Interest is growing - but still need to find wrestlers!

STOP PRESS!

I may just be about to arrange to photograph a Paralympian who won gold at Beijing...  Watch this space for details (I'm just waiting for his permission to post a link to his profile!)

I'm also delighted to report that I've got two young athletes from BMHC ready and raring to be photographed.  So, that's 4 athletes under the age of 16 at the moment.  What I need now is a few from the other end of the age scale...  If anyone knows any sportsmen or women over the age of 70 who are still training, playing for fun or even competing: please get in touch!

I am also still waiting to hear back from representatives of baseball, boxing, canoe/kayak, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, sailing, swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, table tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling...  

The fabulous updated list of participating clubs and societies:

- Havant Rifle and Pistol Club - http://www.havant-rpc.org.uk/

- Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club - http://www.bmhac.co.uk/

- Phoenix Badminton Club - http://www.phoenixbadminton.hampshire.org.uk/

- Hampshire Hornets Wheelchair Basketball Club - http://www.hampshirehornets.co.uk/

- BTC Rowing Club - http://www.btcrowingclub.co.uk/

- Southampton University Rifle Club - http://www.soton-rifle.org.uk/

- Basingstoke Volleyball Club - http://www.basingstokevc.org.uk/bvc/

- Overton and Basingstoke Taekwondo - http://www.obtkd.org.uk/

- Basingstoke Bluefins Water Polo - http://www.bluefinspolo.co.uk/

- Totally Tennis Basingstoke - http://www.totallytennis.co.uk/

- Old Basing Archers - http://www.oldbasingarchers.co.uk/

- Modern Pentathlon Southern Region - http://www.srmpa.co.uk/

- Solent Softball League - http://solentsoftballleague.webs.com/

- Wessex Basketball Association - http://www.wessexbasketball.co.uk/

The list grows

Thank you to Basingstoke and Bluefins and to Phoenix Basketball for letting me gate-crash their practice sessions this week.  I was really glad to get to chat with some of you and hope to photograph you soon!

And I'd like to give a very special 'shout out' to Hampshire Hornets who are off to Sheffield this weekend for the national finals of the Junior 8 Feet competition!  Have a great time.

And now, a little update - Members from the following clubs and organisations have now 'signed up' to be part of the project:

- Hampshire Hornets Wheelchair Basketball Club - http://www.hampshirehornets.co.uk/
- BTC Rowing Club - http://www.btcrowingclub.co.uk/
- Southampton University Rifle Club - http://www.soton-rifle.org.uk/
- Basingstoke Volleyball Club - http://www.basingstokevc.org.uk/bvc/

- Overton and Basingstoke Taekwondo - http://www.obtkd.org.uk/

- Basingstoke Bluefins Water Polo - http://www.bluefinspolo.co.uk/

- Totally Tennis Basingstoke - http://www.totallytennis.co.uk/

- Old Basing Archers - http://www.oldbasingarchers.co.uk/

- Modern Pentathlon Southern Region - http://www.srmpa.co.uk/

- Solent Softball League - http://solentsoftballleague.webs.com/

- Wessex Basketball Association - http://www.wessexbasketball.co.uk/

HURRAH!

How exciting!

So, the hunt for athletes to participate in the project has finally taken off.  I've been 'penning' emails and pinging them off to clubs and organisations all around Hampshire and am pleased to report that the following folk are definitely interested in getting involved in 'A Sporting Chance':

- Overton and Basingstoke Taekwondo - http://www.obtkd.org.uk/
- Basingstoke Bluefins Water Polo - http://www.bluefinspolo.co.uk/
- Totally Tennis Basingstoke - http://www.totallytennis.co.uk/
- Old Basing Archers - http://www.oldbasingarchers.co.uk/
- Modern Pentathlon Southern Region - http://www.srmpa.co.uk/
- Solent Softball League - http://solentsoftballleague.webs.com/
- Wessex Basketball Association - http://www.wessexbasketball.co.uk/

A big thank you everyone who has responded positively so far: I can't wait to start making some pictures!

p.s.  Good luck to all the members of Overton and Basingstoke Taekwondo who are competing this weekend!

A Sporting Chance 2012

Between 14th July and 11th of August, 2012, The Willis Museum in Basingstoke will be the venue for the photographic exhibition, 'A Sporting Chance'.  The exhibition will featuring portraits of Hampshire based amateur sports men, women and young people, and is my first solo show.


To find out more, or to have your portrait made for the show, please contact me at the following email address:  denise.sportingchance@gmail.com


I shall be making the portraits at locations in and around the Basingstoke area during April and May.


The exhibition is being part-funded by a grant from University of Wales, Newport where I am currently in the 2nd year of a Documentary Photography degree.  I am incredibly grateful for their financial help and am also very appreciative of the support of Jenny from The Willis Museum who has given me the opportunity to show my work.


Although I am yet to start 'shooting' for the project, I am planning on photographing my subjects in their ordinary clothes - rather than their sports gear - but either wearing, or holding kit that is relevant to their chosen discipline.  (For example, I might have a photograph of a nurse in uniform, holding a discus!)


Below, I am posting a few images.  The first is by Brian Griffin, he was commissioned to make work to celebrate the Olympics, and although I don't really like the 'rigidity' and artificiality of the poses, I love the fact that he shows us another side of these former athletes.  The other portraits are mine.  I thought that you might like to see some of my own work.

Portrait of Denise Lewis and Jonathan Edwards, by Brian Griffin

From the series, 'Red'

'This is Strength', from a series made in the immigration camps on Malta