteran

Andrew "Hamper" MacLeod - 4th place

Lorna Stanger - 1st Lady

The second race of Caithness Cycling Club's annual April racing weekend was held this morning in a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers. The race was two circuits around the Westfield, Loch Calder and Glengolly circuit.

Caithness's Allan Sutherland was a clear winner - nearly 4mins ahead of second placed Henry Blake of Ross-shire Roads. Caithness's Lorna Stanger won the Ladies handicap event.

Caithness did well on Saturday's 25 Mile Time Trial. 1st Veteran was Al Washington. 1st handicap was Phil Cartwright. 1st lady handicap was Lorna Stanger. Andrew "Hamper" MacLeod was 3rd in the seniors.

The full results for the weekend are on the Caithness CC website: http://www.caithnesscc.co.uk/

Photography Qualification Success

Delighted to receive my Diploma of Professional Photography from The Photography Institute. It is an on-line course with 12 assignments. The link to the Institute is:

http://www.thephotographyinstitute.co.uk/index.cfm?code=GO&gclid=CL2npubE8bACFcYmtAod7i7xug

Caithness Cycling Club Racing Weekend - 25 Mile Time Trial

Caithness Cycling Club are staging their annual April racing weekend and it was the 25 Mile Time Trial today. The route was from Thurso to just past Watten and back again.

I was positioned opposite the Brown Trout Hotel in Watten and tried some panning shots against the white walls of the hotel. With the shutter speed set to 1/30sec, it was difficult to get a good sharp photo of the rider as the timing has to be just right.  The junction was very busy with lots of different traffic - plenty of cars, vans, tractors and lorries, all in the space of 30 mins.

Gary Barlow in Caithness - FAB 1 Million

Gary Barlow

Chris Evans

Chris Evans steps out of FAB 1

James May and Gary Barlow behind FAB 1

The crowd at John O' Groats wait for FAB 1 at 5am

Prof Brian Cox and Top Gear's James May

Chris Evans about to cut the ribbon

FAB 1 in front of the famous John O'Groats sign

Celebrity fever hit Caithness at 5.20am this morning as FAB 1 drove into John O'Groats after 20 hours on the road from Lands End.

The four drivers of the special edition Thunderbirds Rolls Royce were Radio and TV presenter Chris Evans, Take That's Gary Barlow, Top Gear's James May and TV "boffin" Professor Brian Cox. The car run was in aid of the Breast Cancer Charity and was called "FAB 1 Million" as they are trying to raise one million pounds over the coming year. The car can be hired for the day at a cost of £5,000.

Nearly 1,000 hardy souls braved the dark, freezing and windy conditions to greet the stars. Chris Evan only waited for 10 mins as he had to fly to Inverness to present his radio show at 7am (he was 10 mins late). Gary Barlow spent 10 mins meeting the crowd and signing autographs. There were TV cameras, dozens of photographers, security body guards for Gary, police, six back up cars, a lone piper, fireworks and a roving PA system. The hot food cabin did a roaring trade!

Gary was the star and most of the girls/ladies were there just to see him. But only if they could see past his two massive bodyguards!

Orkney vs Golspie Sutherland - Times Cup Final

The victorious team - Golspie Sutherland

The champagne flows

Mark Berry celebrates his first

Mark Berry gets hoisted for scoring his first

Shaun Kerr leaps over Cameron McConnachie

Mark Berry celebrates his second to make it 2-1 for Orkney

Shaun Kerr celebrates his second

Mark Berry equalises for Orkney to make it 1-1 right on half-time

Shaun Kerr scores his second

Shaun Kerr scores his third with a header

Orkney played Golspie in the final of the Times cup at the Dammies in Thurso today. Golspie won 3-2 after a tough and evenly fought match. Golspie's Shaun Kerr scored a hat-trick (one penalty) and was awarded the man of the match trophy. Mark Berry scored two for Orkney.

The match was watched by the Shetland team who beat Halkirk Utd 1-0 in a friendly match earlier in the day.