Lifeboatmen keep duck race afloat in slow-moving river

27th April 2014

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WICK lifeboat volunteers never dream of ducking an emergency and they even waded to the rescue today.
Things didn't move as fast as had been hoped after 500 plastic ducks were released above the Coghill Bridge, at the town's Riverside, for a fun fundraiser.

As you can see, the ducks, with one exception, made little progress, initially, because of the slow-moving current and an offshore wind carried them towards river islands on the south side of the river.

Anticipating that the competitors might not get off to a flying start, the volunteers had come prepared and waded into the river to get the competitors in the 350-metre race, back on track. One duck didn't need assistance and set off at a quacking pace which it maintained right to the finish at the rock groyne above the town bridge, in the record time of 21 minutes five seconds to net its promoter David Omand the top prize of a cool £100. Second place winner of £50 was Joe Gill and lifting the third prize of £25 was a woman who signed herself Cath-Wick 606333. Young Freya Lamb came nearest in a guess-the-finishing-time of the first duck, her estimate being a close 21 minutes 21 seconds.

Results in a junior duck race were as follows: 1, Kaitlin (631419); 2. R. Sutherland and 3, Mandy. All three received cash prizes.