Saturday, 4 October 2008
Photos from Waitarere trickling onto Flickr
With a backlog of photos to edit from the Wairarapa 2 day Tinui event, it's taken me a while to get started on Waitarere, but I hope to have caught up before the next WATRC ride at Maymorn.
Rather than keep folk waiting, I decided to upload the photos I've selected so far, and I'll carry on with the edit task and upload the rest as I'm able, finalising the set sometime next week.
In some ways, the hardest part is done, with most of the forest photo selection done. Photographing riders in the Waitarere forest quickly exposes the limitations of one's gear and talents. At low resolution , some of you may notice that the forest pictures have greater contrast than the farm shots. At high resolution, you'll notice a lot of "noise" in the darker parts of the images. This is from pushing the sensitivity of the camera so as to shoot in low light.
If you also notice some bluriness, this is more to do with the limitations of the photographer. Using telephotos at slower shutter speeds (again because of the low light) a steadier hand is required ;-)
Anyway, as the caption on the photos page says, editing and uploading is still in progress, so if you saw me on the trail but there isn't a photo of you yet, look again when the set is final, and with any luck there'll be a shot of you.
Rather than keep folk waiting, I decided to upload the photos I've selected so far, and I'll carry on with the edit task and upload the rest as I'm able, finalising the set sometime next week.
In some ways, the hardest part is done, with most of the forest photo selection done. Photographing riders in the Waitarere forest quickly exposes the limitations of one's gear and talents. At low resolution , some of you may notice that the forest pictures have greater contrast than the farm shots. At high resolution, you'll notice a lot of "noise" in the darker parts of the images. This is from pushing the sensitivity of the camera so as to shoot in low light.
If you also notice some bluriness, this is more to do with the limitations of the photographer. Using telephotos at slower shutter speeds (again because of the low light) a steadier hand is required ;-)
Anyway, as the caption on the photos page says, editing and uploading is still in progress, so if you saw me on the trail but there isn't a photo of you yet, look again when the set is final, and with any luck there'll be a shot of you.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Waitarere - first ride of the WATRC season - 28 September
A flier for the ride was posted to the mailing list a week or so ago, and I've been very remiss in not getting it onto the website sooner, so this quick note by way of notification in case any of you are users of the blog or the RSS feed (that works automatically off the blog). Check the details in the Calendar
In fact, Leslie and I have an early start in the morning, travelling over the hill to Tinui and the Wairarapa club's 2 day Endurance ride. They're putting on a 2 day pre-novice 40 km event (40 kms each day) but we'll only be competing on the Saturday, staying overnight to help out for a part of Sunday before coming back. Mainly a matter of seeing a new venue and getting a good training ride in before Waitarere.
Hope to see some of you there, but if not, no doubt we'll catch up at Waitarere.
In fact, Leslie and I have an early start in the morning, travelling over the hill to Tinui and the Wairarapa club's 2 day Endurance ride. They're putting on a 2 day pre-novice 40 km event (40 kms each day) but we'll only be competing on the Saturday, staying overnight to help out for a part of Sunday before coming back. Mainly a matter of seeing a new venue and getting a good training ride in before Waitarere.
Hope to see some of you there, but if not, no doubt we'll catch up at Waitarere.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Wairarapa's Clareville Ride - Photos on Flickr now
Well, we're back. While the WATRC season doesn't start for another couple of weeks, some of our members made the trek to Clareville last weekend and got a head start on the season.
The day could not have been better weather-wise. The rain abated for a day that started with a frost that caught a few of us by surprise. Although the sun shone, there was a cooling breeze throughout the day - good for the heart rates.
Perhaps most surprising was the size and strength of the Open field - 13 competitors took advantage of the flat Clareville course, an ideal test of the horses' start of season fitness.
Some very muddy sections of the trail tended to slow the pace, but despite this riders mostly managed their time very well - a few even managing to rush the course and come in too early.
The photographer, having to work to an Open class timetable to assist with strapping, took an "out-and-back" route, getting as far as the river crossing before returning to meet riders on their return to base. Consequently most riders completing two loops passed him twice, and some three times, affording ample opportunity for shots.
You can access the photos from the link on the WATRC Photos page
Enjoy
The day could not have been better weather-wise. The rain abated for a day that started with a frost that caught a few of us by surprise. Although the sun shone, there was a cooling breeze throughout the day - good for the heart rates.
Perhaps most surprising was the size and strength of the Open field - 13 competitors took advantage of the flat Clareville course, an ideal test of the horses' start of season fitness.
Some very muddy sections of the trail tended to slow the pace, but despite this riders mostly managed their time very well - a few even managing to rush the course and come in too early.
The photographer, having to work to an Open class timetable to assist with strapping, took an "out-and-back" route, getting as far as the river crossing before returning to meet riders on their return to base. Consequently most riders completing two loops passed him twice, and some three times, affording ample opportunity for shots.
You can access the photos from the link on the WATRC Photos page
Enjoy
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Newsletter 109 published - Prizegiving and AGM date set
With the riding season over, things do go a little quiet on the club front, and so there hasn't been much to report for some weeks. Now however we have a confirmed date for the Prizegiving and AGM, combined with the celebration of WATRC's 21st birthday - a milestone in the life of any entity.
It's clear that our committee have been busy on our behalf in the times between. The issues that the club confronted in the latter half of the season have still to be addresed, but it's encouraging to learn that relations with ESNZ remain cordial, and discussions continue. Even more encouraging is the desire reported on behalf of ESNZ to see CTR grow, along with the willingness of our own members to continue to put forward remits aimed at the betterment of the sport under the ESNZ umbrella.
Details of the Prizegiving and AGM can be found in the latest Newsletter or in the Calendar. We hope that as many of you as are able will be there - it will be fun to catch up.
It's clear that our committee have been busy on our behalf in the times between. The issues that the club confronted in the latter half of the season have still to be addresed, but it's encouraging to learn that relations with ESNZ remain cordial, and discussions continue. Even more encouraging is the desire reported on behalf of ESNZ to see CTR grow, along with the willingness of our own members to continue to put forward remits aimed at the betterment of the sport under the ESNZ umbrella.
Details of the Prizegiving and AGM can be found in the latest Newsletter or in the Calendar. We hope that as many of you as are able will be there - it will be fun to catch up.
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Network problems at WCN
Along with other sites hosted by the Wellington Community Network, WATRC was unavailable last weekend due to problems outside the WCN's control. If you were trying to access the website and couldn't, that's why.
With the weather forecast looking very marginal, the Orongorongo fun ride was called off. Apparently the Terawhiti ride on the Saturday did proceed, despite the cold conditions.
With the weather forecast looking very marginal, the Orongorongo fun ride was called off. Apparently the Terawhiti ride on the Saturday did proceed, despite the cold conditions.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Orongorongo Trek - wrap up the season with a fun ride
Just when you thought it was all over for another year, the club has a fun ride planned for Sunday 20 April. Check the flyer for details. From the road end at Orongorongo Station to Barney's Whare via the coast is about 6 kilometers, so with a relaxed pace and a stop for lunch this should not be too taxing a ride. Barney's Whare is on the western coast of Palliser Bay, about halfway between Turakirae Head and Fisherman's Rock.
We understand that there will also be another fund raiser ride over Terawhiti on Saturday 19 April, possibly following a trail to the Terawhiti homestead, but we have no other details, sorry.
Upload of the Rewanui photos is now complete and there is a link from the Photos page
We understand that there will also be another fund raiser ride over Terawhiti on Saturday 19 April, possibly following a trail to the Terawhiti homestead, but we have no other details, sorry.
Upload of the Rewanui photos is now complete and there is a link from the Photos page
Wairarapa's Rewanui CTR photos uploading
As I write, a set of photos from the Wairarapa Endurance and CTR Club ride held at Rewanui on 30 April (originally billed as Tinui on the Wairarapa ride calendar) is uploading to Flickr. This was the last ride of the Wairarapa club's season.
As I understand, this was the first time the Rewanui Forest Park has been used as a CTR venue, and competitors are grateful to the Trimble Foundation, the farm leasee, and the farm manager, Paul, and his family. And of course, to the stalwarts of the Wairarapa club who organised the day.
As noted previously, we found a window of opportunity in the weather, and most of the day was fine, if a little overcast. Because of the lower than usual light levels, the photos have been shot at 1600 ASA, with the result that they are a lot "noisier" than usual. This manifests in a somewhat "grainy" appearance and the colours are a little "flat" and the focus a little "soft". At screen resolution, it probably won't show too badly, but if you want to blow up an image to a larger size, for printing, then you should check before you spend.
Our personal thanks to Paul and Noelle who kindly allowed us to camp overnight at the venue - we would otherwise have had a prohibitively early start to our day ;-)
As I understand, this was the first time the Rewanui Forest Park has been used as a CTR venue, and competitors are grateful to the Trimble Foundation, the farm leasee, and the farm manager, Paul, and his family. And of course, to the stalwarts of the Wairarapa club who organised the day.
As noted previously, we found a window of opportunity in the weather, and most of the day was fine, if a little overcast. Because of the lower than usual light levels, the photos have been shot at 1600 ASA, with the result that they are a lot "noisier" than usual. This manifests in a somewhat "grainy" appearance and the colours are a little "flat" and the focus a little "soft". At screen resolution, it probably won't show too badly, but if you want to blow up an image to a larger size, for printing, then you should check before you spend.
Our personal thanks to Paul and Noelle who kindly allowed us to camp overnight at the venue - we would otherwise have had a prohibitively early start to our day ;-)
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