World Puddle Jumping Championship under threat from heatwave

This year’s ‘World Puddle Jumping Championships’ is under threat due to the upcoming UK mini heatwave, because there won’t be any puddles to jump in.

Organisers are concerned that no rain could stop play at the quirky annual event in Northamptonshire ahead of a mini heatwave this month.

The forecast has prompted theme park bosses to change the rules for the first time in 13 years, allowing competitors to jump into paddling pools instead.

Each year, hundreds of children from across the world enter the bizarre competition, which has previously received backing from Jacob Rees-Mogg in the House of Commons.

Children are urged to channel their inner Peppa Pig – and judges give scores based on the height of the jump, enthusiasm, distance of splash and stickability -the amount of mud which clings to each competitor.

But with a lack of muddy puddles this year, organisers have had to think outside the box in order to allow the bizarre competition to continue.

Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said: ‘Because of the mini heatwave which is due, we’ve had to think outside the box and allow paddling pool entries this year – we refuse to let no rain stop play and the event will go ahead as usual.’

Zoe Rudd, 31, is the mum of 2023 winner Luna and is re-entering Luna, now seven, as well as her two-year-old sister, Willow, this year.

She said: ‘They both love Peppa Pig, and if they see a puddle, they have to jump in it. But with the weather coming up, I don’t think there’s going to be any puddles anyway, so we might have to do a paddling pool entry.

‘We definitely won’t be put off, it’s the British way to keep on going whatever the weather, which ironically is usually rain. Willow is mad about Bluey, too, so maybe the Australian climate might be a bit more fitting this year anyway.

‘Hopefully Luna can retain her crown, or it’s passed down to her little sister this year.’

Competitors are being urged to submit video entries this week, and the winner of the World Puddle Jumping Championships will be announced at the end of next week.

The event has attracted thousands of entries over the years, with previous winners including a nine-year-old girl from Kettering, Northamptonshire, and a three-year-old boy from Monmouthshire in Wales, with entries coming from as far away as Australia.

Last year, three toddlers from the same family were crowned joint world champions after their entry left them covered head to toe in mud.

Competitors can submit their video entries by posting them in the comments on the Puddle Jumping posts on the Wicksteed Park Facebook page.

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