The Hinksey Outdoor Pool, off the Abingdon Road in Oxford, was open for the first time this morning from 8am. The water was lovely and warm and there were lots of swimmers taking advantage of this first chance for an open air swim in 2015. You would hardly notice it was raining.

The Friends of The Outdoor Pool have run a good campaign and got lots of publicity. With just a few days left they are now in the final push to try to secure the future of the Abingdon Outdoor Pool. IF GLL, the new pool operator, can run the pool as well as Fusion run the Hinksey Outdoor Pool then it will have a great future.

But if you can’t wait until then, details of the Hinksey Outdoor Pool can be found on their facebook page.

The 33rd running of the Abingdon Marathon started at 9am from Tilsley Park this morning.

Many volunteers were there to help. Marshalls held back traffic at junctions to let competitors run free. They also cheered and guided runners round the course.

The event is organised by a committee of volunteers from clubs in Oxfordshire including Abingdon Amblers. The number of entrants is limited to 1100, and included a postman who was going for the posties marathon record carrying a heavy post bag. I have not heard yet whether he got round in time.

Many local Clubs and Societies helped. The Abingdon Air Cadets for example were at the turn by Abingdon Marina offering drinks.

There was even a feeding station offering Jelly Babies near Peep O Day Lane.

The course itself had some changes this year. What is a difficult road junction at the bottom of Preston Road was replaced by a ‘funny’ turn at Lambrick Way. Then near the end competitors were diverted along Farm Road.

It was another very well organised event. The winning men’s runner, Chris Jordon from Leicester Coritanian Athletic Club, is seen here with some of the See Saw volunteers who organised the catering at Tilsley Park.

636 runners completed the marathon within the time limit. There are pictures of the runners on the Abingdon Blog Facebook page.

The North Berks League Football Season kicked off this weekend. At the Caldecott Recreation Ground Saxton Rovers took on Dorchester. Against the run of play Dorchester won 2-0.

Abingdon Town are also now playing in the North Berks League. Their opening game was against Wallingford Town, and Abingdon won 4-2.

Abingdon Town asked to play in the North Berks League, after finishing the last couple of seasons at the foot of the Hellenic League Premier Division. They see it as chance to re-group and improve their finances. Last year the derby game was against Abingdon United in the Hellenic League, and this year it will be against Saxton Rovers.

Friday 19th September at 7:30pm Abingdon Town v Saxton Rovers.

Work has begun turning an area of grass into more car park space for the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre. This will give space for an additional 99 cars, making 343 spaces in total.

Management of the Leisure Centres for the Vale, and South Oxfordshire, including the Open Air Pool, will all move to GLL from September 1st.

The outdoor pool will close for the season on Sunday 31st August. Schools are back next week.