Crickhowell Rotary Club Annual Duck Race
Welcome to Crickhowell’s most quackery fundraising tradition – the Annual Duck Race.
Since 1990 our bright yellow plastic ducks have been bravely battling the currents of the river Usk to help raise funds for Rotary charities. What started as a fun community event has grown into a beloved local institution – complete with stalls, BBQs, bar service and the occasional rogue sheep.
A LITTLE HISTORY (and a lot of ducks)
The very first race splashed onto the scene in 1990, originally known as Charity Duck Race and Community Fete. Up to 2000 plastic ducks are launched each year about 200 yards upstream of the Crickhowell bridge – a fluttering, floating blur of yellow racing towards the finishing line.
In the early years, the event was held during the spring bank holiday which sounded a good idea… until the river Usk decided otherwise. Floods, fast flows, and soggy everything led us to move the race to the August Bank Holiday – still sometimes wet but reliably warmer!
INNOVATION, ADAPTATION, and… DUCK COSTUMES
In 2009, when the river rose too high once again, then President Robin Morrison led the charge for our first virtual duck race – held indoors at the Drill Hall, followed by a rain-soaked picnic (some things never change).
Fast forward to 2020 when Rotarian David Thomas and his enthusiastic committee had big plans to expand the race and field events. But then Covid happened. With no river race possible under David’s leadership we embraced the digital age:
- Tickets moved online for the first time
- Prices increased from £1 to £5 (cue Rotarian panic)
- Street sales were revived – but only if we dressed up as ducks (thanks Stephen Parry)
A complex draw was held outside the Market Hall, in Crickhowell High Street, complete with Town Crier, Mayor, Local MP and a gaggle of Rotarians in bright yellow in yellow duck costumes. The new £5 ticket era and use of card readers were brown – and guess what? It worked! Income soared!
BACK IN THE WATER – and BETTER THAN EVER
After another Covid hiccup (sigh), we came back strong in 2023 teaming up with the Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau who took over the field stalls, leaving Rotary to focus on our specialties:
- Ducks
- BBQ
- Bar
The BBQ and bar alone now raise up to £750 in a single day – not bad for flipping burgers and pouring pints!
LEGENDARY MOMENTS
No Crickhowell duck race would be complete without a few tall tales:
- A Rotarian once lost his canoe while chasing ducks that had strayed beyond the finish line.
- During a 2012 royal visit Geoffrey Davies asked the Duke of Edinburgh to draw the winning tickets – the river was too high again!
- One year a “Guess the weight of the sheep” contest took a wild turn when Malcolm Thomas’s prized ram escaped, swam across the river and headed for romance across the field. He was eventually caught, tired and (thankfully) unsuccessful.
- We now hold an annual “Rotarian dressed as a Duck” race down Crickhowell High Street- complete with Abbey Road style Zebra crossing photos.
- In a bid to improve performance, Michael O’Leary once held a coaching session for the senior ducks (We’re not sure it helped!)
FEEDING THE DUCKS (and the COMMUNITY)
The ducks themselves are lovingly stored, fed (allegedly) and cared for by Anstie Blackham during the off-season.
All funds raise go towards supporting Rotary’s charitable work both locally and internationally.
Join us each August Bank Holiday for fun, feathers and fund raising. It’s the most entertaining way to support great causes – and you might even win a significant prize (or spot a rogue sheep).
Apologies to the many Rotarians who have helped over the years and not mentioned. If you would like to meet many of them please come to one of our meetings held at the Bear Hotel every Thursday evening. We would be delighted to receive you!!!