Day 53 of the Olympic Torch relay – Oxford to Reading

Today is day 53 of 70 for the London 2012 Olympic torch relay and will see the torch travel from Oxford at 7:15am to Reading at 6:14pm, passing through Abingdon, Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Bisham, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, Windsor, Egham, Ascot and Bracknell along the way.

Departing the city of spires, universities and of course boat races, the torch will have a relative lay-in this morning only starting its journey at 7.05am on the Iffley Road Stadium. After a trip around the Iffley Road Stadium track where Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to break the four minute mile, will be waiting along with many others to wave the torch on its way.

Prior to the torch leaving the city, there was even a new contender for an Olympic sport – an international game of Quidditch, the previously fictional game created in the Harry Potter books…although the flying bit has proven slightly tricky.

After leaving the city, the torch will head roughly due-south through various towns including unusually named “Nettlebed”. It will take in some of the more gentile areas of the country such as Windsor Castle, Eton College and the Ascot – famous of course for the annual hat, erm, I mean horse-racing contest.

During this leg, the torch will make a stop at Eton Dorney which is the the Olympic games venue for rowing, canoe sprint and Paralympic rowing.

Finally the torch will take a rest at the Madejski Stadium, home to Reading FC and London Irish rugby club, ready for its adventures in Winchester and Salisbury.