Wroughton Duck Race returns for 2022

By Jessica Durston - 14 April 2022

CommunityAttractionsFamily

The Wroughton Duck Race, which has been running for decades and fundraises for childrens' groups, returns post pandemic for 2022.

Vision 4 Wroughton will be hosting this year's Duck Race on Monday, 2 May. 

The event raises money for local childrens' groups and encourages the local community to get together for a fun-filled afternoon of duck racing. 

Vision 4 Wroughton's Beverley Margerison said: "The Duck Race is such a great event and raises money for good causes. We haven't been able to hold it for two years due to covid.

"The childrens' groups can apply for the duck race funding and then we dish it out fairly. They can apply for a certain amount if they have a specific project, and we will do our best to fund what we can. Everything depends on how much we raise."

The afternoon's events will start at 1pm, with the first race taking place at 1.30pm. 

The races will start at the stream outside Fairwater House on Wroughton's High Street, and will finish at the Weir Field Bridge, near the Wroughton club. 

People can reserve a duck in advance from local Wroughton pubs (including the Brown Jack and the Iron Horse), from the Coventry Farm Shop and the country market which is held every Friday morning at the Ellendune. 

Ducks can also be reserved on the day of the Duck Race from 11am at Willow-brook Gardens.

The first race will be the Abigail Taylor-Silk Race for the children to take part in. Ducks for this race cost £1 and there will be prizes for first, second and third place. There will also be a booby prize for last place. 

The Mike Smith Memorial Race is for the adults. Ducks for this race also cost £1 and there will be prizes for first, second and third place. There will also be a booby prize for last place. 

Both of these races will see 500 ducks put into the stream. 

The Wroughton Duck Race also holds two extra races with a bit of a difference. The Business Challenge Shield race will see local businesses decorate a duck to be raced. There will be a competition for the duck that looks the best, and for the speediest duck. 

This race costs businesses £25 to enter and provides them with a decoy duck. A certificate and shield will be presented to the winners. 

Beverley said: "We’ve got 14 businesses lined up already and expect to have a few more.

"The event is also sponsored by local businesses. Haskins Garage and Richard James in Wroughton have given money towards the event. Some of the pubs in Wroughton have been known to give us prizes to hand out too, and often buy a duck to decorate as well."

Additionally, there is the Mike Hinder Memorial Cup Race. This is the newest race to be added to the annual event and invites entrants to design and build something that will float. 

Individuals, families and groups are welcome to enter for free. Any materials can be used, apart from electrics. Dimensions must be 12 x 6 x 6 inches or 300 x 150 x 150mm. 

Once finished, entrants must bring their designed items to Willow-brook Gardens by 3pm on the day of the Duck Race. There will be heats, followed by a Grand Final and a cup for the winner.

Beverly added: "The Mike Hinder race is fairly new and was created to commemorate a councillor who was one of the founders of the duck race. It’s been running for around three years.”

Alongside the races, there will be stalls, a produce sale from the country market team, teas and coffees, ice cream, curry and hotdogs available for people to purchase. The stalls will open from 1pm.

The event is expected to finish at around 5pm, after all the races have taken place. 

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