Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The lead rubber duckies won the 29th annual duck race in a record time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds due to the higher and faster water this year.
Hosted by the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society and Jasper Right to Read Society, the race began with the ducks getting dumped into the Miette River at the bridge crossing for Highway 93 on Sept. 26.
“It’s been going on for quite a while, and it’s always a bit of a highlight, and often families come out to watch the exciting start and then everything slows down from there after the ducks hit the water,” said Warren Waxer, vice-chair of the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society.
“Although this year, the lead ducks were only about 40 minutes on the river, and we think that could be a possible record, but, of course, the fall is a slow time for the river, so it’s never too fast or exciting.”
Duck wranglers on small watercraft travelled alongside to ensure the ducks continued down the river to the finish line near Tekarra Lodge.
The wranglers were organized by Trish Pearson with the Jasper Right to Read Society.
“A lot of ducks get caught in back eddies and by sweepers, logs that are jutting out into the river, and that traps quite a few of them, because, well, it’s a pretty slow-moving river, so they have to be tossed back into the current,” Waxer said.
“After a couple of tosses, they get eliminated, because they’re going to be too far behind the leader, so at a certain point we start collecting them.”
This fundraising event allowed people to buy $5 tickets, each corresponding to a rubber duck, for the chance to win a $1,000 prize.
This year’s race managed to sell all but about 70 of the 1,000 tickets, with the top-three winners earning cash prizes and the rest of the funds going to support the societies.
Sir Quack (#746) scooped up first place, winning $1,000 for its owner, Cheryl Barker.
Roger (#761) came in second, snagging $300 for owner Sarah Ray, and Quick (#165) won third place with owner Amanda Stevens winning $200.
In fourth place came Alicia (#317), owned by Bruce McAlpine, earning no cash prize.
