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  • "
    Major Oxford wrote:
    The onlything Abingdon had going for it and its been snatched away well you still have poundland
    You obviously missed the brilliant Abingdon Air & Country Charity Show last weekend then...taking nothing away from Dragon Boats and my sympathy goes out to their organisers,but Abingdon has lot's more going for it if people just care to go and look for it"
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Downpours lead to postponement of popular fundraiser

2:46pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News By Colin Palmer

Teams battle it out on the river in a past year Teams battle it out on the river in a past year

ABINGDON’s annual dragon boat races due to take place on Sunday have been postponed after this month’s downpours made the swollen River Thames potentially dangerous.

Event organisers made the decision after carrying out an inspection of the river and adjacent Rye Meadow site yesterday.

However, Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper, which runs the popular charitable fundraiser, plans to arrange an alternative date later in the year.

A spokesman for the organisers said the decision had been made because the river was was currently ‘red-boarded’ and navigation was forbidden, the site was waterlogged and would be dangerous to load and unload boats and they could not provide key facilities including parking.

The event, which sees the river filled with hundreds of fundraisers rowing to the sound of drum beats, has raised more than £400,000 for charities since 1999.

This year, 24 teams, each of 16 rowers and a drummer, had signed up to board their 40-foot boats and race down a 250-metre course.

Money raised is split between each team’s chosen causes and the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper’s charities.

The event, which attracts thousands of spectators, includes a fun fair, craft stalls, a charity raffle and food and drink stalls.

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