Colin's pal wins the North Riding Duck Race

Posted by Chris:

This year's North Riding Duck Race attracted 182 £1 entries and was held last Saturday in Saltburn Beck.

The weather, this year, was fine and a good crowd attended. I did my usual job of shepherding the ducks that get snagged up, in my fishing waders - bought three years ago and not yet used for fishing. Councillors Josie Crawford and Val Miller stood on the wier with my fishing nets to catch the winners. North Riding Group Chair, John Curr gave his usual commentary, whilst filming the proceedings.

The race was won by Rowland Gaunt from the village of Spotborough near Doncaster, once home to Douglas Bader. Rowland and his wife Jan have attended all our duck races, travelling up with YRS Chair Colin Holt and his wife Hilary. Sadly, Colin died in April this year and in tribute we provided the Colin Holt Cup for the winner. It was nice that Hilary was able to present it to Colin's pal, who she had once again travelled up with from Doncaster.

The train on the Saltburn Miniature Railway was proudly flying the Yorkshire flag, as it does each time we hold the duck race.

We were able to hand out free packets of Yorkshire tea, to race entrants after the manufacturers, unprompted, sent us a couple of boxes full in support of Yorkshire Day.

First Place and winner of the Colin Holt Cup:
No 161 - Aqua - Rowland Gaunt of Spotborough, Doncaster

Second Place:
No 169 - Blue - Maise Wilson of Oxford Street, Saltburn

Third Place:
No 55 - Quackers - Joyce Taylor of Rydal Avenue, Redcar

Best Named Duck (chosen by John Curr)
No 20 - DCUK - Chris Sewell of Viking Marina, Goole