Toddlers named World Puddle Jumping Champions

Three toddlers from the same family have been named joint winners of the World Puddle Jumping Championships.

Eli, 4, and his twin sisters, Maia and Neeve, both three, from Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, were crowned champions after a video of their muddy efforts impressed judges.

The annual event, run by Wicksteed Park in Kettering since 2013, invites participants to submit videos jumping into any suitable puddle.

Their mother, Hayley, said: "My three just love jumping in muddy puddles. They often have competitions between themselves to see who can make the biggest splash. The muddier the better. They are delighted to have won!"

The competition has seen thousands of entries over the years, with previous winners coming from across the UK and as far afield as Australia.

Judges award points based on the height of the jump, distance of the splash, enthusiasm, and the amount of mud that sticks to the competitor – known as "stickability".

The winners each received a Wicky Bear cuddly toy (the mascot of Wicksteed Park) and a family day out at the park.

Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said: "We've never had joint winners of the World Puddle Jumping Championships before, but Eli, Maia and Neeve showed such enthusiasm and generated so many muddy splashes that there was no way we could separate them and they are all deserved winners."

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