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Blenki + Bulldog

By Blackaptur Photography

August 25^th, 2020

In an otherwise COVID-19 affected world, if you had told me I was going to be taking photos of Brook MacDonald and Sam Blenkinsop, In Christchurch (or in the Southern Hemisphere for that matter) in June, I would have laughed in your face!

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

The current world situation brings interesting times to the sport, with no racing, athletes are having an extended off-season with athletes here down under no doubt feeling the cold mornings they’ve been avoiding for years.

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Its been 12 years for Brook and 15 Years for Sam since they spent a winter back home in NZ. Two veterans of the World Cup DH Circuit with Sam going pro on 2006 and Brook following suit 3 years later, signing with Trek Factory Racing in 09.

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Now if we wind the clock back to 31st of August last year – the news that no one wanted to hear - Brook had a huge crash resulting in a serious spinal injury. Brook had fractured his T12 and L1 vertebrae, but wait - that’s not all...

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Astonishingly - through pure grit, hard work and perseverance, Brook managed to walk unassisted for the first time 40 days after the crash and even managed to ride a bike for the first time 2 weeks later.

Blenki + Bulldog

By January he was out trail riding again, hitting jumps and finding balance for manuals... and it’s been a tough road to get here, but fast forward to June, and I can witness to the incredible speed and hard-charging riding Brook has regained.

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

It’s so cool for him to be riding and hanging out with his good buddy, pressing pause on the craziness that’s gripped the world over for the last 6 months and has in some way or another affected all of us.

Blenki + Bulldog

Unfortuantely, Brook fell victim to the volcanic rock of the port hills and got a puncture, leaving me to eek out the last of the evening light with Sam... enjoy!

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

This article originally was published in Spoke Magazine - you can check out here:

https://spokemagazine.com/content/story-blenki-amp-bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Blenki + Bulldog

Footnotes

All photos have been shot using a Nikon D750, 70-200 f/2.8 and 17-35 f/2.8 - processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC.

FootNotes

All photos have been shot using a Nikon D750, 70-200 f/2.8 and 17-35 f/2.8 - processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC.

© 2026 Blackaptur Photography

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