This year’s Duck Derby has raised £4,400 for charity, and a share of the money has been presented to Children’s Hospice South West and Devon Freewheelers. 

The event organised by Sidmouth Lions Club took place on Sunday, October 16. 

It began with the children’s ‘duck and spoon’ races, followed by the corporate ‘red duck’ race which has not taken place since 2019. 

The main event, the yellow duck race, began at 3pm with the release of several thousand plastic ducks into the river, where they float downstream to the finish line – with some being nudged along by student helpers from Sidmouth College. 

The net proceeds of the yellow duck race were £3,700, and the Lions’ two main charities will each receive a cheque for £1,300. The rest of the money will be used by the Lions for their own charity and community service activities. 

Lions Club Secretary Chris Rignall said: “It would not have been possible to raise this huge amount of money for charity without the extraordinary generosity of local residents and also many of the visitors to Sidmouth during the month or two prior to the Duck Derby.    

“Sidmouth Lions Club would like to thank all supporters of the Great Duck Derby and especially the local Co-op, Potburys and Lidl stores for allowing the Lions to sell Duck tickets outside their premises.  The Lions are also very grateful to the proprietors of Paper Moon in Fore Street, Cards@ 83 in High Street and Woolbrook News for selling the Duck Derby tickets in their shops. 

“Organising and running our Great Duck Derby also requires a huge team effort, so Sidmouth Lions would like to thank the Sidmouth College 6th Form students and Head of 6th Form, Sue Hurley, for their much appreciated help on the day and the two officers of St. John Ambulance for being present to provide any necessary first aid during the event; also thanks to the Lions partners for their on-going patience and support.” 

Anyone who would like to help the Lions or find out more about Sidmouth Lions Club can email chris.rignall@sidmouthlions.org.uk or use the ‘Contact Us’ section on www.sidmouthlions.org.uk 

The winners in each ‘Duck & Spoon’ race category/age range were as follows:  

2-3 years: - Louis Jackson;  4-5 years (Joint winners) - Alice Blatherwick & Luca Robinson; 

6-7 years (Joint winners) - Alfie Drew & Amelia Womersley;  8-9 years - Ceci Flower;   

10-11 years - Alphi O’Brien;   Mums’ Race - Jo Ingham;   Dads’ Race - Stephen Brown 

Grandparents’ Race - Howard Edwards. 

The 19 winning yellow Duck ‘owners’ who each qualified for a cash prize, from the £1,015 total of cash prizes, were as follows: 

 1st £400 (2011) Angela Zubick, Sidmouth 

2nd £100 (675) Keith Morgan Enfield, Middx 

3rd £75 (3689) Helen Tubbs, Newton Poppleford 

4th £40 (1309) Susan Bradford, Wiggaton 

5th £40 (1123) Tim James, Sidmouth 

6th £40 (655) James Hipwood, Gloucester 

7th £40 (2975) Ann Gurney, Sidmouth 

8th £40 (1661) Jackie Stamp, Sidmouth 

9th £40 (779) Tony Brockington, Sidmouth 

10th £20 (3470) Simon Moore, Sidmouth 

11th £20 (1599) J Middlehurst, Sidmouth 

12th £20 (784) Dave Hoare, Sidmouth 

13th £20 (2871) Jackie Webb, Exeter 

14th £20 (2355) Keith Adamson, Sidmouth 

15th £20 (3678) Julie Long, Sidmouth 

16th £20 (1884) Mrs Mathys ,Sidmouth 

17th £20 (2274) Mrs Coveney, Sidmouth 

18th £20 (2296) R Dodderell, Sidmouth 

19th £20 (192) An Van Hecke, Sidmouth 

The winners of the corporate red duck race were:

1st £1000 303 Branscombe Camp Site 

2nd £500 188 Willow Framing  

3rd £300 102 Sid Valley Country House Hotel