A record 2,200 ducks race in the New Year's Day Duck Race

News 1st January 2023

A record 2,200 ducks took part in the New Year's Day Duck Race, smashing the previous record of 1,700.

The countdown to the race was started by Town Crier Alan Vian at midday with Cllr Michaela Ellis, Mayor of Lyme Regis and Mayor's consort Alan Ellis releasing the ducks into the river. 

The first duck across the finish line was duck 1949 trained by Ross Parker which finished the course in a record time of 3 mins 30 seconds. 2nd: duck 2007 Peter Rendell; 3rd: duck 817 Phil Dean; Last: duck 498 Taylor Hollister coming home in 7 mins 30 seconds.

Thanks to our brilliant river team who had a challenging job collecting up all the ducks at the end: Virgil Turner, John King, Edward Nolan, Stuart Wain and Noah Turner and to our sponsor Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium.