The 16th Annual Duck Race organised each year by the Rotary Club of Canterbury took place on Saturday 12th July in the Westgate Gardens, Canterbury. Weather conditions were cool and overcast, but the rain held off.
photos by Robin Hendy and Jenny Anderson
click any image to enlarge
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“Welcome to the Duck Race” says Mike Talbot |
Mike with Julian Brazier MP and the Town Crier |
Lenham’s Town Crier Gez Clarke in full cry |
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Rotarians had been busy over the previous weeks taking every possible opportunity in the Centre of Canterbury and in local supermarkets to find sponsors for the ducks – so that on the day, 3,750 bright yellow ducks were thrown in to the swift-flowing waters of the River Stour from the bridge at Toddlers Cove. A sight to be seen – as each duck fought against the currents and the weeds to get to the front along the quarter-mile stretch. |
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| A lot of the fun of the day was in watching the very smoothly-run operation of herding up the stragglers and those who had “retired” to the river banks as well as in scooping up all those who had eventually made it to the finishing line. It was evident that many a Canterbury Rotarian simply enjoyed messing about ‘in’ the river! | |
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There were two categories of racers – those sponsored by individuals at a cost of £1 and corporate ducks sponsored by local businesses @ £25. The eventual winning ducks won £250, £100 and £50 for their lucky sponsors, and the corporate duck won its sponsor six bottles of Champagne. Many thanks to our generous sponsors; Kent Relaince and Crimefighter Alarms |
