2016 Duck Race Raises Over £1,300

start of the duck race

The 17th Wimborne in Bloom August Bank Holiday Weekend Duck Race has raised over £1,300 towards 'In Bloom' funds and in particular the autumn planting.

The Mayor of Wimborne Minster, Councillor Mrs Sue Cook and her Escort Cllr Robin Cook 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 Café Bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 27th August. After a leisurely 'swim' down the river the first ducks were crossing the finishing line at the Rising Sun Car Park some fifteen minutes later.

ducks racing down the river Allen

Ducks dodge their way down densely overgrown obstacle course

the finish line

The finish line

This year, for the third 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 one winning duck was 'co-owned' and the full list of results is as follows:

1st £50 Duck No 905 Oliver Brunt: 2nd £25 Duck No 714 Joan Whitmarsh: 3rd £10 Duck No 610 Colin Conway: 4th £5 Duck No 890 Val Williams: 5th Duck No 39 (Co-owned) £5 each Geoff Savill and Julie Villa Vercella: 6th £5 Duck No 586 Jasmine Dean.

start of the duck race

Joan Whitmarsh assisted by her grandson Drew collects her 2nd Prize winnings from the Mayor

start of the duck race

Shows a delighted Jasmine Dean collecting her 6th prize winnings from the Mayor Cllr Mrs Sue Cook with (from left) Cllr Robin Cook, Mayors Escort, Richard Nunn, Chairman Wimborne in Bloom and Town Crier Chris Brown

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 the Slocock Trust 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."

crowds gathered to see the race end

Ducks packed away, ready for a well deserved rest after their hard fought race

ducks packed away, ready for a well deserved rest