| 12 September 2006, 11:25 am |
| Northumberland tries its “Duck” with a Race |
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| Northumberland Spoon host a one-of-a-kind river race featuring hundreds of rubber ducks. |
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On Friday August 25th, 1500 ducks were launched on the River Tweed from the Berwick Lifeboat and boats from the Berwick Rowing Club rowed along either side of the river to keep them central. The Berwick Lifeboat, Berwick Kayak Club, the Rowing Club and the Sailing Club were all there at the end to catch the ducks and to prevent them from sailing out to the North Sea! The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes were £250, £150 and £100 and there was a side of smoked salmon for the first 10.
The very enthusiastic Chairman of Northumberland, Danny Hodgson, said that he was staggered at the different support that he had received to the build-up to the race. Tweedmouth Rovers Football Club donated £1200 from the sale of ducks, a couple celebrating their silver wedding anniversary asked for no presents but donations to Spoon and sent a cheque for £500, and a quoits player (that's a game played in Northumberland with a horseshoe) raised £700 for the event. Danny thinks that they will raise over £11,000 and I can't tell you how enthusiastic he was about the day. In his words "it was an absolutely fabulous race, hundreds of people watching, terrific financial support and more and more people seem to have heard of Spoon. That's what it's all about isn't it". Your dead right Danny!
The prizes were presented by the Headmistress of Grove School who was particularly thrilled because the fundraising on the day meant that she would have her sensory play area for her school for children with special needs.
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| Author: Suzanne Doyle-Morris |
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