The team from Genting Casino with their winning duck
Best Dressed Duck winner Gordon Smith with his family and the Mayor
Click here to see our gallery of pictures from the day
The Ey Up Mi Duck Race, Derby’s colourful annual duck race, refused to be beaten by the weather on Saturday 8th June.
Hundreds of spectators lined the river at Derby River Gardens to watch over 100 giant decorated ducks and more than 3,000 little ones swim down the River Derwent in the annual race, the biggest fundraising event for local charity Sight Support Derbyshire.
The event raised just over £6,000 towards the charity’s services to help local adults and children face the everyday challenges of living with sight loss.
Before and after the race, the crowds were entertained with performances from Derby Rock Choir, Bellisamo Bellydance and UC Dance, while enjoying stalls and children’s activities.
The giant ducks had been bought and decorated by companies, organisations and individuals ready for entering in the Best Dressed Duck Race, which was judged at 12 noon by the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Frank Harwood. The overall winner was Gordon Smith, whose Pirate Duck won him a spa day for four people, donated by Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa, Brimington.
Six category winners in the Best Dressed Duck contest each received a fun trophy. They were:
Small Businesses: The Red Lion, Riddings Ram Duck.
Transport, Engineering and Construction: Lubrizol, Baywatch Duck
Individual / Miscellaneous: Gordon Smith, Pirate Duck.
Health and Wellbeing: Richmond Villages, Aston-on-Trent, Bill and Ben Ducks
Financial, Legal, Insurance and Corporate: Genting Casino, Derby, Croupier Duck
Community, Sports and Arts: RNIB College, Loughborough, Mad Hatter Duck
The rain stopped in time for the hotly-contested race at 1.30pm. In a close battle to the finish line, any one of five giant ducks could have won, but in the end Genting Casino clinched it, winning the prize of a night’s bed and breakfast for two at the Holiday Inn Riverlights.
Ticket holder for the winning little duck was Bob Lee of Darley Abbey, who won £250 cash donated by Lubrizol.
Lynda Raven, Sight Support Derbyshire’s Fundraising Manager, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who turned out to support us on a day which was typically great weather for ducks, and to our staff, volunteers and members of our youth group who helped run our stalls and activities.
“Special thanks to St Peter’s Quarter, Furthest From The Sea, the entertainers and Rammie for keeping the crowds amused; to Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa, Holiday Inn Riverlights, and Lubrizol for donating the prizes; and of course to our event sponsor Derby Riverlights.”
The Ey Up Mi Duck Race is supported by Derby City Council and the PPL/PRS charity and community discount scheme.
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