Annual Duck Race and Children’s Model Boat Race’

Reporter Jonathan White, Wistaston

The annual Duck and Boats’ races were postponed on 3rd September 2016 because of the inclement weather – too wet for ducks!

The 21st event took place at the Joey the Swan Recreation Ground, by kind permission of the Wistaston Parish Council, on Saturday 10th September; this time there was no duck-out or wash-out, eider way.

Members of Wistaston Memorial Hall’s management committee, and friends, organised this quacking spectacular. The ticket sellers were Audrey and John Astbury, Helen Heath, Helena King, Eileen Bamber, Kathleen Conroy and India Sloan. The on-stream marshals were Rob Dutton, Mark Ray, Christopher and Jonathan White, Dave O’Harah, Bill Heath and Meurig Jones. The nine stalls were organised by Glenys White, and did well. The guests of honour were Emma Horne (Wistaston’s Rose Queen) and Roger Woodward (Wistonian of the year).

The first activity was the judging of the best designed children’s boats, which resulted:

1st - £10 prize – Chloe Brereton with boat ‘Cat-amaran’.

2nd - £8 – Fabio with ‘The Wistaston Flyer’

3rd - £6 – Leah Wood with ‘Leabobs’.

The prizes were presented by Emma, the Rose Queen.

The second activity was the Boat Race – 40 boats competed in the assault course:

1st - £10 prize – No.26 – Jess Chesters

2nd - £8 – No.1 – Chloe Brereton

3rd - £6 – No.20 – Hayden Jones.

The prizes were presented by Roger, Wistonian of the year.

The third exciting activity was the Duck Race. 700 ducks were billed to start, and ducked and dived to the finish:

1st - £100 prize – No. 338 – Bernard Cliffe

2nd - £50 – No.517 – Luke Thomas

3rd - £25 – No.409 – Dad Underhill.

The Most Stuck Duck was No.2.

The sponsorship of the afternoon’s prizes was kindly given by Nigel Huxley of Wistonia Electrical and Security Ltd. The hire of the ducks was sponsored by Crewe Movie Makers and the printing of tickets was sponsored by the Wistaston Community Council. We are most grateful for this support.