Grebe nest on the Abbey Mill Stream

Grebe Family
I am told that the Grebe’s nest on the Abbey Millstream was washed away last year, but this year two of the brood have survived.

There is a striking difference between the two parents. The hunter parent has stayed slim enough to dive deep after fish, and the other parent seems to have put on extra buoyancy to keep the nest afloat.
Grebe Family
The Grebe young, with their zebra markings, also have very good appetites.

Abingdon Triumphant – Radley made them work for every inch

Abingdon beat Radley – by 3/4 length – to win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley. Abingdon also won this prestigous cup in 2002 & 2011.
Abingdon
Ben Rodford took this picture of the Abingdon Crew on way to the start.
Abingdon
The second picture shows the winning Abingdon Crew.

The Abingdon boat had beaten the Australian and US national champions as well as Latymer Upper School and St Peter’s School to reach the final.

This win, together with victories at the Schools’ Head of the River and the National Schools’ Championship Eights earlier in the year, secures the three major rowing titles for Abingdon this season. Winning the triple is a rare feat and has only been achieved once before in the School’s history in 2002.

Athol Hundermark, the Abingdon coach said, “The Henley win is the culmination of a fantastic year for the crew who have performed extremely well under pressure. Radley made us work for every inch…”

Congratulations to both Abingdon and Radley. Both can be seen rowing near us on the River Thames, just a few miles downstream from Oxford.

Biggest Ever Local Excellence Market

Local Excellence Market
There were a record 33 stalls at the Local Excellence Market organised by the Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce, and all week there have been notices up to advertise the event.
Local Excellence Market
The Mayor, Monica Lovatt, walked through to have a look around on the way to Abingdon School where today is prize giving.
Local Excellence Market
The Veg Van was there. It will be stopping weekly at the Northcourt Centre on Friday, 8.15 – 9am, selling local produce. It will do other stops if there is sufficient demand for an area. More details at Cultivate Oxford
Local Excellence Market
There were a mix of chamber members, and stalls from the Farmers Market such as the cheese man.
Local Excellence Market
There were also craft stalls such as the The Pathway Workshop. This young lady was painting one of their signs before taking it home.