Wightlink Wight-Mountain team members James Brett and Oli Nolan recently travelled to Cannon Heath Down near Newbury for the 7th round of the Wessex Cyclocross season. Although there was significant rainfall brought by Storm Ciaran leading up to the event on 5th November, the course remained bafflingly dry throughout the day due to the well-draining nature of the chalk-down venue. The course featured a long climb, plenty of technical cornering sections and barriers in a large grassy field, as well as some more tight, twisty and off-camber segments in another area that was also exposed to a strong headwind. James was first to race in the competitive Vet 40-49 category. Battling well at the start, James unfortunately crashed on a downhill section of the second lap, twisting his bars in the process. However, he fought hard to limit the damage, finish in the middle of the 80-strong field – a credible result. Oli, participating in the final race of the day, was looking to keep his streak of top 10 finishes. Starting on the second row of the grid, he battled hard against riders in another stacked group of competitors, which included several neighbouring league members due to their event being cancelled. Making use of long hill to put the power down, he narrowly missed out on the top 10, crossing the line in a respectable 11th place. 
WIGHTLINK WIGHT-MOUNTAIN CYCLISTS COMPETE IN 7TH ROUND OF WESSEX CYCLOCROSS SEASON
A
A
- Trending
- Comments
- Latest
MAJOR HEATHLAND FIRE RAGES AT WEST WIGHT’S HEADON WARREN
23rd July 2026
3 CARS INVOLVED IN MAIN ROAD CRASH AT HALE COMMON
18th July 2026
TOP STORIES THIS WEEK
-
FRIENDS’ DAY TRIP TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT ENDED IN TRAGEDY MAIB REPORT REVEALS
-
MAJOR HEATHLAND FIRE RAGES AT WEST WIGHT’S HEADON WARREN
-
AIR AMBULANCE SCRAMBLED FOLLOWING SERIOUS COLLISION AT YAVERLAND
-
3 CARS INVOLVED IN MAIN ROAD CRASH AT HALE COMMON
-
WIGHTLINK FERRY CREW RESCUES CROSS-SOLENT SWIMMER STRUGGLING AGAINST THE TIDE
.
Sign up to our daily newsletter
Sign up to the daily newsletter and to get our top Isle of Wight news stories sent to you inbox every day.

© 2024 Island Echo Ltd. (10015091) is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered address: Fortis House, Cothey Way, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1QT. VAT: 358464857 (V5)

























































































Our roads don’t seem to be the most suitable for cyclist nowadays. So busy and IR rarely tarmac the roads to the verges or banks, thus leaving a huge drop in which water runs and erodes the edges, causing tarmac to break away.
Add lunatic drivers, few Police no cameras and pot holes, on narrow unlit roads and they seem an accident waiting to happen.
A pain to everyone here, all cyclist unless on cycle paths are unwelcome additions to our roads, as would be horses if everyone bought one of them to hold up traffic at a plod along pace.
Cyclists should have to pay before they are allowed on roads,
majority of them do not understand the Higjway Code.
Cyclists should not be allowed on the road.
Majority of the lycra brigade cycle too fast, don’t stop at
Traffic lights and use their phones whilst cycling.
Biggest law breakers on Island roads.
that road junction worked well for decades without lights ..so why put temp in place and make it worse..love the forseable future bit..so not going to be fixed quick then..
Makes you wonder how we managed with out traffic lights at this junction, obviously more houses we build more cars we have more accidents will occur and more every thing including potholes will occur never ending
I blame Island roads (no really, roadworks on other alternative routes)
Everything takes so long to do on Dinosaur Isle
Beats me why with modern technology temporary lights can’t at least replicate the main lights, rather than only allowing one direction at a time!
just about to say the same thing. fucking useless piss poor excuses as usual.
Other than the carriageway sensors (which are easily replicated) there is no reason whatsoever that a temporary light controller cannot be functionally identical to a permanent one.
The problem, of course, is getting the timings and sequences correctly programmed. This requires a specialist who will be both in great demand and expensive. It also requires a detailed analysis of traffic flow.
Unfortunately it is highly unlikely that IR have even the original flow data, let alone an up to date study.
It is also unlikely they would pay for a specialist when they could just rely on the free default settings and occasional fiddling to prioritise the direction with the most complaints.
Long story short – hope no-one’s in a hurry
Specialist equipment and expertise are now required to replace the damaged apparatus, which is going to take both time and money.
Of which the Island has none imagine if this happened on Coppins bridge why are we just expected to deal with this it certainly wouldn’t happen on the mainland
So it has taken three weeks for them to decide they need specialist equipment – pathetic! What is it they need, a couple of shovels and a pick axe? That will take months then.
ALL that is needed is to dump a pile of rubble in the middle of the road, get a digger to scape out and move the hedge backwards and create a large roundabout there.
No lights, less waiting and, IF large enough with a centre hump so as to block visibility then people will have to slow down but not necessarily stop so far less delays.
Nothing from ivy searle yet!!!!
What a total farce 6weeks ,? Specialist?. What they mean is emails back and forth lot’s of consultants and back handers etc. Seeing as got opportunity now they need to widen road at lights so vehicles coming up from Arreton have dedicated lane straight on instead of 20 car’s having to que behind one turning right onto downs . Sometimes qué goes half way back down to Arreton.
Of course, a few years ago, if a set of lights at a junction failed, a friendly policeman would be ‘stationed’ at the junction to keep the traffic flowing and avoid accidents. It was called ‘point duty’, but this largely seems to be consigned to history.
I saw a film of a massive sinkhole appearing in a Japanese city.
This was filled and the road opened in less time.
This country is pathetic.
https://youtu.be/8cmoXdc8M5M?si=CnGOJHjwnfn4NFSl
And this was done in 8 hours yet it takes the Island over 4 weeks to fix some traffic lights
Shame there wasn’t a roundabout put in place rather than traffic lights.
When those lights first broke there was no temporary lights and the traffic flowed as if it was a mini roundabout. Second temporary lights were put in place, grid lock everywhere. Island Roads and the council are full of low IQ idiots. Doesn’t help having Briddlesford closed. Diversions are becoming a disgrace. They aim to do any work while it’s “quiet season” but never actually start the work due to weather conditions. Damned either way.
Please, can the editor monitor and remove the unacceptable foul language on here?
“unacceptable foul language on here” unacceptable to whom ?
if it’s you,… simple answer, don’t read it
Old people don’t know how much money they costing us because of their driving
Why not take this opportunity to install a roundabout