Cheeky Teddington residents claim Wiggo Corner for their own (From Kingston Guardian)

Cheeky Teddington residents claim Wiggo Corner for their own

7:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in News By Tom Barnes

 

A border skirmish has broken out over who has the bragging rights to Wiggo Corner after cheeky Teddington residents tried to claim the site as their own.

Olympic gold medal winner Bradley Wiggins poured praise on spectators in Kingston after his time trial victory, suggesting the cheers topped anything he had experienced in his career.

Politcal commentator Paul Waugh was one of many to suggest a Wiggo Corner in Portsmouth Road.

But on the Richmond borough side of the river residents are claiming Wiggo mispoke and are calling for a Brad’s Magic Roundabout at Hampton Wick.

Richmond cycling champion, councillor Katharine Harborne, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that he was referring to the roundabout in Richmond rather than Kingston.

Bradley Wigggins

The point where I was most aware of it was coming around the roundabout in Kingston – the noise was incredible. I am never, ever going to experience anything like that again in my sporting career.

“We have the most amount of cyclists in the capital so it is fitting we should have Wiggo Corner in our borough.”

But Jon Fray, chairman of Kingston Cyclists, said Wiggo Corner was near the Rose Theatre and Jamie’s Italian.

He said: “He clearly said it was Kingston so who are they to doubt the great Bradley Wiggins, these people of Hampton Wick, wherever that is.

“Anyone who heard the roar as he came through Kingston will know we shouted loudest for him.”

And deputy mayor of Kingston Barry O’Mahony, who cheered from Kingston Market Place, said attempts to wrestle control of Wiggo corner were “outrageous”.

Richard Williams received backing from Edward Davey for his campaign for a permanent tribute to the racer.

He said: “I think a permanent tribute to him should be placed in Kingston to mark his fantastic achievement and to say thank you to him for making our town so proud.”

Another Kingston resident called for him to be knighted as Lord Wiggins of Kingston, but requests for a road named after a living person may be scotched.

So far, Mr Wiggins, who has 562,916 followers on Twitter, has not responded to requests to identify Wiggins Corner.

The good, the Brad and the ugly

Where do you stand on Wiggo Corner debate?

Emma Kaandorp, 18, Teddington
”Bradley Wiggins said Kingston in his interview, not Richmond, so Kingston has every right to name the corner after him.”

Melvin Clements, 62, Epsom
“If they both want to claim the names, of course, I would favour Kingston as this is my area, so it should be named after him.”

Morten Hagen, 42, Norway
“Wiggins is very popular in Norway, not just in the UK. His achievements over the past month have been unbelievable. He’s so fast.”

Bella Rosato, 19, Chessington
“I was at the main roundabout in Kingston, and the roar of the crowd was deafening. He should decide which corner he wants to give his name to.”

James McGinley, 50, Kingston
“It’s a ridiculous idea to name either corner after Wiggins as he’s only raced here. He’s from Kilburn, so they should name a corner after him.”