Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) returned to Oulton Park Circuit for the first time since 1993 in October 2019. Alongside the WRC action spectators could enjoy drifting and Gymkhana demonstrations from Monster Energy Drift and Gymkhana event drivers. My film features all of this and further action from the night time WRC water splash as seen in my previous film from the event.

Action from my visit to the first day (shakedown) of Wales Rally GB. We start in the Gwydyr Forest Park stage before visiting the Llandudno service park. The action later moves to Oulton Park Circuit where the drivers perform "donuts". Later in the day on a special stage we see competitors drive through a spectacular illuminated water splash in near total darkness.

The Island Race - Anglesey Half Marathon takes place in North Wales and starts on the Menai Suspension Bridge which runners cross before following a 13.10 Mile coastal road route to Beaumaris Castle and back. My video features the pre-race atmosphere at the start line, the race itself and some coverage of the beginning of the route before ending at the finish line in the town of Menai Bridge as the runners complete the race. Images follow.

In this film I take a look at The Gravity Slate Train that operated as part of the railways 150th Anniversary event in 2013, When the Festiniog Railway first opened in 1836 and before steam arrived, all "down" trains were worked by gravity. A horse would pull the empty wagons to the top of the mountain and after being loaded with slate they would be allowed to travel back down under their own weight with the horse riding in specially designed dandy wagons. When Steam was introduced to the railway (in 1863) they took the place of the horses in leading the trains. My film features the locomotive Prince working hard to lead the wagons on wet tracks before being uncoupled and allowing the wagons to travel back down the line with a brakesman at the front sounding his horn to alert the station master to the trains imminent gravity powered arrival. images follow

I travelled to Wales for the Ffestiniog Railway 150th Anniversary event '1863 and all that !'. Recreating scenes from the railway's early days authentic steam engines from the era where accompanied by costumed characters and events along the length of the railway. Highlights included a line-up of vintage engines at Porthmadog Ffestiniog, a variety of freight trains and an Early-morning Victorian Train with authentic carriages including the unique 'flying bench' on which passengers sit back to back along the length of the carriage. Alongside the events on the railway there where demonstrations of pre-steam mining techniques people in Victorian era dress and 'Rails On The Wharf' in which horse drawn slate wagons where demonstrated my video of which can be seen at Leigh984- 'Rails on the warf' images follow

Rails On The Wharf features a demonstration of Horse drawn slate wagons of the type used widely in Wales during its mining past. The Horse is seen walking the length of the rails before returning lead by its owners in period costume. The demonstration was part of the Ffestiniog Railway`s 150th Anniversary event in Porthmadog and took place on the Wharf alongside the harbour area of the town. images follow.

My short film takes a look at The Duke Of Lancaster also known as The Funship. The TSS Duke of Lancaster is a railway steamer passenger ship that operated from 1956 to 1979. The ship currently beached at Llanerch-y-Mor near Mostyn Docks, on the River Dee, north-east Wales has had a varied history being used as a cruise ship and later as a car ferry in various locations. The Ship was converted and run as a static leisure centre and market known as the Funship for many years before various issues caused its closure. The Ship is now being developed as the largest open air art gallery in the UK and is used as canvas for Graffiti artists with a number of large Artworks painted on the side of the ship including a portrait of the ship's first captain, John 'Jack' Irwin. A Panoramic Image of the Duke Of Lancaster in wales A Panoramic Image of the Duke Of Lancaster in wales

My film features various cycling teams as they prepare for and race stage 4 of the 2013 Tour Of Britain bike race from Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis. We begin with the bikes being set up for racing before following them as they pass under fla mme rouge (A red flag displayed with one kilometre remaining from the finish line of a race) before passing the Snowdon Mountain Railway station in Llanberis and on to the finish line in the Welsh town. After the race we follow the riders and the teams as the wash the bikes down ready to race stage 5 the next day.

My video features Action from Act 6 of the Extreme Sailing Series. Cardiff Bay provided perfect 'Stadium Style' viewing opportunities for the fast paced Extreme Sailing Series held over the August Bank Holiday, As the only UK based event on the series calendar the event attracted visitors from far and wide who where treated to plenty of action as teams from around the world competed in several high speed races. The action was so exiting even a well known Doctor materialised his time machine on the shoreline to take in the action ! see if you can spot it. photos follow

During a visit to The Snowdon Mountain Railway I was invited to take a look 'behind the scenes' in the railways engine sheds in Llanberis. The sheds are equipped to repair and maintain their collection of both vintage steam and more recent diesel engines. The recently restored Snowdon Lilly Carriage can be seen alongside one of the steam engines awaiting it's first public trip to the summit later that day as part of the newly launched Heritage Steam Service my video of which can be seenin my previous post Here

In June 2013 the Snowdon Mountain Railway launched The Snowdon Lily Heritage Steam Service to the summit of Mt Snowdon, they invited me along to step back in time and board their 34 seater brand new period style carriage. The carriage built to an original design using modern techniques has been named the Snowdon Lily and other than the glass windows is an exact replica of the type that Victorian passengers would have boarded on their way to the summit over 100 years ago. The carriage was pushed by Enid one of a number of the original steam locomotives still in use by the railway today for heritage experiences such as this. As the service made its way to the summit walkers looked on surrounded by the spectacular scenery that Snowdonia is famed for, an experience the Victorian passengers 100 years ago would recognise immediately. after an hour at the summit we boarded the service for the return trip down the mountain catching fleeting glimpses of waterfalls and wildlife as we des...

Whilst filming at the summit of Mt Snowdon I witnessed a Royal Air Force Helicopter performing a rescue of a stranded climber. The Helicopter is believed to be from the base at which HRH Prince William is based although it is unknown as to whether he was in the pilot`s seat on this occasion.

At the foot of Mt Snowdon is Ceunant Mawr Waterfall otherwise known as Llanberis Falls the waterfall plunges over a hundred feet in two stages into a gorge. My film features the stunning natural beauty of the area and some of its wildlife with little birds drinking from the flowing water and a sheep !.

  My Video features the unique scenes on The Snowdon Mountain Railway yesterday after heavy springtime snowfall had caused the initial closure of the line. The Railway`s staff have worked hard to cut through the huge snowdrifts and get the line operational again leaving deep snow lined corridors for the trains to pass through and creating spectacular scenes rare to Springtime in the UK.

My Short film features some of the spectacular scenery on offer on a visit to Wales. Waking up at 4am we travelled to Wales where we where met by the spectacular snow topped mountains of the Snowdonia national park and high snowdrifts on either side of the road. Lit by the early morning sun and set against a deep blue sky you would be forgiven for thinking we where in the Alps.

At Gigrin Farm, Red Kite Feeding & Rehabilitation Centre in Wales Feeding takes place at 2pm (last weekend in October onwards) 3pm ( from the last weekend in March). The Crows are usually first on the scene followed by Buzzards and Red Kites competing for the best cuts of meat. The birds demonstrate spectacular feats of aerial manoeuvrability as they swoop low to capture the food in their claws, The birds then proceed to eat their newly acquired meal in-flight before diving down again for another helping. My short film features the view from hide 5 as the food is brought to the birds in the back of a tractor and illustrates the amazing spectacle of these very special birds in flight. Keep a look out for the rare white bird during the video. See Below for stills from the day A Red Kite In-Flight A Panoramic Photo showing the hides on the left and the feeding area on the right.

A Short film by me featuring action from Saturday`s Wales Rally GB Sweet Lamb stage and its water splash. Wales Rally GB is the final round of the WRC and sees the worlds top rally drivers competing over a series of stages in the hills and valleys of Wales, Various models of car are used and are based on their road going counterparts but all have been highly modified for the demanding and fast paced motor sport of rallying. see some photos from the day after the jump. > Some images from the Wales rally GB Sweet lamb stage.  

The final stage of the FIA World Rally Championship season held in Wales in the UK between 11-14 November 2010. This video filmed on the last day at the Cardiff bay ceremonial finish and Rally HQ features a selection of the cars and drivers from the 2010 season and the winners Sébastien Loeb Monaco Daniel Elena.