Duck Race

2018 2017

Unlike last year, when the weather on the day had rain beyond belief, this years Oban Rotary Duck Race took place in benign conditions with very little water or flow in the Black Lynn. Indeed, the ducks had to be "encouraged", by three brave Rotarians who took up residence in the burn, to reach their destination in Oban bay. The slowness of the ducks, however, made it more of a spectacle, in that the large number of onlookers, especially the children, were able to appreciate the procession in what was a rather sedate form! The event was, as usual, a great success with over £2,000 being raised for local good causes and Oban Rotary is grateful to the continuing generosity of locals and indeed the many visitors who bought ducks.

Fund raising aside, Oban Rotary see the Annual Duck Race as a fun event which provides entertainment for both locals and visitors during the summer season. The event involves dropping 500 ducks in four colours - blue, green, red and yellow - in to the Black Lynn at the Combie Street bridge with the first three to appear in Oban Bay the winners. The winners were Yellow Duck 2 ( two winners who each received £50), Blue Duck 110( 1 winner getting £25) and Green Duck 74 ( 3 winners who each received £15).

Our picture shows Oban Rotary President Iain Mac Intyre launching the ducks and feathers(!) in to the Black Lynn to be received by their guardians, Rotarians Chris Sutton, Tommy MacQuade and Roger Parry. We are reliably informed that all 500 ducks were safely retrieved from Oban bay by Chris Sutton using a rowing boat which was a spectacle in itself.

As part of its fund raising activities for good causes the Rotary Club of Oban resurrected

"The Oban Duck Race" and despite atrocious weather the race took place on Saturday 15th July 2017.

This involved putting 500 plastic ducks in to the Black Lynn at Combie Street bridge to emerge in Oban Bay from the tunnel across from the Lochnell slipway. The ducks are then ingathered by canoists. The ducks are coloured red, green, blue and yellow each colour numbered 1 to 125 and, with the ducks being sold three times at £2 a Duck, there would be three firsts, three seconds etc provided all the ducks are sold. In the event, saturdays Race had two firsts, three seconds and one third each winner receiving £50, £25 and £15 respectively.

£1,773 less prize money of £190 was raised for good causes which was regarded as a superb effort given that very few ducks were sold on Saturday due to the dreadful weather. Of course, the incessant rain also affected the turnout of the public who regard this as a fun event particularly for children.

Race organiser Rotarian Iain Mac Intyre said that, despite the poor weather conditions, the intention would be to make this an annual event from now on.