Although there technically was no rush to the finish line this year, the annual Great Bearberry Duck Race was, all things considered, successful.
Organizers were forced to change their plan to race more than 400 ducks downstream on the afternoon of Sunday, July 17 because consistent rain in the weeks leading up to the event created a higher, stronger flow than was deemed safe.
“It went well considering the creek was full,” said Leona Bennett, vice-president of the Sundre and District Aquatic Society, about the event that was held in the Aquaplex's parking lot.
Instead of a race, organizers decided to dump the ducks in a dunk tank, which had already been brought on-site to raise additional funds on the side along with a bake and hotdog sale. Di Halladay, the society's president, volunteered to take the chilly dip several times — the water was about four degrees — randomly selecting a duck as she resurfaced to determine this year's winners. Rather than a duck race, it was more like a dunk tank duck bingo.
“It was cold!” she told the Round Up, adding that it was well worth it and that she wouldn't hesitate to take the plunge again.
The wet weather did put a slight damper on the event, but it didn't deter the organizers' spirits.
“Ducks like rain, so we figured we'd just continue with it!”
Last year, when the duck race was reintroduced after a number of years in hiatus, organizers were faced with the opposite problem — dry conditions had left the creek barely flowing to the point the event almost had to be postponed since the ducks were hardly moving during trial runs held before the fundraiser. But in the days leading up to the event, enough rain had conveniently come down to create just enough of a flow for the event to go on.
As for this year, “we were hoping for some rain — but we got too much!” said Halladay.
Board member Wade Johnson, who also volunteered to help run the event, had not even ventured a quarter of the way out into the creek in waders when the water level had already reached his waist. The stronger current also would have made it too dangerous to safely recover all the ducks, which is a requirement of such an event, she said.
Despite the weather and resulting change in plans, organizers were pleased with the turnout. It's estimated upwards of 200 people attended throughout the span of the fundraiser, which ran for roughly a couple of hours.
But the weather unfortunately did have an impact — whereas all 500 ducks were sold during last year's sunny event, organizers said shy of 440 ducks were sold this year. However, combined with the bake sale, duck poop bingo, dunk tank and 50/50 ticket sales, roughly $5,200 was raised.
The first-place winner of the improvised duck bingo was Shawna Lambertus, who won $500. Marsha Rockey came second and won a one-year adult membership at the Aquaplex. Stephanie Harvey placed third to win a 20-punch pass to use the facility. Cheryle Longacre won the 50/50 and took home almost $160.
The aquatic society appreciates the participation of the Sundre Farmers' Market, which also helped bring more people out, as well as all the volunteers who stepped up to offer a helping hand, said Bennett and Halladay.
Organizers are already looking forward to next year and are crossing their fingers for conditions to be somewhere between last year and this year.
“We're just hoping the creek — and the weather — will be cooperative,” said Halladay.
Meanwhile, the society continues to move forward on repairs that were identified in an audit done last year. Fundraisers such as the duck race help to pay not only for the facility's operations but also for its required repairs and maintenance, said Bennett.
“We have been very active doing the repairs that were noted in the audit,” she said.
“We're improving all the time.”
