Last weekend we joined hundreds of competitors as Great Yarmouth went quackers for the town’s annual charity duck race. The event was organised by the Great Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club and held on The Waterways. It is the 17th year that the event has been hosted and in that time it has successfully raised tens of thousands of pounds for the club.
Founded in 1905, the Rotary Club is made up of 1.2 million people who come together in local clubs to create positive, lasting change – both in communities across the UK and also around the world. Over the past century the club has helped tackle a number of international issues – most notably helping in the fight against Polio. Since they began their fight by immunising 6 million children in the Philippines in 1979, the number of polio-endemic countries has fallen from 125 in 1988 to just 3 in 2012.Â
We were delighted to enter our duck, Ducky McDuckface, which was designed and painted by our friend, Mik Richardson in the style of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson. Our thanks go out to Mik for his fantastic design and hard work – especially considering Ducky was painted at the last minute ahead of the recent Maritime Festival.
We are delighted to report that Mik’s hard work was suitably rewarded. Ducky completed the course, finishing fifth in a large field and was also awarded the title of ‘Best Dressed Duck’. Ducky was chosen for the award by President of the Rotary Club, Diana Loveland (above), who felt that he represented the spirit and values of Nelson’s County.
Congratulations must go to the winning duck, created by Better Furniture, who finished so far ahead that some in the field called for a steward’s enquiry! We would also like to thank everyone at the Rotary Club involved with organising this year’s event. We look forward to being involved again next year!