2015 Duck Race Raises Over £1,400

The 16th Wimborne in Bloom August Bank Holiday Weekend Duck Race has raised over £1,400 towards 'In Bloom' funds and in particular the autumn planting.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Wimborne Minster, Councillor Shane and Mrs Tracy Bartlett and the Town Crier Chris Brown along with members of the Wimborne in Bloom Committee launched the Ducks into the River Allen by the Riverside Mews Cafe Bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 29th August. Following the recent rains and thus more water in the river the first ducks were crossing the finishing line at the Rising Sun Car Park in around fifteen minutes although it was over half an hour before the last duck completed the course!

This year, for the second year in succession, to meet the demand for tickets some of the ducks were 'co-owned' as it would have been impractical to increase beyond a thousand the number of ducks launched into the river. It meant that the prize money could be doubled as both owners would be eligible for the full value of all prizes. In the event only two winning ducks were 'co-owned' and the full list of results is as follows: 1st £50 Duck No 669 Michael Bond: 2nd Duck No 98 (Co-owned) £25 each Alan & Caroline Knight and Jane Love: 3rd £10 Duck No 861 Austin Cole: 4th £5 Duck No 662 Rose Gilson: 5th £5 Duck No 996 Mary Austin: 6th Duck No 84 (Co-owned) £5 each Hazel Layne & Dai James. Last Duck Home No 425 won a bottle of wine for its owner Archie Morgan. All ducks had been pre-sold at £1 a time thanks to the Waitrose and Co-Operative Supermarkets allowing members of Wimborne in Bloom a selling point at the entrance to their stores prior to the Race.

Richard Nunn 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 Waitrose and Co-Operative Supermarkets, he also expressed thanks to Minster Press for the use of the Bridge from which to launch the ducks, the Rising Sun for the finishing line and the use of their garden and those in the river who helped to ensure all ducks crossed the line at the end of the race.