Hatching plans for bigger duck race

SIMON EDWARDS/Hutt News

GOLDEN GIRL - Brierley-Rose McMillan clutches her winning plastic duck, first to the finish line on Sunday in the inaugural Hutt River Duck Race.

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The 1,000 plastic ducks that 'raced' between Melling and Ewen Bridges on Sunday may only be the advance guard.  Petone Working Men's Club organisers are already talking about 5,000 or 10,000 of the bright yellow critters for the 2009 event.

Several hundred people and dozens of curious dogs turned out to watch the flotilla of yellow meander down the stretch of Hutt River.  Ducks marooned in pools of still water, or snagged by bankside foliage, were rescued and put back into the current by volunteers in kayaks or wearning gumboots.

There was plenty of time to sip coffee, buy balloon animals, and get glimpses of leading numbers when ducks capsized in rapids. It was an hour and 20 minutes before several front runners finally approached faster water near the finish line.  They only had $5 each invested in their ducks, but scores of owners lined both sides of the bank to cheer the little quackers on.

With the leader (364) blocked by a branch, duck No 614 caught up, broke free from the same obstacle and floated to the line.

Brierley-Rose McMillan (4), who had chosen that particular one because its end number was her age, was snapped by as many photographers as would point their cameras at owners of a winning thoroughbred at Trentham. 

The McMillan family generously donated their $500 winner's purse, meaning more than $6000 was raised for Te Omanga Hospice.

Mike Raynes, who with PWMC assistant manager Paul Mexted had masterminded the event, thinks with a three or four month lead-in time, 'buyers' for 10,000 ducks for a 2009 race could be found.  This 2008 flock of 1,000 provided by Englefield was snapped up in three weeks. "People were ringing us and we couldn't supply."

There could be a decorate your duck option.  Perhaps even corporate sponsorship.  How about Drake Personnel?  The 'Toilet Duck' manufacturers?  Mayor David Ogden was certain that Trevor Mallard would want one.

There's enthusiasm to really build up the event.  "Ohakune has its carrot. We could have our duck," Mr Ogden said.