Stepping forward: How running is becoming more prominent in the fitness world.

Kieran running with focus and determination on his comeback journey.

In 2024, the London Marathon ballot broke a world record with an incredible 578,374 applicants, a clear reflection of running’s growing popularity.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in people taking up running, a trend many links back to the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns keeping people indoors in 2019 and 2020, running became one of the few ways to stay active and escape the four walls of home.

But beyond the statistics lies a deeper question: what keeps people lacing up their trainers?

From a newcomer finding their stride, to a first-time marathoner chasing a lifelong goal, and a seasoned runner rebuilding after injury. These three personal journeys reveal how running offers far more than just fitness. In a world where health and wellness are constantly evolving, their stories highlight the physical, mental, and emotional power of simply putting one foot in front of the other.

Beginner Runner – First Steps

Beginner runner Sadie Waite-Burnell opened up about what first inspired her to lace up her trainers. As the weather began to improve, she felt the urge to get outside and make the most of it, but it was social media that gave her the final push. “Seeing people posting their runs, vlogging their journeys, and talking about how good they felt afterwards. I wanted to experience that runner’s high for myself,” she said.

She vividly remembers her first run, a moment that felt more frustrating than fulfilling. “I felt good, but honestly, it felt quite short and a bit pointless at the start,” she admitted. “Running is definitely mind over matter.” Like many beginners, she started slow, and she admitted to the real struggles, but she kept at it, reminding herself that improvement would take time, “I knew I had to be patient, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

I knew I had to be patient, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Sadie Waite-Burnell

Sadie ties her laces, ready to hit the road for another run. — Sadie tying her laces, ready to hit the road for another run.

Eventually, that patience paid off. “The first time I ran for 15 minutes straight, I was so proud of myself. Progress is easy to track with running, even if you run just one minute longer than last time, you can feel it and see it. That’s what kept me going.” She shared.

But with progress came many challenges, the thought of staying consistent and learning the dos and don’ts before going on a run, such as what sorts of foods to eat and staying hydrated, to reduce cramping and stitch.

She spoke about the mental battles just as much as the physical ones, how motivation can dip and how hard it can be to get out the door, especially when the weather’s bad or life gets in the way.

She added “Alot of the time it is down to mindset, I’ll be running and I’ll think I could really easily stop right now but it’s checking in with myself and being is it I want to stop or do I need to stop because realistically it’s the effort you’re putting in for yourself and your health and well-being.”

Tired but accomplished — Sadie after finishing her run.

Despite the hurdles, she’s continued running, learning to listen to her body, celebrate the small wins, and keep going at her own pace. She shared that “everyone should just go for it, give it a good try because it is definitely more a mental challenge rather than a physical one and it will definitely be worth it for the feeling you get after.”

First time marathon runner – pushing limits

Olivia Flanagan is set to run the London Marathon on April 27, 2025, for the charity Age UK. When asked why she signed up, she shared her personal motivation: “For myself. When I was 18, I was very ill, and my body would never have carried me 26.2 miles. But this one will.” She also added with a smile: “And honestly, the fear of the ‘what’s a fun fact about yourself’ question, I never had one, but now I will.”

When I was 18, I was very ill, and my body would never have carried me 26.2 miles. But this one will.
Olivia Flanagan

Having been a runner since she was 16, Flanagan wanted to take on a challenge that would push her and ultimately give her something to be proud of. While this journey has been incredible, it hasn’t been without its struggles. She opened up about the highs and lows of marathon training.

“I’ve had to sacrifice other aspects of my life. I don’t have much of a social life anymore, and I’ve become a lot more introverted. I’m tired outside of running, so I don’t have the energy to go out and be sociable. Mentally, it’s such a challenge, but I’m fortunate to have a great support system around me. I remind myself that it’s only temporary.”

Flanagan shared insights into her training routine and the schedule she follows in preparation for the marathon: “I’m a very logical thinker, so if I’ve followed a plan, everything should go according to it.”

As a dedicated runner, she has always run three to four times a week, typically covering distances of 10-15km. This solid foundation has certainly helped as she ramped up her training for the big event.

Digital fitness communities have played a significant role in the growing popularity of running. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have turned running into a trend, with users regularly sharing their routes, progress, and personal milestones. This visibility has inspired others to lace up their shoes and also fueled the rise of fitness-tracking apps like Strava, which hit 120 million registered users globally in 2024.

To keep her training on track, Flanagan relies on apps like Strava and RUNNA: “I use them to curate my marathon training plan, which includes a mix of easy runs, interval training, tempo runs, and long runs four times a week. My weekend long runs typically increase by 2 miles each week, though I do have some deload weeks slotted in, those are heaven.”

Olivia checking her progress on the RUNNA app after finishing her run.

When it comes to her diet, Flanagan explained that it hasn’t changed much despite the increased training intensity. “I don’t focus on calories, carbs, fats, or protein for personal reasons. However, I do try to be mindful in the days leading up to and the morning of my long runs, opting for more carb-dense meals. If I were to run a marathon again, I’d probably put more focus on a tailored meal plan alongside the physical training.”

As the big day approaches quickly, Flanagan reflects on the emotional weight of the marathon. With months of training behind her, she’s aware of the challenges still to come, but also the deep sense of accomplishment that awaits her at the finish line. “That I am capable of hard things. Running is so mental. Physically, I’ve been fit enough for years, but I think I’ve used this training to ‘train’ my brain to believe I can do it.”

While the marathon will undoubtedly be a monumental challenge, Flanagan already has plans to celebrate the achievement. She recognises that the journey has been as much about personal growth as it has been about reaching a physical goal.

“I can’t wait to see my girls and my boyfriend at the finish line and give them all the biggest squeeze. I wouldn’t have gotten through the tough parts of training without them.” she laughed as she added on: “And I absolutely will make it my whole personality for the next week or so.”

Olivia completing her run before taking on the marathon. — Olivia completing her final run before taking on the marathon.

Advanced runner – bouncing back

For many runners, setbacks come in many forms and for Kieran Gethins, it was an unexpected injury that derailed his marathon ambitions. What seemed like a routine Sunday football match turned into a painful reminder of how quickly things can change.

While playing football, the injury occurred during a tough 50/50 challenge. After winning the ball in the first tackle, the ball bounced into another 50/50 with a second player. As he went in for the second challenge, that’s when the injury happened.

Kieran's x-ray of his broken ankle. — Kieran’s x-ray of his broken ankle.

“Initially, I knew there was some damage, but I wasn’t sure if it was a break or just ligament damage. After going to the walk-in center and getting an X-ray, I was told it was a broken medial malleolus.”

The doctor explained that the heavy impact from the first tackle, followed by the second, made the ankle more vulnerable to breaking due to the double force within such a short time frame.

Gethins opened up about his initial reaction when he realised his injury would sideline him from his passions. “I was absolutely devastated, to be honest. Missing out on playing football, which is my number one passion, and running as well was a tough blow.”

Despite the setback, he maintained a positive mindset. “I try not to dwell on things or focus too much on the negative. I saw it as a huge obstacle, but also as something I could work towards. Of course, I was devastated, but I embraced it and didn’t let it get me down. I focused on how I would get back as soon as possible.”

Gethins is now 13 months down the line since the initial break and is still seeing physio weekly and doing rehab strengthen work, the process has been severely, long and he didn’t think it would take this long, but he soon realised the damage was so bad that it will take a long time to get back into it.

He spoke about the physical and mental challenges he’s faced in returning to running after the injury. “Physically, the biggest hurdle was the lack of ankle mobility and weakness in my right side; my calf, hamstring, glutes, and quads just weren’t at the level they were before the injury.”

Mentally, it was about accepting the reality that he couldn’t run at the same pace or comfort level as before.

“The hardest part was accepting that I had to start from scratch and build myself back up. Even now, I’m still not at the level I was pre-injury, and mentally, it’s tough knowing that every week, every month, there’s still work to do.”

As a result, he’s had to adjust his training plan, dedicating more time to warming up, stretching, and improving mobility. “What the injury has taught me is that it’s no longer as simple as just getting out of bed and lifting weights or going for a run and being fine. Because of the injury, I now have to make sure I do my warm-up properly and spend more time on it, or I risk causing more damage or aggravating the injury.”

It was never something I had to worry about but now I do
Kieran Gethins

The injury deepened his appreciation for running, a passion he had always enjoyed. “I’ve always loved running for the freedom it gives me, and how great it makes me feel mentally and physically. But not being able to even go for a walk at one point really made me realise how much I missed it. It’s definitely made me appreciate running even more, both for the mental clarity and the physical benefits it provides.

Running holds a deeper significance beyond physical fitness. While it undoubtedly helps maintain physical health, it also offers numerous mental and emotional benefits. As demonstrated by these three runners, each of them started from a different place, set personal goals, and faced various obstacles along the way.

Despite these challenges, they never gave up, continually improving and setting new targets for themselves

Whether it’s pushing through an injury, overcoming self-doubt, or simply striving to achieve a personal goal, running provides a platform for transformation. Despite these challenges, they never gave up, continually improving and setting new targets for themselves. Running, in its many forms, offers a deeper connection to oneself and a reminder that no goal is too distant as long as you keep moving forward.

Photojournalism Week 12

Following last week, I have finalised the pictures that I want to use and the style that I want to edit them In. I want to ensure that in all of the pictures used for the article, they are all in focus so this meant getting rid of some of the pictures which I though told a good story, like the following.

This photo is perfect for telling Dave Walsh’s side of the story but unfortunately he is out of focus slightly.

The picture above is confrontational and even has Dave holding up the three signs as he shoots three-pointers all the time. I recall Dave saying after the picture was taken that you’ve got to play up for the camera’s sometimes.

The reason Dave was out of focus was because I had the lens set to capture a certain distance from the camera. When I was sat just near the basket the players would normally be a set distance away from me when trying to score so I had adjusted the camera for this distance.

A West Yorkshire Hawks basketball player taking a shot over the top of a Sheffield Elite basketball player. — This picture turned out good, quality due to the setup of the lens on the camera.

The picture above was edited in the style that I want my final piece to be like which meant turning down the contrast layer to -30 and turning the exposure to +30. This changed the colouring of the pictures slightly but shows that attention has been paid to them and will give a consistent slick look to the final piece.

West Yorkshire Hawks: the organic growth of a local basketball team

The West Yorkshire Hawks basketball team put their arms into the middle of a huddle at the end of a game.

Basketball in the UK has never been anywhere near as big as sports like football, rugby or cricket. As a matter of fact, basketball had the lowest level of engagement amongst adults across the top 20 sports in the UK according to the latest EY Sports Engagement Index. But the Yorkshire region is actually one of the most engaged across the UK. It’s home to at least 6 of the teams within the top 3 divisions of English Basketball. One of those teams was only formed in 2023 and has just wrapped up play for their second season. That team is the West Yorkshire Hawks.

The Hawks gather for a team-talk before and after every game to go over tactics, what is going to help them succeed and how they prevent their opponents from scoring.

The team was founded by Mark Mills, a lecturer at the University of Leeds in their Business School. Even though Mark works at that University, the team is actually based at the University of Huddersfield, where they are linked to the BUCS basketball team that produce strong talents annually.

Mills said, “It’s been another season of learning for us. Week on week we are growing as a club. That’s kind of our goal. The results on the floor have been good. Are we frustrated that we haven’t won the league? Of course we are, but we are having an impact in our community. I am so proud of every single one of our players for what they’re doing.”

Mills was unfortunately referring to the Hawks narrowly missing out on taking the top spot of Division Three and earning promotion to Division 2. The Hawks were looking hopeful to come away with the trophy until the last few games of the season. Unfortunately, they came to face the eventual champions in the Sheffield Sharks who came away from Huddersfield with the victory.

The Hawks make sure to utilise the height advantage of their centre when on the offence, grabbing rebounds and scoring layups.

Mills continues to show his admiration for the local community showing up for the games on Saturday nights at the University. He said, “It’s been unbelievable how we’ve been embraced by the local community. We’re 2 years into a minority sport and we’ve got 200 people sitting courtside who have probably never been to a basketball game before in their life. Now they’re here cheering on the Hawks. They’re learning the sport, having a night out with the kids. It’s exactly what we envisaged when we set the club up.”

Mills initially held the title of head coach after founding the club. After the first season, however, the reigns were passed onto Danny Byrne who was formerly the Head Coach at the Manchester Giants, one of the leading English basketball teams in the British Super League. There was a vast contrast in the two sides going from the equivalent of the Premier League in football to a League Two side.

Head Coach Danny Byrne has found there to be a vast contrast in the intensity of play going from the top tier to the fourth tier of English Basketball.

“Obviously, professionally, (in Manchester) you’ve got a group of Americans that are top-level athletes and some of the top-quality British players that practice twice-a-day either individually or with the team. The intensity is crazy, and they come ready with that energy and that’s what they do for a living so that makes your life easier. You have time for just purely video sessions,” said Byrne.

Byrne continued, “I took a year out last year and then came to Division 3 West Yorkshire Hawks and we have two 90-minute sessions per week where you have to try and cram everything in. Everyone has full-time jobs so it’s not some of the players main priority. Some of the players just do it because they love it and enjoy it. Some of the other guys are desperate to get promoted to Division 2 because maybe they’ve fallen down a little bit and want to get back up.”

The maximum salary cap for Super League Basketball teams in the UK in 2022 was £250,000 according to Hoopsfix. This meant that, dividing it up by the number of players in a roster was about £20,833 per player. And that was for the highest division of English Basketball. In an environment where a full-time salary is unavailable at the third division it takes a great amount of commitment and dedication from the players to still show up but also from the staff.

There’s a mix of different activities held by the volunteers in-between breaks in play which include a gigantic inflatable ball that is sent through the stands.

At most of the intermissions on game night, the volunteers at the game do the utmost to keep fans engaged and enhance their experience by either pulling out an inflatable basketball, the height of a tall fully grown adult, and sending it through the crowd or doing something similar with a collection of small inflatable basketballs. There’s even a game at halftime where two younger members of the crowd get to take to the court and compete against each other to put on some oversized Hawks gear, run up and down the court and score a basket.

Mills who is part of this volunteering crew, is hoping to start some sessions for the younger players, next season. He said, “Nothing is confirmed but the plan is that we will grow. Fingers crossed; we will have more basketball. We’re looking at potentially some pathway junior teams and junior sessions to start-up. We have got a lot of junior fans, so it makes sense. Maybe there will be some more opportunities both men’s and women’s. If we can get it nailed for next season that would be great but if not, then definitely the season after.”

Fans storm the court at the end of each game to get pictures with their favourite players and get autographed jerseys.

At the end of every game the Hawks crowd get their chance to come onto the court and interact with the players, getting signatures and taking pictures, imitating the environment of a real NBA game but better than court-side tickets. Win or lose the Hawks players take their time for the fans who create an incredible atmosphere weekly. Helped by the speakers blasting out the words ‘DEFENCE!’ every time the Hawks are defending their basket; the crowd joins in with the chant and makes sure to provide the squad with all the support they need.

Every team in the division has lost to the Hawks at least one this season and most have struggled to find a solution to this.

The loud crowd and tough opposition mean for a tough Saturday night for the away team and the Hawks’ player of the season only adds to this. Dave Walsh has played basketball at multiple different teams in the Yorkshire region including the Division one side Bradford Dragons.

Dave Walsh was hailed as one of the leaders on the team by Head Coach Danny Byrne and ensures to create a winning atmosphere.

Walsh is regarded by both fans and teammates as the resident sharpshooter, who knows no limit to his range of three-pointers. When the Head Coach, Danny Byrne, was still in Manchester, he tried to sign Dave multiple times.

Walsh had mixed emotions about the second season. He said, “This season has been up and down. We’ve had some huge highs and a couple of lows. We’ve dropped games and points which have put us in the position that we are now in. We could’ve walked away as the league winners but second in the league is something we’ll take.”

After playing Cheshire Wire, the Hawks’ last home game of the season on the 15th of March, Walsh expressed his excitement for what was to come in the playoffs; “I think we’ll be ready. We’ve got a couple of weeks off now so there is plenty of time to practice, and plenty of work to be done. Luckily, we can keep this season rolling over and hopefully we can get to the finals in Manchester,” said Walsh.

The opposition always try their hardest in order to imitate the form of Dave Walsh as that seems to be the way to not miss.

The Hawks faced their local rivals in the playoffs in Sheffield against the Sharks development team. The winners of the division and the backup to the Sheffield Sharks Super League team, who compete at the highest level of English Basketball. The Hawks had faced the Sharks 5 weeks prior in February, but took one of the hardest losses of the season as they failed to win by 20 points which was also the point in the season where they realised, they couldn’t win the league as long as the Sharks kept winning games. The playoffs were then a similar story for the Hawks as they lost by just 11 points against the Sharks at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield.

Even though the Hawks missed out on any silverware this season, they will be pressing the other teams in the division so that it can be secured next season.

So, a spanner has been thrown in the works for the Hawks, but the team won’t let this dampen their mood going into next season. Dave Walsh still hopes that the fans will be happy to see him sport the number three shirt again. He said, “I think there is going to be some changes. I’m pretty sure that the Hawks fans are going to see me in the kit again next season, It will be good and we’re going to really make the push again for Division 2 next season.”

Head Coach, Danny Byrne, said, “I haven’t really thought about it yet, only a little bit. We’re going to try and bring in a few more players and strengthen the areas that we need the strength in. I think we’re going to improve the University team as well. We have a couple of players in there that we need to figure out how to mesh together.”

The University works in tandem with the Hawks in order to develop and grow talent in the West Yorkshire region, but specifically student athletes at the University. The university squad earned promotion from the fourth to third tier of BUCS Northern basketball after a win over the University of Sunderland in mid-March. This of course, means that some players would have to work more than others having to train with both the University side and the club. It may contribute to exhaustion but at the same time, improvement in skill level which in turn may have contributed towards the Hawks finishing second in the league.

It’s a common sign of respect in English Basketball to shake hands with all players and officials involved in a game, win or lose.

The saying, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’ reflects nicely with what has happened at the West Yorkshire Hawks Basketball Club. It’s not just the players but also the coaching staff, the volunteers at the games, the fans who attend weekly, the sponsors who contribute towards kits, funding and other various expenses and even a whole university.

The Hawks players welcome the fans wanting autographs and pictures towards the end of every game.

The players make sure to acknowledge this through their interactions with the fans. After all 8 of the home games this season the players and fans showed their mutual admiration for each other as they worked to achieve 11 wins and 3 losses record. Only one of those losses at home. The University student Central would be known as a fortress for teams travelling to face the Hawks.

Week six workshop

This week, we have been looking at post production, specifically cropping and colour correcting images.

I used images I took last week when we looked at ISO and edited them.

Below you can see the before and after.

Before:

A girl is jumping with her legs out to the side over a black and yellow bollard

After:

Although the images are only slightly different, changes were made. I lowered the brightness, upped the contrast, increased the vibrancy and lowered the saturation.

I did these things because I felt as though the original image was slightly washed by the natural sunlight but I wanted to maintain and enhance the vibrant vibe produced from the image itself.

Image two

The second image I chose was one that I have previously took of people playing goalball. When I took these image I had no knowledge of how to use a camera so was just guessing and therefore, post production editing is vital.

Before:

Three men sit in a triangualr formation on a gymnasium floor. They all have their hands on the floor and eye masks on

After:

For this image there is a very clear difference. I drastically increased the brightness, lowered the contrast and increased the vibrance.

The original image was very dark and quite yellow toned so in order to counteract these issues, i made the image brighter and more vibrant. It adds a crispness and freshness to the once dingy looking image and make the quality better.

I also cropped out the two bi-standards as they do not add anything to the image and are therefor, not needed.

Esher triumphs at close of dramatic season

Esher Rugby club, established in 1923, is a rugby union superpower in the Surrey region. They’re a well run club with an impressive number of sponsors and incredible facilities, with a packed out stand for every home fixture and a wonderful community – and they spent this season on the edge of being promoted, with everything hinging on their final performance.

They have a storied history. Esher Rugby club made it as far as the championship in the 2010-2011 season. In recent times they’ve been moving up and down between the national leagues though. After a very hard fought for promotion into National League 1 in the 2021-2022 season, the club found themselves back in National 2 East at the end of last season. Hurt but determined to recreate their previous successes, Esher rose back to the top of the league table and with retribution on their minds, promotion was once again in their sights. This article seeks to understand what went wrong initially and what changed to make such a significant turn around.

Their last game, Esher Rugby club took on Wimbledon at home in the pursuit of a bonus point victory, in turn placing them in very good stead for a likely promotion.

First, a reminder of what occurred to see this club battling for another promotion spot. Given their promotion in the 2021-2022 season, high expectations were placed on Esher’s shoulders to make a noticeable impact in a league where many believe they belong. They quickly realised that high spirits and solid recruitment weren’t going to be enough to compete at that level.

Player jumping mid air during Warm-up — *Warming up before the vital game* ahead

After a notable loss to Rams in round one of the competition, Esher went on to a run of 9 straight loses entering round 10 with not a single victory. After this colossal setback a mixture of results kept them in contention, but after such a poor start to the league there was little that could be done to save the club from relegation.

A number of significant factors were present in Esher’s unfortunate endeavours. The challenges started when a vast amount injuries struck the club at the start of the season, laying waste to a number of influential players in the starting line-up. This had a consequential impact on some of the results. Although recruitment was a particular area of focus in the pre season stint, securing players from premiership clubs on a loan it clearly wasn’t sufficient enough. Additionally, many of the teams that Esher came across were well equipped, well established and very well coached and within many areas demonstrated their experience and professional quality against Esher who in some cases appeared as rookies in comparison. Teams such as Sale FC and Cambridge beating Esher by 30+ points difference proved this to be the case.

Overall, the damage was primarily down to a run of 9 straight losses where certain injuries led to poor performances that lacked a lot of clarity and the team looked extremely out of place.

Player mid air catching the ball in centre third — *Securing the high ball after the first try of the match*

Before the action begins it is crucial to understand that Esher harnessed the disappointment form the previous mistakes and losses and have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure they have the best chances of resurrecting their full potential. This included the rehabilitation of injured players to guarantee a fully fit and functioning squad was able to take the field by the start of the season.

Also how the managing staff wanted to approach their attacking style of play to be significantly more fluent engaging in a more offload based DNA which was highlighted in one of their training sessions

Upon arrival it was clear to see the level of passion from the supporters – as a deafening, chanting crowd took to the stands 10 minutes before the first whistle. Burger vans, open bar and beef jerky shop and perfect conditions keeping the fans entertained for what promised to be a nail-biting fixture.

Player lifted into the air to catch the ball — *Club Captain Adam Bullett takes the high ball at Kick-off*

Player jumping into the air to catch ball after a lineout — *Man of the Match Ben Kirby owning Lineout possession*

It took only a single minute for this seasons current lead try scorer James Botterill to touch down under the sticks laying the groundwork for what came next. Botterill currently the leagues top try scorer on that left wing working in tandem with the young break through fullback Harry Faulkner Additional key players such as Ben Kirby (left) a new signing for the club this season, added his masterclass at number 8, providing a notable presence in the lineout and open play.

His man of the match performance was vital in what came to be a a very one sided affair. Before this fixture took place Esher were sat on 92 points with Dorking 93 and Barnes 92, so the pressure was on Esher to pull a massive performance out of the bag with a bonus point victory over Wimbledon which would give them a total of 97 and therefore top of the league table with only 4 fixture remaining.

The ever present and vast bulk of second row Fraser Wem shown on the right, with ball in hand preparing for what was the first of many influential carries within the game. His 6ft 8 inch durability coupled with his surprisingly manoeuvrable 120kg weight distribution, made for some exceedingly important yards made in the opposition defensive line. This was accompanied by Pierre Thompson, another star individual controlling the tempo of the game at 9, with his emphatically impressive boot and passing attributes, providing the forward pack that featured (Kirby) and (Wem) with a good sense of direction by securing quick ball and speed at the breakdown. The first half came to a close in what seemed to take a matter of moments, given the amount of fast paced action on display. With the halftime whistle sounded, the score was stationed at 43-0 to Esher, thus glorifying their chances of a bonus point victory. The extensive selection of food and beverage items were a notable inclusion in the halftime break, attracting the crowds in there masses. Moreover, it was clear to see the fan engagement during that first half was something to behold, a very impressive number was in attendance, which could be heard when ever a try was scored, and as the score board indicates, try scoring became a very regular occurrence.

Player in top third holding ball other player around him — *Fraser Wem preparing for a monstrous carry*

Player using foot to retrieve the ball from pile of bodies — *Star Scrum half Pierre Thompson aiming to put pressure on with a box kick*

4 players across the thirds ball passed mid air — *A fizzing pass to ball carrier hiding in the right hand third*

The second half just like the first took the form of an extremely entertaining spectacle, with the opposition giving everything to stay in the fight, aided by former Esher play maker Tom Mitchell (left passing ball). However, Esher simply denying them any avenue into the game with and emphatic defensive gameplan.

Another flourish of tries including Ben Robins claiming his hattrick accompanied by an exemplary display off the kicking tee from 1XV Captain Sam Morley.

The final score exacting to 62-19 and Esher as the victors with a 5 point gain in the league table.

Going into this 2023-2024 season there were already noticeable additions to the league table with Dorking gaining a promotion form London & South East Premier in the 2021-2022 season. Dorking were one of the potential favourites this season, as were a very in-form Barnes both of whom are currently nipping at the heals of Esher in the league table. In their first encounter of the season, Esher managed to exert a phenomenal performance beating Dorking by 38-19 despite a narrow loss in the first game of the season to Barnes, setting the tone for a range of significant victories.

The final whistle blew at the end of the game and a standing ovation greeted the players as they left the field. it was at this moment I captured a very heart warming sentiment as Esher rugby Club Captain Adam Bullett was reunited with his new born son after a thrilling game of rugby. Bullett has played for the club for several seasons now and was the acting captain during promotion and relegation during the 2 seasons prior to the current. His dedication to the club combined with an evidently very patient wife, saw him adopt the title of club captain something he describes and an ‘Honour’.

Player close up holding baby looking into camera — *Club Captain Adam Bullett after a fantastic win met by his 4 month old son*

When addressed in the post match interview around taking on the role as a father, Laughing he stated “Playing rugby off of 3/4 hours sleep is a bit tricky, but overall its amazing to have the little one there watching, it makes game day even more special and even more special coming off the pitch to have him there is definitely extra motivation.

Player close up smiling looking a camera — *Club Captain Bullett agreeing to a post match interview approaches*

After politely agreeing to a post match interview, here is what he had to say. (see Below).

After coming off the field, off the back of a victory that now really sets this story alight, Bullett had plenty to add in terms of the team and their future prospects. When asked about what went wrong last season to see relegation he stated “I think we were exposed quite a bit in terms of our strength and depth. We had a number of injuries in key positions which really hurt us” shifting the questioning to the team and players around him.

Bullett mentions that the main focus is on winning the next 4 games, saying “I’d think I would be lying if I said we weren’t eyeing up that promotion, but I think you’ve got to take each game as it comes we still have some really big games ahead, Barnes away for one and I know Dorking and Barnes are playing some really good rugby so we need to be aware of that as well”. The main question of how would the club approach next season if they were to be promoted, Bullett replied stating that “National 1 is a hugely physical league and you need a substantial amount of players across the squad as a whole, so hopefully we can recruit in those areas and give us a fighting chance, ultimately you get injuries and you need strength and depth. Also I think lots of the lads have now experienced national 1 rugby and know what its like to loose so that should be an extra advantage. Its completely different to national 2 and we know what’s going to come”.

The flourishing community at Esher rugby club has proven that with the combination of coach/player commitment and determination along with fan and spectator support. This team have managed to regroup and emerge as one of the most dangerous in the national league set up. The touching story of how they performed a major bounce back after what seemingly took the form of a horror show last season, is a commendable tribute to the composure and tenaciousness of Esher rugby club. Many fans will hope to see them back where they belong, stationed as a level 3 competitor and being put to the test once again. As Esher’s talisman club captain said “as a club Esher rugby want to be a National 1 club, Also it’s the club centenary year this year. So that’s 100 years of Esher rugby. So to be able to to get promoted and go back to national one within this centenary year will be massive.”

‘I want to finish the London marathon’ Beckett student sets his sights on the popular race this year

Close-up shot of Leeds Beckett Student Jake Quarmby who's wearing a purple training top and holding a ball after futsal training. — With the marathon event only a few months away, Jake has begun preparations with weekly runs of 10 miles whilst also balancing the futsal which is currently underway. “Image by Carlos Nunes”

Leeds Beckett student Jake Quarmby has set himself the objective to finish the London Marathon race which will be held in April of this year.

Quarmby’s chosen charity is Macmillan Cancer Support, and he hopes to raise enough money to help and support families going through tough times.

Part of his decision to run the marathon came through a friend of his who also took part in the event last year he revealed: “I was inspired to run the London Marathon after watching my friend Cieran run it last April for his chosen charity which was the MS UK.

I was taken aback by the atmosphere and really wanted to be a part of the event whilst raising money for a good cause.”

“During my secondary school years, I completed in cross country competitively for my county, Merseyside, however, I fell out of love with the sport and feel like this marathon will provide me the perfect opportunity to pick up running again.”

Whilst Quarmby has started his preparations for the marathon, he is also part of Beckett’s futsal team who train & play three times a week and so he must balance the two, which comes with its own set of challenges.

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“I am finding it challenging to balance futsal and running training at the same time to allow enough time for recovery.

As a result, I am currently only managing one long run a week around 10 miles which is less volume than I would like, however, I’m still feeling positive with how the training is going.”

Just finishing the race and hopefully inspiring others to partake in similar events is what Quarmby hopes to achieve with his actions.

Workshop Task – Week One. Young Rhinos star aiming for big year after try scoring start to 2024

Rugby League side Leeds Rhinos running from left to right during a training session at AMT Headingley Stadium.

Leeds Rhinos face Hull KR this Sunday as both sides have one final test before the start of the upcoming Betfred Super League season on 14th February.

Heading into the game, rising talent Luis Roberts is in red hot form, notably scoring tries in both of Leeds’ recent friendlies against Wakefield and Bradford. Speaking about his progress in his second year at the club, he revealed: “I’ve finally got a full pre-season under my belt and I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds.

“Sunday will be like a Super League game. I’m really looking forward to what we’re building on this year and what the future holds for me.”

Leeds Rhinos player Luis Roberts in training with his Rhinos team mates — Centre Luis Roberts is aiming for a big second season as a Rhinos player. Photo by Dan Hawkhead.

Leeds Rhinos player Luis Roberts in the centre of the frame surrounded by his Rhinos team mates during a training session. — Centre Luis Roberts is aiming for a big second season as a Rhinos player. Photo by Dan Hawkhead.

Sunday’s game is special in particular to James Donaldson, who has been honoured with a testimonial and all proceeds from the match will go to supporting his future. Although Roberts has only played nine times with Donaldson, the forward’s impact on the younger players has been invaluable.

“For what Donno [Donaldson] has done for the club and his career, we’re all excited to celebrate him,” said Roberts.

“When you look back at the start of his career and how as a Cumbrian lad, he moved to Bradford to risk it all, then went on to play for Hull KR and Leeds, where he has won a Challenge Cup. We all want to be someone like Donno and he’s someone us young lads look up to.”

With another top performance on Sunday, Roberts will hope to be definitely in the conversation for a shirt when round one comes around on a fortnight.