Largest
Charity Duck Race-British Duck Race sets world record
[Oct
19] LONDON,UK--165,000 plastic ducks flocked to the River Thames
for the inaugural ‘Great British Duck Race’ on Sunday 2nd September
each competing to win their owner £10,000.
Not only did they smash the Guinness World Record for
the ‘World’s Biggest Charity Duck Race,’ previously held by Singapore,
but also managed to raise more than £200,000 for various good causes.
Two thousand spectators came to Hampton Court to bask
in the sunshine, cheer on their duck and have a quacking good time!
As
well as the massive £10,000 top prize (won by Duck 157791), 29 other
lucky winners scooped one of a number of great prizes, including
£2,000 of Bathstore furnishings supplied by the Lead Sponsors -
Bathstore.
Once the winning ducks were verified by a Guinness
World Record adjudicator, the clean-up operation clicked into gear
as ducks were hooked, packed and ready to be used again next year.
Over 450 charities from across the UK were involved
and benefited from the funds raised at the fun-filled family event,
which was started by racing pundit John McCririck, children’s TV
presenter Floella Benjamin OBE and the novelist Adele Parks.
A Duck Race of this magnitude has never been attempted
in the UK before now but, in close partnership with the River Thames
Alliance and the Environment Agency, it will be the first of many;
it is hoped that the event, and money raised, will continue to grow
and flourish.
Previous
records:
The Great Singapore Duck Race set a world record
in 2000 with 100,000 ducks. In 2002, a new record was set when more
than 123,000 toy ducks took to the Singapore River at Clarke Quay.
The race started in 1998 with 50,000 ducks. (Source: Singapore
Record Breakers)