In town this morning there was a display in the Community Space, and people handing out leaflets, for the upcoming Abingdon Operatic Society production of Annie (18th-22nd April at the Amey Theatre).

Such a lovely morning. On the River Thames there was a wide load being transported slowly upstream, driven by a small outboard motor, and accompanied by other craft..

It contained the main landing stage and various pontoons and picnic tables for tomorrow’s Head of the River rowing event.

Last year, the event had to be called off because the current was too strong, and Abingdon Rowing Club could not navigate this wide load safely under Abingdon Bridge.

Also in town was a tombola raising funds for one of the local political parties. Pictured here, with the ticket 680 prize, is Pat Lonergan, the Town Councillor with the current longest unbroken term of office – he was first elected in 2003.

On Saturday morning I caught the start of the 5km Parkrun that starts at Rye Farm Meadow at 9am. The race director welcomed runners from lots of different places including Didcot, Oxford, and the University of Birmingham. He also gave an update on the course conditions, and a notice about lost property.

Then he lined them all up

and they were off …

The runner with the fastest time, from Headington Road Runners, came in at 17:46. The last and 349th runner to finish had a time of 51:37.

Also there watching the race was Paul Gustaffson, the author of the Eggbert’s Adventures books. I saw him later that morning at the Charter where the Abingdon Community Hospital Friends had a fund raiser. Paul has been organising the World ‘Eggbert’s Adventures’ Egg and Spoon championship on 15th April in the Abbey Meadows. He was scouting out the 5km run at Rye Farm in case the venue needed to be changed to somewhere bigger.

On the Market Place yesterday there was a single gazebo publicising the ATOM Festival of Science Technology.

Next Saturday there will be a dozen, possibly eighteen stalls, with free science activities in the open air. There will also be a variety of talks and science activities from 22nd to 26th March. All can be seen on the ATOM Website.

Meanwhile down on the River Thames members of the Abingdon Rowing Club were out checking the course for the upcoming Abingdon Spring Head on Sunday 9th April. It is a great spectacle when rowers race the 2000 metres from Culham Reach to Wilsham Road in a mass time trial. They start at the following times:
Division 1 – 09.30
Division 2 – 11.45
Division 3 – 14.00
Division 4 – 16.15
You can watch from either bank.

At the Tennis and Leisure centre in Audlett Drive this evening (Friday) the first exhibitors were starting to set up the. Abingdon Model Railway Show which hits town fully tomorrow.

This is a big show with twenty different railway layouts, and a lot of trade stalls for anyone interested in modelling. The crowded picture above is from 2009.