The ducks are excited.
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For the last few years they have had to be helped, hurried and harried to the finish line, but not this year.
The Great Inverell Duck Race is on again.
Crowds will gather in October 22 alongside the Macintyre River as part of the Queens crowning and other Sapphire City Festival-ending festivities.
But this year the river is running and the ducks are eager to hit the water after 5pm on Saturday.
It should be a truly run race with no interference and may the best three ducks cross the line in clear positions.
Inverell East Rotarians will be visiting the business houses seeking sponsorship for the duck race for the rest of this week.
Many business houses have had the pleasure of sponsoring the first prize of $600, second prize of $250 and third prize of $150.
The $2 race tickets will be on sale at a designated stall in Byron Street until the day of the race and then at Campbell Park prior to the race.
Each year, the small yellow, floating ducks tumble down from the Byron Street bridge and makes their way downstream to the delight of the assembled residents.
Historically, the Inverell mayor is piloted out to snare the top three winning ducks who cross the finish line. This year, bar a hungry catfish or playful platypus, will be no exception.
All the action will kick off when the annual parade concludes in Campbell Park. Beside the duck race, there is the Crowning Ceremony, a great family friendly Carnival Atmosphere, food stalls, childrens’ entertainment with Nick Jr.’s PAW Patrol and the Beatles tribute band The Beatnix. Finishing the night with the Fireworks Spectacular off the town bridge.
Join in the fun and watch those ducks fly.