Zombie Netball

This past Wednesday was the annual Staff/Student Netball tournament, and we have a tradition that stems back through the ages. Well, a couple of years, anyway! The Staff team like to make a bit of an effort when it comes to sorting out a memorable outfit for the tournament, and this year Liz had chosen the theme of 'zombies'. So, with that in mind, Liz got busy with the face paint, and I got busy with the camera!

The tournament gives the staff and the students the chance to collectively let their hair down and share in an evening of good natured physical violence disguised as sport, and appearance is everything! Liz's handiwork proved to be excellent as usual, with an impressive array of zombies taking to the hardwood for the staff team!

The evening ended with an admirable draw between the staff team and the Level 6 team, with only a small number of injuries and only one hospitalisation (a new record!) More photos can be seen on Flickr here: Zombie Netball

Play-Offs 2012

After the end of the regular hockey season, the EPL closes proceedings with the Play-Offs. The top eight teams in the league are paired up in position order (1st v 8th, 2nd v 7th etc) for the Quarter Finals, a straight home-and-away aggregate competition, with the winning four teams progressing to the Semi Finals. As the Manchester Phoenix finished second, we were drawn against Swindon Wildcats for the Quarter Finals, and as usual I was covering the home game which happened to be the second leg of the tie.

The game ended in a resounding win for the Phoenix, and with the other fixtures going the way they went, the Phoenix found themselves heading to the Semi Finals to face local rivals, the Sheffield Steeldogs... The Semi Finals and Finals take place at the EPL Play-Off Weekend, a two-day bash that takes place in Coventry at the Skydome. It's an experience that I look forward to every year, it's a chance to let your hair down and party with hockey fans from all over the country. Hockey fans traditionally get on well, no matter which team they support, which makes it a fairly unique sport. Sure there's banter between fans during games, but the rivalries play out on the ice and not in the seats! As I wasn't there in an 'official' capacity, I was shooting the games from my seat, with my view partially obscured by the netting. As a result, many of my shots feature a rather fetching diamond pattern on them! But at least they don't detract too much! The first Semi-Final was played between hot favourites, the league winning Guildford Flames, and fourth placers Slough Jets:

Slough came from behind to go against form and book their place in the final. Next up it was the match we'd been waiting for, Manchester Phoenix v Sheffield Steeldogs, and it didn't disappoint! A game with plenty of goals and plenty of aggression, the Phoenix sealed the win on the penalty shootout, with the game having ended with a tied 5-5 scoreline. What a game!

With the final two teams decided, everyone was on the edge of their seats for what promised to be a cracking match. Alas, the Phoenix had very little left in the tank, and the Jets were able to power their way to a Play-Off title. It was a heart-breaking game, but there was still plenty of pride left in the Phoenix blocks.

But aside from the hockey, Play-Off Weekend is about the people. The supporters, the fans, the behind the scenes people, they're the ones who make Play-Off Weekend as enjoyable as it is! I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in the Phoenix Podcast live broadcasts again this year, and I was able to shoot the participants:

Even when you're taking part in a fun weekend, and letting your hair down, mixing with friends and encountering many wonderful characters, the opportunity for shooting a portrait or two is never far away!

The full set of off-ice shots can be seen on Flickr here: Play-Offs 2012 Here's to a productive off-season, and to the start of the 2012-2013 hockey season - woohoo!