Visiting the Main Press Centre at the Commonwealth Games

Had a day out to Glasgow yesterday to get the photo accreditation done and dusted for the Commonwealth Games.  After an early start and a long train ride to wet and windy Glasgow (they are keeping the good weather for 23.07-03.08) it was off to the Main Press Centre (MPC) at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) which was eerily quiet.  The photo repair firm Fixation were there and kindly stuck down a little edge of rubber-coated body on my D700 which had worked loose after many years of good service.  Check them out if you ever need gear replacing.

Then a short train ride out to Scotstoun which is hosting the table tennis and squash competitions.    Will be back next weekend to photograph the main matches in the Team competitions.

I've been given bib #844 for the duration, along with a natty rucksack, a water bottle, a Longines pen and a wee dram of whiskey.  The photo accreditation looks good, and gives free transport on buses and trains til the end of the games.  All in, very impressive.

Liam Pitchford retains his Senior Men's Single crown at the English Table Tennis Championships

Liam Pitchford (Chesterfield, club - TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen) retained his Senior Men's Single crown at the English Table Tennis Championships in Sheffield this weekend.

 

 In a busy afternoon where he had to fight past Andrew Baggaley in the semi-finals, he then partnered Paul Drinkhall to victory in the Men's Doubles against Andrew Baggaley and Darius Knight.

The final against Paul Drinkhall swayed both ways until Liam came out victorius to the delight of his family, friends and coach.

Going to the Commonwealth Games!

A happy start to the week as I have been told that I have been accredited as a photographer at the Commonwealth Games next year in Glasgow!  The English Table Tennis Association were kind enough to support my application which means that I will be able to take my camera into the Scotstoun Sports Centre next July and cover some of the tabel tennis matches for them.

There is now a lot of paperwork to sift through and get checked and sent off - worst bit will be getting a mugshot done for the photo pass.....