IF YOU are disappointed that you will not be able to afford to go to the Olympics in Beijing, you can look forward to the Great Yarmouth Duck races in this Year of the Rat.

IF YOU are disappointed that you will not be able to afford to go to the Olympics in Beijing, you can look forward to the Great Yarmouth Duck races in this Year of the Rat.

For those of you unable to travel to the event, or indeed to endure the excitement on TV, Great Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club is making alternative arrangements.

Organising Chairman Richard Delf, of the Burlington Palm Court Hotel, said: “The Great Yarmouth Duck Races are carefully timed as a vital link. Following the end of the Beijing Olympics there is inevitably a period of public indigestion with wall to wall sports. The Duck Races are critical in revitalising public interest in competitive racing as we prepare for the long haul towards the London Olympics of 2012.”

The free family fun afternoon event takes place on Sunday September 21, from 2pm, at Great Yarmouth Waterways on North Denes with free admission. This year, the races will be enhanced by major water obstacles currently under design by Selwood Pumps who have donated the propulsion for this event.

Other main sponsors of this year's racing are PKF, Potters Leisure and SPP Screenprint. Money is raised by those wishing to buy a duck to compete with £350 per race in cash prizes for the winners. Some £35,000 has already been raised over the last eight years for the benefit of selected charities.

Rotarian Norman Bailey is trainer and coach to Slea-Pea, now a veteran but still a dishy Peking Duck. Norman is confident he will get this grand old lady in trim in time to compete in this year's race. Meanwhile, Slea-Pea is building up her strength with high vitamin diets from Chinese Restaurants and take-aways throughout the borough.

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