We Have A GO For The 2022 Oxenhope Straw Race
We are super happy to be able to announce that, after a 2 year enforced absence, the Oxenhope Straw Race is back for 2022.
The date for the race is Sunday 3rd July. (It’s always the 1st Sunday in July so no surprises there.) No surprises about the starting point (the Waggon and Horses), the starting time (midday onwards), the route, the rules, the race categories and prizes, the registration process, or anything else. It’s as if we haven’t been away.
To sign up for the event, please go to our event page on SI Entries to fill in all your team’s details and pay the entry fee. Note that we have an Early Bird entry fee this year – £45 per team if you sign up on or before Friday 17th June. It increases to £50 after that, so please get your entries in early.
We also have a Facebook Page and a Twitter account – @StrawRaceFun. So please join us on one or the other (or both) for regular updates as we move towards The Big Day.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you then.
The entry fee this year will be £45 per team of 2 (Early Bird) and £50 from 18th June onwards. The fee for those teams entering at registration or on race day (availability permitting) will be £55.
2020 STRAW RACE - CANCELED
It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Oxenhope Straw Race 2020 has been cancelled. We had been monitoring the situation closely but, with recent updates from the government about the timescales for the Covid-19 crisis, it is clear that the chances of any type of mass gathering in the summer is extremely low. Clearly this is a very challenging time for us all, not least the charities that we support. Some of them rely heavily on the donation they receive each year from the Straw Race and with this in mind, we will be launching a Straw Race crowdfunding page in the coming weeks to try and raise at least some of what we would have, had the race gone ahead.
In addition, the Straw Race committee had a Zoom meeting yesterday and we have decided that once the UK comes through the other side of this crisis, we will be organising a social event to give people the opportunity to come together. So, keep an eye on our website and on social media. Whatever we do will include straw, beer and fancy dress. We will make sure that all the thought and effort that goes into your fancy dress doesn’t go to waste.
Stay home, stay safe and we will see you on the other side.
The charities we support need our help, even more so this year and so we have set up a crowdfunding page to hopefully raise at least some of the money that would have been raised through the Straw Race. Please help if you can.
2019 BENEFICIARIES
As the 2019 Straw Race fades into distant memory and we’re already thinking about the 2020 race – watch this space – it’s time to take a look at the beneficiaries of the funds you all managed to raise. Of course it goes without saying that every single penny raised goes to a wholly worthwhile cause and these donations mean a lot to the people receiving them. People that do sterling work each and every day. Work they wouldn’t be able to do without your efforts.
On behalf of our named charities and the Straw Race team, once again we thank you for your efforts and hope that in 2020 we can raise even more.
- Manorlands
- HRDA
- Bradford Sport and Leisure
- Parkinsons
- Phab
- Relate
- Scout Fellowship
- Cullingworth Scouts
- West Yorkshire Police Cadets
2019 STRAW RACE
The Oxenhope Straw Race is over for another year. This year we dedicated the straw race to the memory of our Chairman of 18 years, Ian Barrett, who sadly died earlier this year. Straw Race 2019 did him proud and proved to be another amazing day. We had 200 teams, the crowds were out in force and the sun shone down. The atmosphere was fabulous. I was at the start again this year and all the racers were in high spirits and looking fabulous. Andrew Wood, a fundraiser with Manorlands Hospice, did a sterling job this year as compare and race starter and the Wagon and Horses crew kept the all-important pints coming.
Fancy dress, as ever was of a high standard. To mention just a few we had boxers, complete with individual boxing rings, Alice in Wonderland, a family of stick men, Bill and Ben the flowerpot men, mermaids and my particular favourite the Father Ted team. Father Jack was particularly impressive as were Mrs Doyle’s teabag earrings. Thank you to every one of you for your efforts in making the day a colourful one.
This year saw Helen Smith (nee Glover) and Nicola Squires become only the second ever female team to win the overall title, finishing the course in 21 minutes and 33 seconds, a great achievement ladies. The slowest recorded time was 2 hours 33 minutes and 58 seconds, achieved by Craig Bartlett and Stephen McManus so huge congratulations to them. You will find all the result on our results page.
The Straw Race is a real join effort between many sections of the community and a tribute to how great the area really is. This year thanks go to:
- The Wagon and Horses
- The Bay Horse
- The Lamb Inn
- The Dog and Gun
- Wyedean Weaving
- McDowell Transport
- Dyson Doors and Fabrication
- PAR Masonry
- Keighley Scout Service Team
- Cullingworth Scouts
- West Yorkshire Police Cadets
- Felltrack timing
- A host of committee members friends and family who pulled pints, staffed checkpoints, baled straw, strung up bunting.
- Matthew Binns (BarMatt) for providing the bar and free beer at The Social Club
A special thank you goes to the residents of Oxenhope who graciously allow us to take over the village for the afternoon but also turn out in their hundreds to support the Strawracers.
Now comes the important part. Collecting in all your sponsorship. We would like to achieve a total of £10,000 again this year and in order to make life a little simpler for you all we have this year created a crowdfunding page so that you can submit monies online.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oxenhope-strawrace
We will of course still accept cash or cheque.
Thank you
Jane Barrett, Secretary
2019 STRAW RACE RESULTS
- Female athlete’s and Overall Winners – Helen Smith (nee Glover) and Nicola Squires in 21:33
- Male athletes – James Habergham and Matthew Merrick in 22:19
- Mixed athletes – Hannah Stroud and Chris Barnes in 22:00
- Male fun – Gas Cockcroft and Tony Neary in 25:47
- Female fun – Clare McAleavy and Sarah Stott in 28:32
- Mixed fun – Holly Burke and Edward Burke in 28:14
- Male veterans – Stuart McAleavy and Daniel Coe in 22:38
- Female veterans – Sara Abbott and Lynn Murphy at 25:01
- Mixed veterans – Trish Gavins and Quentin Emery at 27:27
- Local Hero’s – Stuart McAleavy and Daniel Coe at 22:38
- Fancy Dress
- Male – Seven Dwarves (Timothy Graham and Matthew Rhodes)
- Female – The Mermaids (Sally Littler and Alex Stott)
- Mixed – Father Ted (David Burlison, Kerry Simpson, Chris Walsh and Kathryn Simpson)
- Combined – Alice in Wonderland (Freya Bunton, Ella Bunton, Lucy Ferguson, Joe Penny, Chris Penny, Joe Holmes, Emma Kettlewell and Rosie Binns)
- Overall – The Cocky Balboas (Richard Smith, Chris Elrick’ Phillip Elrick’ Ashley Waligura and Richard Summers)
ABOUT
The Straw Race takes place every summer in the Pennine village of Oxenhope, near Keighley. It was started by two men who made a bet about racing from one pub to the next carrying a bale of straw.
The event has gone from strength to strength, raising around £450,000 to date. The money is raised by teams collecting sponsorship for completing the course, often in fancy dress but also the more serious athletes competing for a good time, whilst carrying a bale of straw and visiting each of the local pubs in the village. It is great day out with a real carnival atmosphere!
The sponsorship money is collected in by the Straw Race committee, and in November it is distributed to local charities. Various other fundraising events take place throughout the year to add to the total money raised. In 2018 we were able to make donations in excess of £11,000 to several local charities.
ENTRY AND SPONSORSHIP DETAILS
The entry fee this year will be £45. However, the fee for those teams entering at registration or on race day (availability permitting) will be £55.
Download your sponsorship form by clicking the button above.
Click to view the entry list for the 2022 event.
A SELECTION OF LOCAL SUPPORTED CHARITIES
Manorlands
Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice supports people through the most difficult time of their lives. Its doctors, nurses and carers give people the compassion and expert care they need to help them live the best life they possibly can.
Haworth Riding for the Disabled
Haworth RDA is a non-profit making charity established in 2001 with one rider, one pony and three volunteers. In the last twelve years it has grown significantly and now caters for over 160 + riders, has 10 specially trained horses and over 46 volunteers.
Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure
Bradford Disability Sport & Leisure is an organisation that provides disabled people through the Bradford area with sporting opportunities of both a recreational and competitive nature.
