Work is nearing completion on the gym extension at the Vale of White Horse Leisure Centre, and today new automatic doors were installed.

The final shape of the doughnut shaped extension is now plain to see.

There are lots of gyms looking for your membership. Abingdon School has a banner advertising their facilities which now include Tilsley Park. A flier came through our door yesterday for the ‘Fitness In Time – Ladies Only Gym’.

There are lots ways to keep fit and some are free. We often have a quick go on the exercise equipment at Ladygrove Meadow, off the Drayton Road, when passing that way.

Usually when we hear that the outdoor pool will not be opening next season it is because of some problem. This time things are quite different. The Vale of White Horse District Council have announced that they will replace Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool with a brand new pool.

The new pool will include a shallow beach area allowing easy access to the water, and a deep water area for swimmers and diving.

The outdoor pool will be closed for construction over the summer of 2017 but the splash park and kiosk will continue to operate. Swimmers can always use the leisure centre in Abingdon, or Hinksey outdoor pool on the Abingdon Road in Oxford.

Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: ‘This year we saw more than 33,000 visitors to the outdoor pool, our busiest summer for many years… The replacement work will mean that future generations will also be able to enjoy an outdoor swim by the River Thames in Abingdon.‘

Abingdon Town Football Club have no fixtures this season. They appear to be having a year out. According to people I spoke to at the ground they hope be able to get a decent team together and re-apply to join the North Berks League next season. So we will see.

In the meantime other teams are hiring the ground. There was a game on there this afternoon between two youth teams.

The Abingdon Marathon set off this morning at 9am from Tilsley Park. The Marathon has been run every year since 1982 apart from 2007.
5 miles into the race, at St Helen’s Wharf, the runners passed the River Thames. Katherine Matthews – 418 – of Chepstow Harriers was the eventual winner of the women’s race.

Not far behind were Max and Sarah of Abingdon. Abingdon A.C had a few runners near the front.

The Queen of Hearts was running twice as fast to keep up …

“Well, in our country,” said Alice, still panting a little, “you’d generally get to somewhere else—if you run very fast for a long time, as we’ve been doing.”

“A slow sort of country!” said the Queen. “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” – Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass

At every junction round the course there were marshalls encouraging the runners, and warning runners to keep to the left.

21 miles further on, Paul Fernandez of Abingdon A.C ran back as the winner having run the 26 miles 385 yards in 2 hours 30 minutes and 39 seconds. He overtook the early leaders.

The Abingdon Marathon has many races within the same race, and the winner of the Army Race was 1161. I never got his name.

At many places round the course spectators cheered on the runners. Back at Tilsley Park there was also a man with microphone to gee the runners on over the last stretch. But he also emphasized it was a windy day and difficult running conditions.

The Tilsley Park leaves were glorious.