Hundreds of people gathered in Toton for the 30th annual Duck Race along the River Erewash. The event was supposed to take place on New Year's Day.
However after being postponed due to high water levels, the Annual Duck Race in Toton took place today, Monday January 2. Crowds gathered along the River Erewash at Manor Farm Recreation Ground, where a rubber duck could be purchased for £1.50 with all contributions going towards funds for Age UK Derby and Derbyshire.
The Sponsored Ducks are released into the River Erewash and race to the finish. The first ten ducks to cross the finish line win prizes donated by local companies.
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Greg Coates, who is originally from Toton, was on a dog walk when he came across the event.
The 37-year-old said: “It sounds quite fun. It sounds like good fun - good for a Monday afternoon. If we’ve got time we’ll get in the queue.”
Mum of two, Emma Clarke said: “It’s just brilliant, the kids love it. There’s loads of people here, it’s just a lovely event. It just brings the community together.”
The Mayor of Broxtowe, Cllr David Grindell said: “To be honest with you, it’s the first duck race I've ever been to. Secondly, obviously it’s a charity event and that’s very important. It’s important for the community. The community does a lot in the whole of the borough.”
Angela Barnes, fundraising networker for Age UK Derby and Derbyshire said: "We used to do it on new year's day, yesterday the river level rose after the rain. We came down yesterday, we made the decision to cancel it for safety.
“Fortunately Monday is a bank holiday, so we rescheduled it at the last minute. It’s been great.”
This was the first time the event sold tickets online and 300 tickets alone were sold online. All of the money will go to Age UK Derby and Derbyshire, helping and supporting elderly people.
For the past two years the event was cancelled due to Covid, however this year the New Year's event got to take place again.
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