2013 Duck Race

The 14th Wimborne in Bloom August Bank Holiday Weekend Duck Race raised over £1,000 towards 'In Bloom' funds and in particular the Autumn planting.

The Town Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Andy and Mrs Amelia Hampton along with members of the Wimborne in Bloom Committee launched the Ducks into the River Allen by the Riverside Mews Café Bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 24th August. In spite of the low level of water in the river the first duck crossed the finishing line at the Rising Sun Car Park in just over fifteen minutes and although others followed fairly swiftly it was half an hour before the last duck completed the course!

The Mayor, Cllr. Andy Hampton and Chairman of Wimborne in Bloom with from the left Florian Kaltenberger (joint 2nd prize winner),Nina Fionda (4th prize winner) and Anna Pazos (joint 2nd Prize winner)

The winning Duck No.566 was owned by Jean Hayter who won £50.00. Second home was Duck No.287 jointly owned by Florian Kaltenberger and Anna Pazos who won £25.00.The Third Duck No 175 was owned by Ken Holloway who won £10.00.The 4th, 5th and 6th winners all received £5.00 each. They were Nina Fionda with duck 292, John Rynne with duck 357 and Pat Hymers with duck 323. The last Duck home No.6 won a 'Bottle of Wine' for its owner Joan Peatling.

'Duck Owners' watching over the ducks sailing down the river

All 1100 ducks had been pre-sold at £1 a time thanks to the Co-Operative Supermarket allowing members of Wimborne in Bloom a selling point at the entrance to their store and Wimborne BID allowing tickets to be sold in The Square alongside the National Trust's Shepherds Hut prior to the Race.

Richard Nunn, Chairman of Wimborne in Bloom, speaking after the Race "thanked everyone who helped with the selling of tickets and all those who purchased 'Ducks' in support of Wimborne in Bloom. He was particularly pleased to see such a large crowd of 'duck owners' who followed their ducks down the river from the safety of the footpath. In addition to thanking the Co-Operative Supermarket and the Wimborne BID he also expressed thanks to The Minster Press for the use of the Bridge from which to launch the ducks and the Rising Sun for the finishing line and the use of their garden.