Wicksteed Park crowns World Puddle Jumping champion after competition goes virtual

There were entries from around the world
Theo was crowned World Puddle Jumping ChampionTheo was crowned World Puddle Jumping Champion
Theo was crowned World Puddle Jumping Champion

A new World Puddle Jumping champion has been crowned by Wicksteed Park after its annual competition was held virtually.

Coronavirus restrictions meant the Kettering park couldn't hold the event in-person this year so competitors were asked to send in videos of themselves jumping in puddles.

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There were more than 1,000 entries from around the world but it was three-year-old Theo Burkett-Watkins who came out on top.

Theo, from Goytre, Monmouthshire, sent a video of him jumping in a huge puddle and even lay down in the water.

In second place were twins Sophie and Jessica Wright, four, from Kimberley, Nottingham. Third place went to Charlie Hodgson, 11, from Mellor in Greater Manchester.

A special achievement award was given to Fish Creek Kids at Hilder Road State School in The Gap, Brisbane, all the way in Australia.

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Rachel James, head of sales and marketing at Wicksteed Park, said: "We’ve had more than 1,200 entries from literally everywhere around the world, Australia, Italy, you name it.

"And we are going to keep the virtual element every year from now on, previously you could only enter by coming to Wicksteed Park and jumping the competition puddles."

This year's competition was the eighth annual World Puddle Jumping Championship and it was held during October half-term.

Normally competitors jump through a series of puddles at Wicksteed Park but this was not possible this year.

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Entrants were judged on things like the height of the jump, enthusiasm, distance of splash and stickability (the amount of mud which clings to each competitor).

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