Galloway Tri Challenge

I drove from Stranraer to Castle Douglas this morning in just over an hour with exertions being limited to gear changes and flicking my ipod to suitably mellow, hangover-friendly tunes.

In a month’s time I will traverse the same two locations but this time by cycling, swimming and running across Galloway. This journey will take around nine hours and will, I have no doubt and despite my mother’s best efforts in raising me better, include any number of expletives and serious consideration of the question “What am I doing??”

So what am I doing? I will leave Stranraer on the morning of the 27^th July and cycle to just north of Garlieston. A peloton of friends from Stranraer will keep me company on this 40 miles stretch all raising their own sponsorship. A gentle warm up for what lies ahead!

The next section is by far the most challenging. A 4 mile swim (around 250 lengths of a standard pool) across the tide and current swept Wigtown Bay. The destination is Auchenlarie HolidayPark and I’ll be wanting to stay there for a week by the time I drag myself out the water!

No such luxury awaits though as the running shoes get pulled on and a group of runners (rugby players pretending to be runners) from across the region join me for various legs of the 20 mile run to Castle Douglas again all raising their own sponsorship for what for most will be the longest run of their lives.

I suppose at this stage I should confess to not being an elite endurance athlete, in fact I’m a teacher who plays rugby for Stewartry R.F.C and dabbles in triathlons over the summer to keep me out of trouble. What’s more; around two years ago I couldn’t swim more than four lengths in a pool and had never swam in open water before.

The training and preparation has included multiple circuits of Glenkiln reservoir, the River Dee and a crossing of Loch Ryan, lots of running and I will need to get my bike out of the garage soon…

The more sensible readers will be asking “why?” The answer to that is a combination of the noble and ignoble, of wisdom and folly.

I am raising funds for Cancer Research UK as a result of watching the slow passing of a man I consider myself lucky to have known. A man who in his youth and indeed beyond it was as his son once put it “An Iron-man before there were such things”.

That combined with foolishly discussing an entirely hypothetical route on the rugby bus one day after a few too many bangs on the head and celebratory beers. Before I knew it safety boats were being promised, transport for bikes arranged and it became evident I would have to actually attempt it.

There is a saying, “Always do sober what you said you’ll do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”

It’s a lesson I’m going to have to learn the hard way.

You can keep up to date with Jamie’s Galloway Tri Challenge on his Facebook Page and also make a donation on his Just Giving page.

Fans of hit TV show TOWIE are in for a treat as Youth Beatz announces a daytime appearance by FRANKIE ESSEX.

Frankie, who plays the sister of Joey Essex in the ITV2 show which regularly attracts over 2 million viewers, will appear on stage mid afternoon before conducting a meet and greet session with members of the audience. She joins the line up alongside headliner Professor Green, Amelia Lily, Finding Albert and a host of local acts at The David Keswick Centre Dumfries on Saturday 10th August.

Thomas Nicoll, a young person from the events team involved in organising the event said; “We have always tried to provide a daytime appearance at Youth Beatz. Getting a member of The Only Way is Essex cast will hopefully encourage people to get there earlier and enjoy some of the other daytime activities on offer”.

Organisers are promising a whole range of daytime activities to entertain the crowd including; Fairground Rides, Segways, Mobile Ski Slope, Laser Quest, Circus Skills, Inflatable assault courses and rodeos, soccerena and climbing wall among others.

The event will also feature the amazing World of Wonka, an immersive and interactive learning journey that meaningfully raises awareness of issues affecting the lives of young people. Other attractions include a high profile daytime guest appearance, activity-based entertainment, family attractions, youth services information, local musicians and community groups.

Now in its fifth year, the award winning event is managed through a partnership led by Community Learning and Development Nithsdale and is part funded by Nithsdale & Stewartry Area Committee. Funding for the event has been secured from Young Start Lottery Fund alongside main sponsors Magnox, Unite, Elections Team Dumfries & Galloway, Domestic Abuse and Violence against Woman Partnership as well as Dumfries and Galloway College and The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus.

Chair of Nithsdale Area Committee, Councillor Gill Dykes, said, “Nithsdale Area Committee felt it was important to support this interactive event for young people aged 12-25 years. As well as having fun and enjoying performances from major music artists, they can take part and be better informed about relevant issues, services and opportunities. Youth Beatz has been designed to encourage civic pride and encourage young people to be fully involved in their community. I am delighted at the line up so far and congratulate the staff and young people on all their efforts.”

Youth Beatz 2013 remains free to enter, although tickets will be required and can be obtained from www.youthbeatz.co.uk

Priority will be given to ticket applications from Dumfries and Galloway postcodes and organisers are advising people to get their tickets soon to avoid disappointment as demand has been phenomenal.

As a keen amateur photographer, I love to get out and about in Dumfries and Galloway when I can and take advantage of our wonderful countryside and some of the amazing events we have in the area!  As most of you know , I try to share my photo’s on the DGWGO pages for you all to enjoy.

Sometimes there is so much happening in D&G I just can not get to it all , and this weekend was one of those times! As I was busy working on Saturday at my normal job, it had to be a Sunday trip with the camera. And as it happened on Sunday just ( 30th June 2013) we had 2 fantastic events happening , The Dumfries Transport Group were holding their Truck Show at Park Farm in Dumfries , and it was also the fantastic Moffat Classic Car Rally . So for a wee change I decided to go and photograph some vintage vehicles instead of landscapes and castles!

Truck Show in Dumfries

I had been kindly invited to the truck show at Park Farm by the organisers , it was brilliant, although the morning was a bit overcast , there were great crowds there to see the 280 Lorrys, Trucks ,Vans , Tractors ad even Steam Engines! I was spoiled rotten , so many great things to photograph . One of my favourites being the large steam engine owned by T French Transport from Cumnock . I spoke to Tom French , the owner, while he was busy filling the Steam engine with water. He had to use a bucket as he hadn’t got a hose, and it took a huge mount of water to fill the tank. The steam engine called ‘Billy Boy’ was massive. Very noisy , but the smell of the hot fire, oil and steam combined was fantastic ( it’s a shame photo’s can’t catch that) . Tom was telling me Billy Boy had once been a Steam Roller that belonged to Rochdale Council ,but had been converted into a Traction Engine when it had been restored. Billy Boy weighed about 24 ton and was in beautiful condition, bright shiny brass and Chrome and lovely varnished wood , and rich red and gold paint! It was fantastic to get up so close to such a great piece of engineering, and I must thank Tom for taking the time to chat to me!

Click here to view 80 images of my day at the Dumfries Truck Show

Another one of my favourites at the Show was the James Gordon’s Recovery Vehicle , a Massive ex military Crane , that used to be used for rescuing stuck Tanks! But is now used for helping More civilian vehicles! I have actually seen Graham Montgomerie of Gordon’s rescue a tipped tractor with this crane once, and it made the 5 ton tractor look like a child’s toy!

After having a great hog roast roll from Taste of Galloway’s stand followed by an ice cream from Glen Urr for my lunch , I headed off to the Moffat Vintage Car Rally. Which I must admit I thought I wouldn’t get to take any photographs at, because the heavens opened at it was pouring down!

Moffat Car Rally

But by the time I reached the Wonderful wee town of Moffat, it was starting to clear, although I was starting to panic, as I had met several of the Classic Cars heading home on my way! But when I got there , there were still hundreds of cars to see in the field at the Moffat Show Ground! Every type of car you could dream of from Ferraris to an Arrol Johnston that was built in Dumfries , which had two wonderful Border collies sitting in it, one posed perfectly for a photo or two, while the other was sound asleep and didn’t seem to care much about the crowds looking at the car at all!

Click here to view over 100 images of my day at the Moffat Car Rally

There were over 900 cars involved in the rally altogether, and I must admit, as a car enthusiast and a photographer , it was fantastic to see. The car owners were so friendly, and would answer any questions you had, and they love you to take photos. I am ashamed to say I had never attended either event that I visited on Sunday before. But I will defiantly go to both again, and I can not recommend them enough as great family days out!

RB