Summer of Sport, Pt. 1

Every year, there is an event called the British Transplant Games, where those who have undergone transplant surgery take part in sporting events as a celebration of the life that's been given to them by medicine.

This year, with London 2012 hitting the headlines and keying the nation up for sport, Medway hosted the transplant games based around Medway Park in Gillingham, slotted in between the Olympics and the Paralympics at the end of August.

It would be wrong to say that this was high calibre competition, even if many were willing to approach the games seriously. Indeed, many were still clearly unwell from their traumas. It was probably best described as a Hospitals' Sports Day.

But as I said, when you think that many of those taking part owed their lives to the transplant they had undergone, then it was a great celebration of new life.

Sadly, the biggest disappointment was a near-complete lack of interest on behalf of the national media. On the two days I was there, there was no sign of any other photographer except me, and the games' own...

Maisie Danher, 7, in the Children's Obstacle Race.
Nikon D3S, 300mm f2.8 + TC14EII (= 420mm), 1/500th f4.0, 8000 ISO.
Thank heavens for D3S. Medway Park is not *cough* the brightest of venues, though at least the lights are
"simple" for colour temperature. Who thought painting the walls lurid "hospital green"
(thanks, T, for that description!) was a good idea, though...?

Transplant Games Volunteers Ian Lennox and Margaret Wood watching the archery on the Thursday.

A shady spot on a grandstand for the archery.

Archery gold medal-winner Sue Wrightson pondering her shoot. 

Cheering kids from Leeds Little Livers watch the Children's events.
Again, thank heavens for D3S - ISO 11400 now...!

John Wollington returns a shot in the table tennis. The small hall at Medway Park is much brighter than the main,
the same gear and setting but now only 3600 ISO... phew...
Haven't shot table tennis in a while, so I was pleased to get frames with a ball in the picture!

Chloe Stroud keeping score during the table tennis. A nice reaction picture.

Some of the competitors were very serious about doing their best. Here's somebody
making very sure they stay "in" during the softball competition!

Milliemay Burgess-Greenwood, 6, was the nearest thing to a "poster girl" for the
Transplant Games!  I couldn't get as clean a background as I wanted, though
the Saturday photographer had more luck outdoors on the running track.

Lisa Innes, another of those who were almost "poster girls" and one of the most serious of the competitors, here at
the tennis. I haven't shot tennis at all in a decade (and not serious tennis even then!). Luckily, at these more
low-key games, I was given half a chance to keep up...! D3S, 300mm f2.8 + TC14EII (=420mm),
1/1000 @ f4, ISO 1000.

At the opening ceremony in Rochester Cathedral, on Thursday evening, with those transplantees who had recently carried the Olympic torch to the forefront of the celebration.

Paul German takes the athletes' oath at the opening ceremony in Rochester Cathedral