A dry spell could have spoiled a puddle-jumping contest, but one 5-year-old found a way around it.
Bonnie Howard, of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, has been crowned the 2026 World Puddle Jumping Champion after creating her own muddy puddles with a hosepipe in her back garden.
The Peppa Pig fan recorded one of the highest scores in the competition’s history after warm weather meant there was little rain. Organisers at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, accepted paddling pool entries for the first time since the event began 13 years ago.
Judges were impressed by Bonnie’s ingenuity in making her own muddy puddle so she could compete despite the dry weather. She also scored highly for enthusiasm and the distance of her splash.
Bonnie’s mother, Gemma Hill, 37, said: “Bonnie is beside herself with excitement at winning.
“I managed to tell her she’d won on the school run and she went in skipping.
“She was absolutely delighted, telling anyone who would listen, but I’m not sure they knew what she was talking about.
“Because of the hot weather, we had to get inventive, we tried one in the paddling pool as I saw they were accepting paddling pool entries.
“But one of the criteria is stickability, which obviously requires mud, so we went about hosing the front garden.
“We had a great time, although I can’t say the same for my geraniums. She has destroyed part of the garden, caking us all in mud in the process.
“She even got her paddling pool out to jump up and down in that, turning it into a swamp too.
“Her victory is my garden’s loss, she’s done a bit of damage to my geraniums as well as the bluebells.
“She thinks she has taken the title of Daddy Pig as he wins a puddle jumping contest in Peppa Pig. I think that’s what spurred her on.
“She is a big fan of the show and absolutely over the moon about winning.”
The annual contest has attracted thousands of entries over the years, including from as far away as Australia. It has also previously received backing from Jacob Rees-Mogg in the House of Commons.
Competitors film themselves jumping in naturally formed puddles at Wicksteed Park, or puddles they have made or found elsewhere. This year, judges also allowed paddling pool entries because of the dry weather.
Judges score entries on the height of the jump, enthusiasm, distance of splash and stickability, the amount of mud that clings to each competitor. The winner receives a free day out at the park.
Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said: “Bonnie’s entry was the perfect example of what the competition is all about.
“She clearly had an amazing time out in the fresh air and sunshine, creating her own puddles and jumping with real enthusiasm, getting extra marks for managing to splash mud all over her mom in the process.”
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