Cool canals Guides & Waterways Directory

Duck races

Hundreds, even thousands, of ducks bob in the water, with their finest yellow plastic attitude giving full seriousness to the race. You've made your pledge to one amongst the crowd, and stand on the banks of the water shoulder to shoulder with enemies who have allegiances to other ducks.

The minute the race gets the gun, your rooting is primeval and there's a compelling urge to yell...

Kids love it, but if you haven't got any kids to take with you, nobody will bat an eyelid as you jump up and down, fisting the air for your duck to win.

It's all good healthy outdoor gamesmanship and there's usually a worthy fundraising cause behind it.

Experience it:

5 April 2010: Annual Duck Race at Hebden Bridge - Rochdale Canal

5 April 2010: Feed the Children Duck Race at the Lenchford Inn, Shrawley - River Severn

25 April 2010: Cuckoo Day Duck Race at Marsden - Huddersfield Narrow Canal

25 July 2010: The Newbury Waterways Festival culminates in a 1000-strong duck race to raise funds for the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

29 August 2010: Annual Duck Race organised by the Mon & Brec Canal Trust at Llangynidr - Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

August 2010: The Great British Duck Race is held on the River Thames at Hampton Court

Sep 2010: Great Dudley Duck Race at the Parkhead Canal Festival, Parkhead Junction, Dudley - Dudley No.1 & No.2 Canals

back to top