Northern Exposure at Sprout Cafe

A New Photography Exhibition at a New Venue

I hope you get chance to pop-in to Sprout Cafe to view my latest photographic exhibition.

It is in a gem of a building 'Heatleys Chambers' just above 

Mercers Toy Shop

47 Darwen St

Blackburn

BB2 2BL

They are open 6 days a week 9:00am till 4:00pm

and Andrea & Alex, the perfect hostess's  make everybody REALLY welcome, 

"a great atmosphere in a very relaxed setting."

Andrea - it's supposed to be for the customers!

The photographs include some of my more popular images along with a few new ones for you to enjoy in this light, airy and beautiful room.

There are some great landscapes from the Lake District, 

some beautiful images from France and New York along with some interesting local images.

All for you to enjoy in the relaxed setting of Sprout Cafe.

and of course there's lot's of mouth-watering food...

Freshly prepared everyday just for you!

The best Panini's this side of Milan...

Wraps and....

Garlic Mushrooms on Toast to die for... (believe me)

So with some really comfy seating, fantastic food, great photos... 

Grab yourself a table

 They are going fast

or failing that a 'take out'

but just get down there!

Andrea also has many events throughout the year, demonstrations, live music evenings, "Sew & Supper"evenings etc. Check out her Facebook page for the latest events.... they fill up fast.

Facebook: Sprout Cafe

or Tel: 07553 632971

"Sprout Cafe an Oasis in Blackburn" Keith Butterworth

Finally thanks to Andrea at Sprout Cafe and Matt Donnelly for making my latest exhibition possible.

You can check out Matt's Website here 

Matt Donnelly Photography

for the best local images.

Votwo athlete of the month

After Scott's recent claim to fame I thought I had better get off my laurels!

"Votwo's Athlete of The Month"

Visit their newsletter to see me: votwo.co.uk/newsletter/june


and their website to view lots of interesting and challenging events:

 votwo.co.uk

Votwo athlete of the month

Name: Keith Butterworth Age: 55 Why did you start running? I started cross-country running at school at about 13 to get out of football practice, which I hated, and after a while I started to enjoy running. I wasn't naturally fast but because I was the only one that ran regularly I was picked for the school team in the Lancashire Schools Cross-Country Championships and finished 3rd. Do you do any other sports? Yes triathlon, so I swim and cycle as well. I really enjoy being outdoors so I tend to rely on fitness gained from cycling and running to get me through swimming but I think swimming is great exercise especially for recovery, it helps gets the blood flowing through stiff/tired muscles without over stressing them and by using alternative muscles it produces a better balance to muscle groups. l also do quite a bit of fell-walking although as my primary interest is running this decreases if I am training for a big or important event. What was your first race? It was school cross country but after leaving school I lost interest for a few years, girls, motorbikes and beer sort of got in the way and it wasn't until 1985 that I did my first road race and then I did my first marathon, London, in 1987 and my first triathlon in the same year and my first Ironman in 1991.  What has been your most memorable race? Nice Ironman 2005 and of course votwo's Atlantic Coast Challenge which I have completed 3 times. In 2011 I decided to carry a camera to photograph the event and still managed to finish 12th overall despite stopping to take over 200 photos along the way. I then wrote a blog on the ACC and subsequently the PCC which people who are entering for the first time find very useful in helping them to understand what it is like. The ACC has a great atmosphere and the organisers Ben & Pete in particular are very friendly and take care of everything, not forgetting Ben's Mum's home-made soup which at the end of each day makes it worth running the 78 miles for! If you want to read my ACC & PCC blog just go to http://keithbutterworth.blogspot.co.uk/ and at the right-hand side under 'Label' click on votwo (6). What has been you biggest achievement? Representing Great Britain twice, the first time was in the Long Course World Championships in Nice, France 2002 in the 45-49 age group. The second time was in the Short Course European Championships in Autun, France 2006. I had always dreamed of representing GB and while I thought if it was possible it would have had to be in a long distance event, I never thought I could achieve it in a short course event as well. How do you train for a votwo challenge? My favourite votwo events are the 3 day challenges and to finish one of these you need to be able to run comfortably for 3-4 hours, have good leg strength for the numerous ascents and descents found on the coastal paths and also to be able to run for 3 days consecutively.   I get some cross-over endurance benefit from cycling so I only do one long run every 10-14 days. I am a great believer in LSD (long slow distance) I start at 2 hrs and slowly build it up over several weeks to 4 hrs but at a very low heart rate 60%-80% of my working Heart Zone or 70%-85% of Max Heart Rate (and I try to keep to the lower half of these ranges). It is important to run slowly to ensure that you are developing the fat-burning engine. I don't often run for more than 4 hours in training it's long enough to get the body used to burning fat for fuel and any longer just increases the risk of injury or fatigue. The day before I do the long training run I do 40-45 mins of hill work so that I am used to running on tired/stiff legs and the day after the long run I go and do an hour of whatever I feel like just so that my body knows it doesn't get a day off after a long run, knowing you can do this is also a great psychological boost come the event.  I am also fortunate enough to live in the Pennines so I get plenty of off-road hill running. I am a member of Clayton-le Moors Harriers a club well known for its achievements in Fell-Running and I train once or twice a week with them.  How do you prepare yourself for a votwo challenge? I believe preparation is vital to an enjoyable and successful challenge I am meticulous in the detail of preparing clothing, equipment and drinks. I take loads of gear with me to these events so that whatever the weather I have the appropriate clothing to be comfortable in on the day, and the extras mean that I always have alternative shoes and clothes to put on for day two and three. I am also very careful about what I eat and drink on these days and make full use of the massage facilities offered by votwo at these events.  What do you want to achieve, what is your goal? To be able to enjoy my sport to a very ripe old age. If you had one piece of advice to give what would it be? I have always believed that consistency is the most important aspect of training and a good endurance base is developed over years of 'putting miles in the bank'. Oh and one other thing, don't put things off, i.e. one day I will row the Atlantic or climb Everest or run in my local 5k race, because one day there won't be another 'one day', SO DO IT NOW! If you could run any race, what would it be? votwo's The Oner, Marathon des Sables, Ultra-Trail de Mont Blanc, Ironman Austria..... but not on consecutive days!

The Legends of Blackburn Rovers

Scott v The Legends

Ewood Park  -   22-May-2013

Our Man Scott Bentley takes on 

The Legends of Blackburn Rovers

The Man

The Match

The Supporters of The Supporters!

The Cameraman!! 

The Teams

The Oppostion?

On The Wing

The Chase.....

The Charge.....

The Footballer

Bentley on Form

In Control Of The Ball

Realising the threat Kenna marks Bentley

Bentley takes on Kenna

Bentley Under Pressure

But Never Cracks

The Pass

The Opportunity.....

Hendry in defence of the goal.....

Scott Bentley Down (but never out)

The Kick

Fastest Man On The Field

The Pro

The Reserves

Paul Gallagher disguised as Dickov.

Bentley takes on Hendry again!

The Substitute

Scott Attacks Yet Again!

Last Chance - "THE BALL"

The End - Our Man of The Match

The Legends

The Score 7 - 1 (They were lucky)

(Frank Walsh would have been very proud)

Pictures Inn the Blackamoor

First The Bad News
Unfortunately my photographic exhibition at Sunnyhurst Visitors Centre has now come to an end. I would like to thank everybody who visited the exhibition for their positive comments and support. It was very rewarding to have so many people commenting on my work, thank you.

Then The Good News
However for those that didn't get the opportunity to see my pictures all is not lost, I am displaying over twenty photographs at The Blackamoor Inn. 140 Roman Rd. Blackburn. BB1 2LD. The plus side of this is that you get the opportunity to drink some great Thwaites beer in a very warm and friendly pub surrounded by my pictures.

Alan & Diane really make everybody feel welcome at the Blackamoor and it truly is a great pint there.
(I can heartily recommend the Guinness, it's the best there is this side of St. James Gate)
There is all the usual pub games; Pool, Darts, Dominoes and a Quiz Night (it's not an easy one) and at the moment the kitty in the "Unlock The Box" competition stands at over £80. 

So get down up to the Blackamoor and who knows you just might see us in 'The Cosy Corner' in front of the fire enjoying a great pint in a really good pub.

I even made the front cover of the monthly newsletter "Inn the Blackamoor".....

but was surpassed by Barbara's amazing photo of a hot air balloon skimming the roof of the Blackamoor.

We presented Allan & Diane with a large framed print of the picture which he immediately hung up at the end of the bar. We all thought that it was the perfect picture for a 'Caption Competition' and Allan offered to donate either a bottle of wine or some beers to the winner. I have had some good ideas for a title, pity I can't enter but if you fancy a go email Allan at inntheblackamoor@hotmail.co.uk or better still nip in for a pint and post it in the box, you have got until the 31st May 2013. 

Hope to see you there!
Keith