The Bathstore sponsored Great British Duck Race has broken the World Record for the Largest Charity Duck Race. The event raised more than £100,000 for charity and broke the record set last year, when 165,000 were raced down stream. This year there were more than 250,000 Bathstore ducks floating down the one kilometre stretch of water near Hampton Court Palace.
In previous years the Great British Duck Race has turned the water yellow, but this year’s World Record breaking race was sponsored by the Bathstore and to mark their support blue rubber ducks were used. The 175,000 blue Bathstore Ducks set sail from Molesey Lock and took between two and three hours to reach their destination, the Sherriff Boat Club at Albany Reach.
The event raised money for over 650 UK charities with the three lead charities being WaterAid, The Down’s Syndrome Association and NSPCC. Every duck will be recycled after the race. Public attendance on the day was in the region of 3,000.
Molesey Rowing Club’s Olympic Gold Medallist Rower Andy Hodge, who served as the official starter, along with patrons of The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA), actress Emma Barton, who plays Honey in Eastenders and England and London Irish rugby player Shane Geraghty launched this year’s World Record Breaking Charity event.
Each duck cost £2 to enter in to the race, with the owner of the first past the finishing line at the Sheriff Boat Club at Albany Reach receiving a £10,000 first prize.
In 1992, 29,000 rubber ducks fell overboard from a boat in the Pacific Ocean and floated around the world for more than 15 years.
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