Duck Race Easter 09

Easter Duck Race, 13th April 2009

Forget the University Boat Race, The Grand National and the London Marathon , the main event on the Spring calendar is the Snarestone Easter Duck Race. This years event took place on Easter Monday, 13^th April at the usual venue in front of a large crowd that had gathered on the banks in the Spring sunshine. There must have been well over a hundred spectators there to witness the site of several hundred ducks being released, some from as far away as Measham. Despite their training and the calm conditions, the ducks were a little slow off the mark, deciding to stick together for the first few yards, perhaps waiting for a duck to make the early break. Experienced duck watchers know that the early leaders very rarely get all the way to the end and know that hanging back for a run in the chasing pack is the best policy. Despite this though, the first two ducks were ably cheered on as they hit the first flight of rapids, even if they had been sponsored by a dog named Holly and a Hen called Mildred! (Getting sponsorship these days is getting harder!). Once they had made their move, the chasing pack soon formed, a group of about a dozen ducks, containing number 170, who soon followed them down the first flight of turbulent waters. Imagine their horror as they arrived at the bottom to find the first two ducks hopelessly stranded amongst the grasses, paying dearly for their impatience. The pack worked well together, though, and in a very slow moving race finally found their way to the top of the Runs which followed Curry corner. As they battled for position, they were launched down the final sprint for the line, one by one getting caught in the branches and grasses that line the banks, all but one, our number 170, who stayed out of trouble to steam across the line first. With the others from the pack all stranded, the race just seemed to stop in its tracks. There was no movement in sight, and you had to go back several corners to find any ducks who looked interested in 2^nd place. Amazingly, it was almost 15 minutes before the next batch of ducks arrived at the finish line, at speed and in line, headed by 676, then 13 and 511 all crossing within 2 seconds of each other. The Last placed duck was easy to identify as it had managed to swim upstream back from the first corner where all the ducks had been shown to. All that remained was to check the wellbeing of one of the ducks who had caused great concern amongst the crowd by completing the course under water and seemingly struggling for breath. Dragged out and emptied, we think he will make a full recovery for next year.

Picture Special from this year! Click Here to see Paul Barnard's pictures of the day.

The Duck race is organised by the Snarestone Tote Committee. The Tote is run every Sunday evening from The Globe, with the numbers drawn at 21:30. If you would like to enter a line of numbers, come down and see us, or contact one of the Tote committee members. Any proceeds made, go towards providing the Children and OAP's of the village with a Christmas Party and a Summer Mystery trip. More details can be found throughout this website, or from any of the committee members.

Thank you to everyone who supported this years event by sponsoring ducks and to the spectators who came along to watch.

Some general pictures from this years event....(Taken by James Evans, aged 10)