 | | The event raised money for the RNLI |
As we celebrate Oxfordshire's big birthday, we can't forget that the county is also home to the famous World Pooh Sticks Championships and this years event was as exciting and tense as ever. The winner of the individual event was Bob Jones who currently serves for the RAF and lives in Carterton. "Bears for Life" from Oxfordshire were the winning team. Travelling far and wide... This years event attracted teams from across the globe. In second place was one of the teams who had made the trip from Pakistan. Third place went to last years winners "Natural Colour Cotton".
 | | Teams come from all over the world... |
Not only had teams travelled from Pakistan, teams from Kenya and Germany also competed. In previous years there have also been teams from as far as New Zealand, Latvia and Japan which goes to show that Pooh Sticks is popular around the world. British weather... Even though the heavens opened this did not stop Hundreds of people turning out in the cold and rain to watch the 24th annual World Pooh Sticks Championships which took place on Mothering Sunday. The event raises money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) and the Rotary Club of Sinodun's charitable projects. Inspired by A.A. Milne's tale about Winnie the Pooh, the race involves dropping a stick into the river and seeing how long it takes to get to the finish line. The Championships have been in Oxfordshire ever since a local lock-keeper noticed people were picking sticks off a hedge and playing the traditional game. He began charging them in order to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).
 | | Lets hope the sticks don't meet with rocks... |
The original Pooh-sticks bridge where Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin played in the books is believed to be based on a bridge in Ashdown Forest, a mile from Hartfield in East Sussex. Each year the event is organised by The Rotary Club of Sinodun whose members are from predominantly from Benson, Wallingford, Didcot and other local villages. For more information visit the Pooh Sticks webpage. | 
