We went duck racing

We went duck racing today. Up until a few years ago I thought this would involve real ducks. After all, horse racing uses real horses and sheep racing involves real sheep, so duck racing should include feathered racers. Ah no, duck racing uses those lovely little yellow plastic ducks synonymous with bath time. The children were surprised as well.

The main reason we went is that my darling husband had sponsored a duck through work. Can you see the confident looking duck with the three blue strips on its back. That was our one. Doesn’t he look a winner, especially next to the one sponsored by the local doctors surgery. I wish I had known that we could dress them up.

After we had given our duck a pep talk, actually it was more like explaining to the children what was going to happen, we headed down to the river and waited. Good job we found a shady spot as it was hot. The children all left the house with sun cream applied and hats. Not sure where two of the hats have gone in this shot. Anyway, while the grown-ups drank Pimms, the children got fed up waiting. Can’t you just tell by looking at TF.

Eventually, the ducks appeared under the bridge…with a commentator dressed as a duck! Can you see the dots? That is the cloud of flies. We strained our necks to catch a glimpse of our duck. Surely such a confident looking duck would be among the leaders.

There he is, with his three blue stripes. So confident that he stopped to have his photo taken. Turns out he was a bit too cocky.

This is our duck being swept along, with the other slow ducks, by the broom. Looking the wrong way. The indignity. At least he is still upright.

Apart from the racing, there was also a competition for the best customised duck. This appeals to my crafting side. I love the ideas that people come up with. Some of the younger ones (maybe they were sitting at the same making table) had used pom poms for hair, like a tufted duck.  Another was covered with little mirrored mosaic bits, like a disco ball. The competition was being judged by a man dressed up as an English knight. A Crusader. I’ve no idea why! Although, it might be a good disguise if an irate parent disagreed with his judging.

We all enjoyed looking at the ducks. Can you see the one made up to look like an erupting Icelandic volcano? Not sure what the duck is meant to be, that TF is pointing at, but if you look over to the right, you’ll see the volcano duck.

It was a good afternoon, down by the river. We enjoyed joining in. We consoled ourselves by buying lots of strawberries. Well that’s my excuse anyway!