COME rain or shine, the residents of Bampton will not be short of entertainment on Saturday as the village stages its 61st Great Shirt Race.

Teams of two in fancy dress will race through the streets with prams, bikes and other wheeled creations, stopping only to take a swift drink at the town’s four pubs (plus two houses which were pubs when the event was first held).

The proceeds are used to benefit the village’s senior citizens.

This year there are three races: one for primary school aged children, another for secondary children and the third for adults, plus a fancy dress competition.

The fancy dress judging will take place at 6.45pm, with the first race starting at 7.15pm.

Participants drink half a pint of beer (or squash for competitors who are under 18) at the six stops on the mile-long course from The Grange to the Market Square.

The Shirt Race is organised by Bampton’s Society for the Preservation of Ancient Junketing (Spajers).

Master of ceremonies Don Rouse said: “The Shirt Race is a fabulous tradition and one we all look forward to each year. It’s great fun and raises money for a great cause.

“The outfits are wonderful, plus money is collected from spectators during the race and each Christmas around 400 local pensioners receive £20 from the proceeds.”

Long-standing Spajers president Lord Donoughmore will be presiding at his final Shirt Race after 30 years in the post. His successor will be David Hawkins, a former chairman of Bampton Parish Council.

The event began in 1953 when the society’s founders, village gas man John Quick, farmer Doug Read and fishmonger Paul Bovington, decided to hold a pram race through the village streets during the celebrations of the Queen’s Coronation.

The victors, Harry Hampton and George Hunt, won a four-and-a-half gallon barrel of ale.