General Features

In June 1988 five brothers - Peter, Dessy, Paul, Kevin and Terry Brackett - travelled down to Poole in Dorset to take part in the Poole 10k road race. Arriving at the start in Poole Park we found we were 4 hours too early for the race, so Terry (the youngest of the family) suggested a round of putting (Golf) which he won. With more time to kill we decided to try our luck on the Bowls green - not one of us had played before and after 2 hours of competition the winner was again the youngest Terry!

After was the 6-mile road race, in which Peter Brackett was the first brother home closely followed by Kevin, Dessy and Paul with younger brother Terry a distant last.
Back at their campsite the brothers freshened up and went out for a meal followed by a visit to a sports bar where the brothers again became competitive, challenging each other to a game of Darts and Pool, and after adding up the day's events (5 points for first place and 1 point for last place) the winner was the youngest member Terry. much to the annoyance of his older brothers.

It was agreed that night after much beer that we would challenge each other over the same events each year and hence the Brackett Challenge was born.

After nearly 20 years the Brackett Challenge is still going strong and takes place in or around the Blackbird Leys area. The competition is open to all members of the Brackett Family, relations and friends. The 6-mile run has been dropped and replaced by a more leisurely 1 mile run (or walk) and the Oxfordshire Pub game “Aunt Sally” has been introduced as one of the events.

Over the years our parents would always come along to cheer us on and join us at the evening’s awards presentation and disco, even when mum (Annie Brackett) had advanced dementia she would still ask who won. Mum sadly passed away in October 2000 aged 72.

Kevin Brackett who had been organizing the event each year (with much help from his wife Debbie) did not have the mind to run the event in 2001 but did with much persuading from his brothers Des, Paul, Peter and Terry, who suggested we do the Challenge to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research.

40 Competitors took part that year and with thanks to Deltey’s Supermarket and the Bullnose Morris pub and not forgetting our sister Joan who swam one mile in Blackbird Leys pool we raised almost  £1000.

The highlight that year was a very emotional David (the father of the family and Annie’s husband for 53 years) who at the age of 72 took part for the very first time and finished in a marvellous 21st place finishing in front of many of his children and grandchildren. He and the rest of the Family cheered loudly when one of the grandchildren (Jamie Brackett) was announced the winner at the award ceremony. Jamie collected the newly named trophy “Annie’s Cup” and made a moving speech that had the family in tears.

This year’s special event took place on the 29th September at Florence Park.