'Record numbers' enjoy festive fun at Cookham Dean Boxing Day Games

‘Record numbers’ of people turned out to enjoy some festive fun at the annual Boxing Day Games in Cookham Dean.

The Boxing Day Games have taken place in Cookham Dean for more than 50 years and see villagers pitted against each other in the spirit of ‘friendly competition’.

Catherine Prentis, 59, one of the event organisers, said this year’s games had seen ‘record numbers’ of up to 700 people turn out.

“The mulled wine was fantastic, and we raised some nice money for charity,” Ms Prentis added.

“But that’s not necessarily the most important part; that’s getting everybody out – the families all out on Boxing Day.”

Sixteen teams took to the village green to vie for the coveted ‘loo seat’ trophy, with the first games kicking off at around 10am.

Games included a blindfolded obstacle course, egg throwing, tug of war and the ‘dizzy stick’.

The game sees competitors take turns running a circle around a stick, before attempting a sprint back to their teammates.

“Everyone’s totally disoriented,” Ms Prentis said. “It's just a very funny spectacle.”

This year’s winners were the Winter Hillbillies, made of the Prentis and Robinson families, who finished on 77 points and took home the coveted ‘loo seat’ trophy.

Winners of the fiercely contested tug of war competition were the team from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, who finished runners-up overall.

“There was lots of banter, lots of people out,” Ms Prentis said. “It was a beautiful day.”

The Boxing Day Games, organised by community group The Cherry Pickers of Cookham, also raises hundreds of pounds for charitable causes in the area.

Ms Prentis said: “Thank you to everybody who comes and supports the games. Whether you’re a team member, whether you are a spectator, whether you are a helper – it’s a whole community event and without everybody there, these things wouldn’t happen.”