Saturday dawned wet and cold and the hearts of the organisers, Farnham Weyside Rotary Club, began to sink. But it wasn’t long before the weather brightened up and the crowds came and the sun appeared. The day turned into one of the most enjoyable Great Farnham Duck Races ever.

There was plenty for everyone to enjoy from trampolining to train rides, coffee to cakes, burgers and pizzas. And then there were the Farnham racing ducks to cheer and support. They had been training at Birdworld, who were sponsoring the event this year and had an attractive stall as well as organising a trail around the site for children, with special prizes for winners of their race.

Music filled the air all day thanks to Mike Moore, and, in the afternoon visitors were treated to an uplifting performance by Rock Choir. The festive atmosphere encouraged one family to enter into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in duck-themed outfits. They added to the enjoyable atmosphere of a day filled with the shouts of children as they cheered their ducks along the river.

The winners of the heats which had a prize of £25 were A101, B009, C146, D68, E165, F037, G201, H107, I107. There was also a race for those who bought tickets online, with a winning ticket number of 17. The winner of the final, worth £300 was ticket I071. All the winners will be contacted by Farnham Weyside Rotary Club.

The event would not have happened without the help of many people, including teams from the Scouts and the Air Cadets, Farnham Town Council, Biffa and sponsors, Birdworld. All the money raised will go towards Rotary charities and, in particular, The Woodlarks Centre, a care home and activity centre caring for people with a wide range of disabilities.