This Monday at around noon, the AJ Bell Womens Cycle Tour, raced through Abingdon.

It was the first of six days of racing from Oxfordshire to Suffolk. Before they came through, the bollards were removed from Abingdon Bridge (weak bridge awaiting repairs), and the road was brushed.

Lots of outriders on motorbikes came through before the race. One rider stopped and stood in front of a car in Bridge Street, with a flag, to warn the riders of the obstacle.

There was a reporter interviewing spectators near the Crown and Thistle.

The riders came up the rise of Abingdon Bridge in a large bunch (called a ‘peloton’ in the Tour de France), with support cars behind. Crowds cheered as they came up Bridge Street, and by the fair on the Market Place. They raced by in seconds

More people were waiting to cheer them through Stert Street.

The race highlights will be shown this evening at 9pm on ITV4. Also I have made it my entry for the city daily photographers start of month theme day on ‘winning’. More entries here. Thankyou to Elizabeth for the last picture.

We are back in Abingdon after a week away. The X2 bus driver at Oxford Station said that a lot of petrol stations in the area have run out of fuel. He put it down to panic buying. The Vineyard Service Station was not selling fuel this morning.

There are signs in the Vineyard warning that the road will be closed on 4th October for the Womens Cycle Tour. The Cycle Tour begins in Oxfordshire on Day 1, starting in Bicester. The race will head south to Culham and Abingdon, then north to finish in Banbury. The route through Abingdon is Bridge Street, Stert Street (wrong way), Stratton Way,  Bath Street, and Wootton Road.

Also on 4th October, Abingdon Street Fair will shut High Street, Ock Street, and part of Stratton way. The signs, this year, make it the Longest Street Fair in the UK – 1½ mile !

Here are some pictures from last Saturday`s Official Opening of the Kingfisher Canoe Club house. The opening was attended by well over 100 people. Invited guests were funders, donors, and supporters of Kingfisher CCs new hut at Abingdon Lock. Also present were present members of the club and also many past members from the last 45 years.

Dave Surman said, ‘It has been a long and tortuous journey to make it happen with many obstacles to overcome. With so many people working together, with support from the public and specifically with the positve and exceptional help and support from Richard the lock keeper, it has at last happened.’

Here are Club Chairman Tim Wilkes, Youth Development Officer and Trustee David Surman , and Youth Section Member Jenny Wood

Picture credits
1 David Porter
2 Martin Wackenier

George Haslam had told people there would a gathering of vintage and replica cars at the Royal British Legion in Abingdon, and they were arriving from about 11:30. The car next to him was built in the 1970s and inspired by an older Riley and made from components from various cars: the engine is from a Ford Cortina; the front suspension from a Triumph Herald; the body shell is fiberglass, and was made and the vehicle put together by the Vincent MPH company.

Stuart worked on the MG works rally racing vehicles for some of his years at the MG Car Plant at Abingdon. He got talking to the owner of this replica race vehicle about why some of the features were added.

There was to be music by a live singing group, drinks and a barbeque.