Buy Your Duck Now
On Sale At Our Local Retailers Listed Below - Just £3
Its Back With a Quack !
22nd June 3:30
(Carnival Day)
Yes, of course its back. Bridgnorth’s Number 1 Aquatic Adventure, the Annual Duck Race.
But I bet you don’t know the real story behind this internationally famous event.
So a Little History Lesson….
The very first Duck Race in Bridgnorth took place in 1640, organised by a local land owner, called Sir Eric Winkle.
Sir Eric (not to be confused with, his Nephew, Little Eric Winkle of Astley Abbotts fame) along with several other Shropshire nobles, were instrumental in introducing the Bright Yellow Plastic Duck species into England in around 1632. Prior to this the dominant Duck variety was the feathered Mallard.
The advantages of the Yellow Plastic Duck were quickly realised and in no time Sir Eric and his colleagues had a thriving business supplying their product to a range of Celebrity Clients, including a sprinkling of Royal Patronage from Charles II.
However, after several successful years, the Duck Fad began to wane. Oversupply and competition from the inferior, but more keenly priced Rubberised Ducks supplied from the Far East decimated local demand.
In response, Sir Eric lobbied the King who agreed to introduce substantial taxes and tariffs on these cheap imposters, in an attempt to bolster the English Duck producers.
Thankfully, this helped turn the tide, and interest (and sales) gradually returned to the English Plastic Duck producers.
So in part as celebration and in part as promotion, on 28th June 1640, Sir Eric sounded the horn to start the first ever Bridgnorth Duck Race.
And Today?
And so it is. Every year since, residents of the town gather on a hot summers afternoon to watch a flotilla of our little yellow friends, gayly bob downstream, pursued to a gaggle of red faced, middle aged men desperately trying to catch them.
And that’s the history of the Bridgnorth Duck Race (possibly!).
Join us once again on 22nd June at 3.30 on the Bridge In Low Town.
How To Get Your Duck
Buy Your Duck Now
We have the support of lots of local retailers, helping us try to sell a record number of ducks this year. Simply pop into one of the shops and get your duck for £3.
How it Works
You pick you miniature numbered Duck from the Retailer’s Jar, and this becomes your Race Number on the day. You can keep the little Duck, for luck, as we’ll organise your racing duck on the river. Its as simple as that.
Where To Buy
You can buy your ducks at one of our wonderful retailers in High Town, Low Town and several places in between.
- Alley Catz
- Apley Café
- Castle Tea Rooms
- Darcy's Cafe
- Giovani's
- Henry & Co
- John Biddle Optitions
- RJ Arbuckle Butchers
- Second Sense
- Shelby Barbers
- Tanners
- Terrace Sweet Shop
- The Board Room
- Urban Angel
- Violets Tea Room
- Whitburn Coffee House
Buy On The Day
Any ducks not sold in advance will be on sale on Race Day, available from our stalls on the Quayside (opposite the Bridge) and the Slipway in Severn Park.
Of course, we can only sell if we have any left, so to avoid disappointment, it far better to buy in advance.
Your Lions journey starts here
Community. Service. Bringing passionate, kind-hearted people together to serve local needs: that’s what Lions clubs are doing in more than 200 countries around the world.
Lions see a problem and take action to solve it.
They seek to understand one another and the people they serve. They build relationships that lead to opportunities. In short, when Lions serve, life improves.
If you’re ready to start your Lions journey and take the first step in becoming part of the largest service club organization, fill out the form below.
This information will be directed to Lion leaders in your area, who will then be in contact with you. We are excited for you to start your service journey!