Crikey indeed! It's been a particularly busy month at TGS towers, but it's time to blog again.

Here are a few highlights of the last few weeks and it's certainly been a time for winners...

The famous Hackney & Leyton Sunday League stages no less than FIVE Cup Finals at the end of each season. The games are traditionally held at Leyton Football Club and TGS was on hand to cover all of them. Here's a roll call of this season's winners:

Jack Morgan Cup - Midfield FC
Albert Daniels Senior Cup - Real Romania FC
Dickie Davies Cup - Lapton FC
Jack Walpole Cup - Clapton Rangers FC (pictured below)
Hackney Gazette Cup - Bancroft United FC



Click HERE for more Hackney & Leyton Cup Final images!

However, the season ended with some sadness for the players and officials of the League. The unique dressing room block at the East Marsh of Hackney Marshes is to be demolished as preparations continue for the 2012 Olympics. The main Olympic site is only a couple of hundred yards from the East Marsh which is to be used as a coach park for the duration of the games.

So, on Sunday 2nd May 2010, the block was used for the last time. Here a Black Meteors players makes his way to the pitches, passing one of the dressing rooms on the way...



Click HERE for more images of the East Marsh dressing rooms!

It's been a fantastic debut season in senior football for Justin Gardner's Bethnal Green United Football Club. The team entered the Essex Senior League for the 2009/10 season, moving up from the Middlesex County League, and claimed no less than two trophies.

The Gordon Brasted memorial Trophy was secured in early April and, just under a month later, the Essex Senior League Cup was won (below) with a comfortable 4-0 win over Burnham Ramblers...



Click HERE for more images of the successful Bethnal Green United FC!

Another team that has flourished in a new League is Romford FC's reserve XI. The Essex Olympian League Division Two championship was secured on the very last day of the season with a comeback victory over Runwell Hospital.

Trailing to an early penalty, two late goals ensured that Boro finished level on points with Hospital, but pipped them to the title on goal difference by just one solitary goal...



Click HERE for more images of Romford FC's second string!

We've been busy with cricket too. TGS is a regular fixture at the Ford County Ground to cover Essex CCC and was on hand when Lancashire came to Chelmsford for an LV County Championship game.

England star Jimmy Anderson was in the Lancashire line-up and proved to be the match-winner with outstanding figures of 9 for 93 from 42.5 overs...



Click HERE for more images from Essex CCC vs Lancashire CCC!

Grant Flower continues to prove his value to Essex in the one day form of the game. He was on the losing side despite scoring a century against Yorkshire Carnegie at the end of April. However, a couple of weeks later, another top-notch ton helped the Eagles to a valuable victory over the Gladiators from Gloucestershire...



Click HERE for more images of Grant Flower!

In the same game, a remarkable performance by Gloucester bowler David Payne almost went unnoticed. The teenage paceman took four wickets in four balls as he cleaned up the Essex tail. His final figures were an impressive 7 for 29 from six overs.

Below Payne claims the last wicket of his fabulous 'four in four', that of Jaik Mickleburgh...



Click HERE for more images from Essex Eagles vs Gloucestershire Gladiators!

Alongside the First Class game, TGS covers a wide variety of other cricket, including the Victoria Park Community Cricket League in the heart of East London. The VPCCL is an eight-a-side competition with matches consisting of 16 overs each.

Our 2010 coverage started on Wednesday, 28th April and (below) the bails are soon in the air as Contenders CC claim a Best Nationals CC wicket...



Click HERE for more images from the Victoria Park Community Cricket League!

There's a huge amount of club cricket played in Essex with many teams fielding several XIs. The T. Rippon Mid-Essex League has no less than ELEVEN divisions...

...and, yep, here's some action from Division 11. Newcomers St Andrew's CC ran riot as they collated 331 runs from 45 overs away to Havering-atte-Bower 4th XI. Star man was batsman Varghese (below) who single-handedly smashed 181 runs. Havering made a brave reply but could only muster 175-9...



Click HERE for more Essex Club Cricket images!

The 2010 British Under-21 Speedway Final was held at Arena Essex on Friday, 16th April. This annual event is an opportunity for the up-and-coming stars of the sport to show off their riding skills.

TGS snapper Rob Newell was on hand to capture Joe Haines of Wolverhampton Wolves on his way to victory...



Click HERE for more images from the 2010 British Under-21 Speedway Championship!

Lakeside Hammers recently welcomed back top rider Lee Richardson. He took up the No. 1 position for the first time in 2010 at Foxhall Stadium on Thursday, 13th May as the Hammers took on the Ipswich Witches.

The travelling fans couldn't have asked for a better start from Richardson as he rode to victory in the very first heat of the night (below). He contributed 11+1 points in a 50-43 win for the Hammers...



Click HERE for more images of speedway rider Lee Richardson!

Boxing came to a famous venue in East London last Saturday when a much-hyped fight between Kevin Mitchell and Michael Katsidis took place at Upton Park, home of West Ham United FC.

Mitchell sadly lost his fight to the powerful Australian. On the same night, Heavyweight stalwart Danny Williams lost his British title to Derek Chisora in round two and is now widely expected to retire.

Rob Newell was on hand for TGS to capture what may well be the end of Williams' fifteen year pro career...



Click HERE for more images from the boxing show at West Ham United FC!

The previous evening at Goresbrook had seen another Heavyweight contender make his mark. Hackney pugilist Larry Olubamiwo won his first belt, the Southern Area title, with a first round demolition of Colin Kenna.

Here 'The War Machine' shows his delight at the end of the fight...



Click HERE for more images of boxer Larry Olubamiwo!

Some rugby to finish. Barking RFC have enjoyed a successful 2009/10 campaign, culminating in the National League Division Two South Championship.

Barking clinched the title with a 96-14 win over Lydney at Goresbrook on Saturday, 17th April...



Click HERE for more images of Barking RFC vs Lydney RFC!

Looking to the future, here's a taste of what's coming up over the next few weeks...

22-05-10 - Essex Club Cricket
22-05-10 - Harold Wood Athletic vs Frenford Senior
23-05-10 - Essex CCC Women vs Worcestershire CCC Women
24-05-10 - Lakeside Hammers vs Wolverhampton Wolves
25-05-10 - Victoria Park Community Cricket League
28-05-10 - Lakeside Hammers vs Peterborough Panthers
29-05-10 - Essex Club Cricket
29-05-10 - Coca Cola League One Play-Off Final
30-05-10 - Coca Cola League Two Play-Off Final
31-05-10 - Essex CCC 2nd XI vs Kent CCC 2nd XI
01-06-10 - Victoria Park Community Cricket League
02-06-10 - Essex Eagles vs Kent Spitfires T20
03-06-10 - Peterborough Panthers vs Lakeside Hammers
04-06-10 - Lakeside Hammers vs Eastbourne Eagles
05-06-10 - Essex Club Cricket

All this and more at http://tgsphoto.co.uk

Labels: Boxing, Cricket, Football, Rugby, Speedway