Oxford News
World PoohSticks Championships set to return to Oxfordshire
The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Abingdon, will return on May 24 at Sandford Lock and is expected to draw families, competitors, and spectators from across the region.
This year’s championships are especially meaningful as they celebrate the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh, the much-loved bear who made the game of PoohSticks famous in A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner.
Richard Kirby, event organiser from the Rotary Club of Abingdon, said: “The World PoohSticks Championships has been such a joy to organise over the years, and it’s wonderful to see generations of families coming together for a day of fun.
“Celebrating 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh this year makes it even more special, and I’m personally so grateful to partners like Allica Bank for helping us continue this tradition while raising funds for causes close to our hearts.
“It’s a day that truly celebrates the spirit of our community.”
Set on the River Thames, the event brings to life the simple pleasure of dropping sticks into the water and watching them float beneath a bridge, just as Pooh Bear and his friends did in the classic stories.
What started as a small local activity has grown into a global event, with competitors travelling from across the UK and abroad.
Participants range in age from four to 84, making it an event that spans generations.
Importantly, the championships also support charitable causes, with all funds raised going toward Rotary-supported projects, including donations to the Alzheimer’s Society and other community charities.
Allica Bank returns as the main sponsor after a successful partnership last year.
Gareth Adams, Allica Bank’s relationship manager for Oxfordshire, said: “At Allica Bank, we are proud to support the communities where established businesses thrive.
“Events like the World PoohSticks Championships are a brilliant celebration of local tradition, fun, and community spirit, bringing people together from across Oxfordshire and beyond.
“We’re delighted to return as the main sponsor for such a milestone year, supporting an event that shines a spotlight on the area while raising important funds for local charities.
“It’s a wonderful reminder of the value of community traditions, and we’re thrilled to play a part once again.”
The championships will begin at 11am with registration available on the day or in advance at https://poohsticks.uk.
In addition to the main event, attendees can enjoy charity stalls and activities throughout the day.
All proceeds will support Rotary charities, furthering their commitment to making a lasting impact both locally and internationally.
The Thames Valley Police Abingdon unit arrested a man for “breaching court bail conditions” on Saturday, August 29.
A spokesperson said: “On Saturday, PC Hackett attended reports of a male breaching court bail conditions.
READ MORE: Public told ‘DO NOT APPROACH’ as wanted man sighted in Oxford centre
“With assistance from PC Ellingworth and PC Harvey, the male was arrested. Following a search, a knife was recovered from his possession.”
In a wide ranging update, the force also revealed it had supported in a “concern for welfare incident linked to the night-time economy.
In addition, it had carried out licensing checks across Abingdon with drug wipes used and sent off for testing
OXFORD Mail Camera Club members have been taking photos of their dogs
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The collision happened on the southbound carriageway between Junction 6 for Lewknor and Junction 5 for Watlington in the late morning on Saturday, August 29.
The emergency services attended the scene and closed the road,
National Highways said lanes two and three of the three-lane motorway were shut as a result while crews dealt with the incident, leading to delays of around 40 minutes.
Congestion was worsened by separate lane closures between Junctions 4 and 5 in both directions following damage to the central reservation from an earlier incident.
Traffic built up on approaches to the crash, with nearby areas including Stokenchurch and Lewknor also affected.
Images from traffic cameras showed long queues of vehicles and emergency workers at the scene throughout the afternoon.
AA Travel also reported that one lane was closed on the northbound carriageway between Handy Cross and Stokenchurch due to emergency repairs.
National Highways later confirmed that all southbound lanes between Junctions 6 and 5 had reopened and that the lane closures linked to the earlier incident were also being removed.
Despite the reopening, delays of around 40 minutes remained on the approach as traffic slowly returned to normal.
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