The Island Games are a sort of mini-Olympics restricted to competitors from island states, and this year were held on the Isle of Wight. About a dozen sports are represented, with cycling being included. It's a long time since I went there so it was good to make a return visit in 2011.
Here's a brief run-down of the few days I spent there.
My transport awaits. Sitting on the quayside at Portsmouth watching the ferry arrive on Saturday. I always thought boats had a sharp end and a blunt end, but both ends of this one seemed blunt.
Racing started on the following day with town centre crits in Ventnor. It was a scorcher, and as the day went on the crowd began to get bigger. The following few pictures were taken during the setting up period but I include them here to show the general layout. The crowd built up later and the events really were well attended.
The only problem I had was that our working area was not secure and the public were able to get where I didn't want them to be. Not much of a problem for the women's race, but during the men's event an over-enthusiastic team helper jumped the wall and fell. He grabbed the tripod for support and managed to knock the camera so that it was totally off line. At the same time, the cables were pulled out and I lost the network completely.
There were only about 20 minutes to go and it took most of that time to get it all working again. There was not time to realign the camera so I went with just identifying the riders rather than trying to accurately place them. Fortunately there was no close finish.
The resulting film from the men's race is too poor to show here, but the photfinish picture of the women is below.
Two days later it was time for the road races at Blackgang. Strangely, they were scheduled to start late in the day with the women starting mid-afternoon and the men at 6 pm. Meant a late finish so I decided to put up a floodlight.
It was a lovely area as can be seen in the small pictures below, but I was stuck in that one little spot all day. It's a good job I was provided with my own private office!
The finish was unusual - it was downhill, so it meant a fast sprint. The women's photofinish image is below.
Whilst the men's film is here. Notice that my one single floodlight did make a noticeable difference. 
The next Island Games in two years time are in Bermuda. I am available. |
