Straw Race 2024 Confirmed for Sunday 7th July
Join us for the annual Oxenhope Charity Straw Race, an iconic event held on the first Sunday of July each year. This year, mark your calendars for July 7th as teams of two or more embark on a 2.5-mile fun run through the picturesque Oxenhope village, all while dressed in fancy attire and lugging a 20kg bale of straw. But hold onto your hats because there’s more to this race than just running!
This isn’t your typical race; it’s a unique challenge filled with pit stops at five local pubs along the route. At each stop, participants have the opportunity to down a pint of beer, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. Starting at the Waggon and Horses and winding through pubs like The Bay Horse, The Lamb, and the former Idiot Hut and Shoulder of Mutton, the race culminates with an uphill push to the finish line at the Dog and Gun.
Prizes are awarded to the fastest teams and the best-dressed participants, adding to the thrill of the competition. But the origins of this extraordinary race are just as captivating as the event itself. It all began over a pint in the 1970s when two local farmers made a bet to race between pubs, with the added challenge of carrying a bale of straw. And thus, a tradition was born.
Since its inception, the Oxenhope Charity Straw Race has raised over £450,000 for local charities. Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice is one of the main beneficiaries, 75% of the funds will be directed to this worthy cause. The remaining 25% will be split between the following organisations: Oxenhope Warm Space; Worth Valley Food Bank; The Good Shepherd Centre; Oakworth Village Hall ‘The Shed’; Oakworth Youth Project; Oxenhope Youth Club, Haworth Riding for the Disabled.
Last year marked the event’s 45th anniversary, with tickets selling out faster than ever before, leaving many eager participants without straw in their hands.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of this exhilarating race. Register now at and prepare for an unforgettable experience. We’ll see you at the starting line.
Straw Race 2024 Confirmed for Sunday 7th July
We are delighted to confirm that the 2024 Oxenhope Straw Race will be held on Sunday 7th July 2024.
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.
Entry options will be: Full bale and full pint (per team) or half bale and half pint (per team). Teams in any configuration can enter either category.
We also have a Facebook Page , Instagram Page and Twitter account. Please follow us for regular updates as we move towards The Big Day and for future events.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you there!
Early bird entry for the first 50 teams will be is £25 per person.
Entry for 50-250 teams will be £30 per person.
Entry for 250-300 teams will be £35 per person.
Straw Race 2023 Confirmed for Sunday 2nd July
We are delighted to confirm that the 2023 Oxenhope Straw Race will be held on Sunday 2nd July 2023.
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.
This year the categories will be slightly different. Entry options will be: Full bale and full pint (per team) or half bale and half pint (per team). Teams in any configuration can enter either category.
We also have a Facebook Page , Instagram Page and Twitter account. Please follow us for regular updates as we move towards The Big Day and for future events.
We’re really looking forward to seeing you there!
The entry fee this year will be £25 per person. The fee for those teams entering at registration or on race day (availability permitting) will be £30 per person.
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
