By Ed Chatterton
A 5-year-old Peppa Pig fan has been crowned the winner of this year's World Puddle Jumping Championships after being inspired by her cartoon hero.
Little Bonnie Howard recorded one of the highest scores in the competition's history after having to make her own puddles due to the recent warm weather.
No rain had threatened to stop play at this year's contest after April showers made way for higher temperatures this week.
It prompted organizers to begin accepting paddling pool entries for the first time since the wacky event began 13 years ago.
Bonnie Howard, 5, was crowned the 2026 World Puddle Jumping Champion. (Gemma Hill via SWNS)
Bonnie and her mom Gemma Hill, 37, needed to get inventive and were able to create puddles in their back garden using a hosepipe.
And Bonnie, of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, was left delighted to be announced the 2026 World Puddle Jumping Champion today after being motivated "by beating Daddy Pig."
Judges were impressed with her ingenuity — using the hosepipe to create her own muddy puddle in the garden so she could splash around in the sunshine despite the lack of rain.
But she also received top marks for enthusiasm and the distance of her splash.
Proud mom Hill, a local BBC radio presenter, said: “Bonnie is beside herself with excitement at winning.
"I managed to tell her she'd won on the school run and she went in skipping.
"She was absolutely delighted telling anyone who would listen, but I'm not sure they knew what she was talking about.
"Because of the hot weather we had to get inventive — we tried one in the paddling pool as I saw they were accepting paddling pool entries.
"But one of the criteria is stickability, which obviously requires mud, so we went about hosing the front garden.
"We had a great time, although I can’t say the same for my geraniums. She has destroyed part of the garden, caking us all in mud in the process.
Gemma Hill with daughter Bonnie Howard. (Gemma Hill via SWNS()
“She even got her paddling pool out to jump up and down in that, turning it into a swamp too.
"Her victory is my garden's loss — she's done a bit of damage to my geraniums as well as the bluebells.
"She thinks she has taken the title of Daddy Pig as he wins a puddle jumping contest in Peppa Pig — I think that's what spurred her on.
"She is a big fan of the show and absolutely over the moon about winning."
The annual event is held by Wicksteed Park, in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and has attracted thousands of entries over the years, including from as far away as Australia.
The bizarre competition has previously received unlikely backing from Jacob Rees-Mogg in the House of Commons.
Bonnie Howard jumping in puddles. (Gemma Hill via SWNS()
Judges give scores based on the height of the jump, enthusiasm, distance of splash and stickability — the amount of mud which clings to each competitor.
Competitors film themselves jumping in naturally-formed puddles at Wicksteed Park, puddles that they’ve made or found elsewhere, with judges allowing paddling pools entries this year because of the dry weather.
The winner is rewarded with a free day out at the park.
Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said: “Bonnie’s entry was the perfect example of what the competition is all about.
"She clearly had an amazing time out in the fresh air and sunshine, creating her own puddles and jumping with real enthusiasm, getting extra marks for managing to splash mud all over her mom in the process.”
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