HUNDREDS of people packed on to the Waterways in Great Yarmouth on Sunday for the ninth annual Duck Race. Organised by Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club the event raised more than £7,000 which will be distributed between various local charities.

HUNDREDS of people packed on to the Waterways in Great Yarmouth on Sunday for the ninth annual Duck Race.

Organised by Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club the event raised more than £7,000 which will be distributed between various local charities.

The first race, sponsored by SPP Group, was started by the mayor and mayoress Terry and Jenny Easter. About 2,500 ducks surged over the line propelled on a tide of water created by Selwood Pumps

This was followed by the corporate duck race sponsored by PKF where 200 larger birds representing local firms competed for the main prize.

The final race of the day sponsored by Potters Leisure Resort provided a thrilling finish with the lead changing hands many times before a very tight finish.

Rotary guests from Thailand and Iowa, USA, joined in the fun and to see how things were done in Yarmouth. There was a display of powered model boats before the main races.

Richard Delf, chairman of the organising committee, said: “The charities will be carefully selected by club members over the next couple of months. We are mindful of our duty to ensure that public donations are well spent. We like to gain maximum bang for buck, sorry, duck.”

He added: “Next year we hope to have a special celebration to mark our 10th Duck Race anniversary and we shall hope to break the £50,000 barrier for total funds raised to date from this extraordinary event.”

Results are as follows:

Green Race sponsored by SPP Group

1st Craig le-Picq fromGreat Yarmouth

2ndPaul McIntyreNorthampton

3rd John SamuelDownham Market

Corporate Race sponsored by PKF

1stSheldon Shops

2ndWinterton Valley

3rdBartholemew's Jewellers

Yellow Race sponsored by Potters Leisure

1stK NoonGreat Yarmouth

2ndLewis MartinsOrmesby

3rdYvonne LingGreat Yarmouth