Hundreds turn out to New Year’s Day duck race

Hundreds of people braved the weather to enjoy Whitworth’s annual Duck Race on New Year’s Day.

A popular event in the Whitworth calendar, the ducks took to the water at the overflow of Cowm Reservoir on Tong End in the cold and blustery conditions.  In total over 1,300 ducks were sponsored and around 400 people turned out on the day in this growing event.

The ducks were launched at 1pm by Whitworth Councillor David Chorlton, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee, with support from committee members Les Hirst and Mark Ambrose.  The sponsor of the first duck over the line won £100, with second and third prizes issued of £75 and £50 respectively, and a ten pounds for the last duck to waddle in. All winners have now been contacted, the winning ducks were 1265 (1^st place), 1202 (2^nd place), 595 (3^rd place) and 460 (last duck).

The Duck Race is organised jointly between Whitworth Town Council’s Tourism and Leisure Committee and CLAW (the Community Leisure Association of Whitworth), and all proceeds go to tourism and leisure events in the town organised by the two organisations. This year the duck race raised over a thousand pounds.  

Councillor Chorlton said

It was, as always, a fantastic event and one that really blew away the hangovers from the previous evening’s celebrations.  This year the weather was a real blessing, it was nice to have a bright and dry race for once. Thanks to everyone who turned up on the day, and to all who sponsored a duck as this really helps us to continue running events and improving tourism in the community.

Christine Ashcroft, a volunteer from CLAW said:

Thanks also to all who managed the event, and also to those who sold the ducks at various shops, pubs and businesses in the town.  The money raised at the 2017 duck race was spent improving and adding to the Christmas lights and the money raised this year will help us to continue to make improvements. We look forward to doing it all again in 2019!