The World Poohsticks Championships were started by Lynn David, lockkeeper at Day's Lock near Dorchester-on-Thames. A keen gardener, he noticed walkers were breaking off twigs from his hedges to play on the nearby bridges and hit on the idea of leaving a supply of sticks next to a collection box to raise funds for the RNLI lifeboat charity. When he retired, the Sinodun Rotary Club continued the fundraising.

Competing for medals - and a small Pooh bear - contestants play in individual or team heats, with the winners going forward to further heats, and then a final.

Some winners, like the Czech team which won in 2004, claim skill over luck, attributing their success to choosing the fastest part of the river. Certainly Eeyore believed technique was involved and was keen to dispense advice to Tigger about letting the stick drop 'in a twitchy sort of way'.

Where you there? How did you do?

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