Ingenious Bonnie, 5, wins Wicksteed Park’s World Puddle Jumping Championships despite dry spell
A five-year-old girl from Leighton Buzzard has been crowned 2026 World Puddle Jumping Champion after recording one of the highest scores in the history of the competition.
Bonnie Howard scored top marks for enthusiasm and the distance of her splash in the annual event, held by Wicksteed Park, Kettering, since 2013.
Judges were particularly impressed with her ingenuity – using a hosepipe to create her own muddy puddle in the garden so she could splash around in the sunshine despite the lack of rain during the recent mini heatwave.
Proud mum Gemma Hill said: “Bonnie is beside herself with excitement at winning. We had a great time, although I can’t say the same for my geraniums! She has destroyed part of the garden, caking us all in mud in the process.
“She even got her paddling pool out to jump up and down in that, turning it into a swamp too.”
The World Puddle Jumping Championships has attracted many thousands of entries over the years, with previous winners including a nine-year-old girl from Kettering and a three-year-old boy from Monmouthshire in Wales, with entries coming from as far away as Australia.
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).
Competitors film themselves jumping in naturally-formed puddles at Wicksteed Park, puddles that they’ve made or found elsewhere, with judges allowing paddling pools entries this year because of the dry weather.
People submit their video entries by posting them in the comments on the puddle jumping posts on the Wicksteed Park Facebook page, with the winner rewarded with a free day out at the park.
Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said: “Bonnie’s entry was the perfect example of what the competition is all about. She clearly had an amazing time out in the fresh air and sunshine, creating her own puddles and jumping with real enthusiasm, getting extra marks for managing to splash mud all over her mum in the process.”
Wicksteed Park’s 25 rides and attractions are now open every weekend, bank holiday and school holiday until the end of September.
For May half-term the park will be open 10.30am to 5pm from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31 for action-packed adventures that the whole family can enjoy.
Wicksteed Park combines a 281-acre estate including 147 acres of beautiful parkland with more than 25 rides and attractions for all the family.
It was opened in 1921 by Charles Wicksteed, the creator of swings and slides as we know them today, who had a vision to inspire and encourage play as a way to improve families' health and well-being.
The Wicksteed Charitable Trust was formed to ensure his work continued after his death and the park has become known as the home of children’s play.
For further information go to wicksteedpark.org