Quack! Quack! It Was A GREAT Duck Race!
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Each year the Westport Sunrise Rotary holds an event to raise much needed funds for a great many charitable and non profit organizations know as The Great Duck Race. Each year the Sunrise Rotary's small army of dedicated volunteers works tirelessly to bring this cherished Westport tradition to life once again to Jesup Green alongside the Saugatuck river.
Above, volunteers take a minute for a quick snap and First Selectman Kevin Christie is joined by Sunrise Rotarian Charlie Haberstroh, a former town official who has helped run the event for several years. Among the onlookers were long-time sponsor Roger Leifer and wife Beryl.
There was a brief, light shower which brought out a sea of umbrellas but did nothing to dampen the spirits of Duck Race fans, especially those who are hoping for a share of the $10,000. prize money for the first 10 little ducks to cross the “finish line”.
The big moment draws near as the front loader filled with more than 3,000 rubber duckies is ready to head to the starting line.
This year, thanks to the generosity of Westport and area families, The 17th Annual Great Duck Race was able to generate more than $100,000 in proceeds selling 3,262 ducks, eclipsing last year where 3,233 tickets were sold. Each ticket entitles the purchaser to their little rubber duck which races down the flume toward the finish line in a thrilling competition to see which ones will grab some of the $10,000 in prize money.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Charlie announces to the audience that they are ready to go, and the ducks are brought to the starting line and slowly dumped into to sluice where the “dam” is lifted launching the thousands toward the finish line.
First Selectman Kevin Christie provides the “play-by-play” as the duckies jockey for the lead as they head to the finish line.
All eyes are on the ducks as they approach the point where, one-by-one the numbered ducks will squeeze through the “funnel” and be plucked by a volunteer and lucky ducks will earn the winners their prize money.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Everything was gong according to plan until it wasn't! Two or three of the lead ducks all tried to squeeze through the "funnel" at the same time, causing a jam which caused the race to screech to a halt until quick thinking volunteers decided to grab a stake and stir the "pond" a bit until the strongest finisher fought its way through the "funnel", and the selection of the winners continued after a brief delay until all ten were finally chosen and the race was concluded.
This year's big winner was Lindley Maglio whose duck finished first grabbing the $5,000 first prize. Jeb Epstein took the second prize of $1,000. The 3rd through 10th place finishers were awarded $500 and included Ann Wortman, Terry Eldh, David Press, Gary Munowitz, Rober Mullany, Ginger Propper, Lindsay Wheeler and Stacey Goodwin.
Always a highlight for younger race fans when the race concludes is the opportunity for them to jump into the flume and help the volunteers gather up the thousands of ducks and splash around, cooling off from the warm temperature of the day.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
One of the Sunrise Rotary volunteers was inspired by the music and enthusiastically his dance moves.
With the results in it was time for the volunteers break down all things Duck Race as visitors took a last look at some of the offerings. The last task was deflating ”Sunny” the iconic Duck Race symbol and packing up to await next year’s event.
