Duck Races 2014

Sunday 6th July - great start to 2014 season of duck races

In spite of the forecast for rain, broadcast as late as Saturday afternoon, the actual weather on Sunday 6th July was glorious.  It was the last Sunday of Pembrokeshire Fish Week and also the day chosen for the Saundersfoot Harbour Festival, so with the sun beating down, the village of Saundersfoot was very busy.  The Harbour area was thronged with visitors and residents alike enjoying the many and varied stalls, activities and even a small fun-fair.

Due to the tides on the day, the duck race was the last event to take place; even then the water was deeper than would usually be the case and Hon. Sec. Rotarian Charles commented that in over twelve years of taking part on the 'wet side' it was the first time he had ever got his shorts wet!  The picture shows Charles and current President Neil waiting for the ducks to get to the finishing line: Charles is the tallest member of the club at 1.95 metres (6ft 5ins in imperial) but having already got his shorts wet he managed to persuade Neil to stand in the deeper water.

Nonetheless, Rotarians Keith and Peter waited at the top of the channel for the sluice gates to be opened and the 'competitors' released for their journey to the harbour mouth.

The lead changed several times, ducks which had set off the quickest got stuck in the mud around the bend, and eventually the winner crossed the line.  The winning duck had been chosen by a visitor from Abergavenny who received a surprise and welcome telephone call that evening announcing they had won the