Duck Race 2012

The 13th Wimborne in Bloom August Bank Holiday Weekend Duck Race has raised £1,100 towards 'In Bloom' funds and in particular the Autumn planting.

The Town Mayor and Mayoress Councillor John and Mrs Ann Burden along with members of the Wimborne in Bloom Committee launched the Ducks into the River Allen by the Riverside Mews Café Bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 25th August. With the recent rains the river level was somewhat higher than in previous years and the race was one of the fastest on record, the first duck crossing the finishing line at the Rising Sun Car Park in ten minutes hotly followed, in almost a photo finish, by the second duck home. The rest of the field followed in hot pursuit!

Anthony Oliver, Chairman, Wimborne in Bloom presents Nayim Bejjada
with his first prize winnings

Anthony Oliver, Chairman, Wimborne in Bloom presents Nayim Bejjada with his first prize winnings

The winning Duck No. 955 was owned by Nayim Bejjada who won £50.00. Second home was Duck No. 739 owned by three year old Winter Morgan who won £25.00.The Third Duck owner, Una Cobb with Duck No. 941 and the fifth duck owner Dorothea Fairbrother with Duck No. 883 both kindly donated their winnings of £10.00 and £5.00 respectively back to Wimborne in Bloom funds. Fourth prizewinner was committee member Sally Bishton with Duck No.658 and sixth prizewinner Matthew Ricketts with Duck No. 928 both won £5.00. The last Duck home No.726 won a 'Bottle of Wine' kindly donated by The Rising Sun, for its owner Katie Joint.


The Ducks racing towards the finishing line beside the Rising Sun

The Ducks racing towards the finishing line beside the Rising Sun


All 1100 ducks had been pre-sold at £1 a time thanks to the Co-Operative Supermarket allowing members of Wimborne in Bloom a selling point at the entrance to their store and Wimborne BID allowing tickets to be sold in The Square alongside the National Trust's Shepherds Hut prior to the Race.

The Mayor Cllr John Burden with Chairman,Anthony Oliver presents
Sally Bishton with her 4th prize winnings

The Mayor Cllr John Burden with Chairman,Anthony Oliver presents Sally Bishton with her 4th prize winnings

Anthony Oliver, Chairman of Wimborne in Bloom, speaking after the Race "thanked everyone who helped with the selling of tickets and all those who purchased 'Ducks' in support of Wimborne in Bloom. In addition to thanking the Co-Operative Supermarket and the Wimborne BID he also expressed thanks to The Minster Press for the use of the Bridge from which to launch the ducks and the Rising Sun for the finishing line, the use of their garden and the prize for the winner of the last duck home.