World PoohSticks Championships 2009

Most people will have heard of the game of Pooh Sticks from the A.A. Milne books where Christopher Robin, Pooh and friends threw sticks over one side of a bridge to see whose stick came out first on the other side. What you may not know that thanks to a keen RNLI supporter the World PoohSticks Championships have been going on for over 20 years in a small village in Oxfordshire.

This year we at Oxford Spires Rotary Club took over from the Sinodun Rotary Club in running the event.

So on Sunday 29^th March we and hundreds of people headed down to Little Wittenham Village for what has become a fantastic event. Our first year was a hard year as we were still finding our feet but thanks to support from Sinodun Rotary Club, the RNLI, residents of the local village, friends and family the day was a huge success raising £1,400 for various charities including the RNLI and restoration of the local village church.

 We had perfect weather this year which really brought in the crowds with over 700 entrants and 24 teams. We also had a visit from Phillipa Forrester and family with a film crew in tow filming a day in the life on the river, or some such programme which will be on later this year.

As well a Pooh Sticks we have other games, stalls, bouncy castles, food and even the local radio station attended to entertain the crowds.

For all attending and working at the event it was a fantastic day, and we at Oxford Spires hope to continue with the legacy that the RNLI and Sinodun Rotary have left.

Photos: Left: People queuing to enter the competition Right: Team entry winners, last years winners and Liz Williamson (club president)

For more information on the event and information on next years event visit www.pooh-sticks.com