Knaresborough’s traditional New Year’s Day duck race will be held online for the second consecutive year due to high river level.
Knaresborough Cricket Club, which organises the event, posted on social media today that it had acted on safety grounds.
It said the event will instead take place virtually rather than by releasing toy ducks off High Bridge on the River Nidd.
The club said:
“It is with a heavy heart that we need to tell you all that the duck race has been cancelled on New Year’s Day 2024 due to safety reasons.
“The river is very high, and with rain last night and heavy showers forecast our partners on the river think that the river will be much too high to have boats in the river and it will be unsafe for all.
“Thanks to all that have purchase tickets. The race will GO AHEAD ONLINE. A link will be posted on here. The race will start at 2.30pm, or why not join us in person at Knaresborough Cricket Club from 2pm.”
It added that all prized will be delivered and funds will go to the club’s junior cricket section and local disability charity Henshaws.
After a wet few weeks, Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for the Lower River Ure and the River Nidd at Hunsingore in the Harrogate district.
The latest update for the Ure this morning said:
“Areas most at risk include low-lying land, including agricultural land, and local roads in the areas around Boroughbridge, Aldborough, Bishop Monkton and Aldwark.”
Read more:
- Young farmers to collect Christmas trees in Harrogate and Knaresborough
- GALLERY AND VIDEO: Huge crowds watch Boxing Day tug of war in Knaresborough
GALLERY: Duck race makes triumphant return to Boroughbridge
Boroughbridge Duck Race made a triumphant bank holiday return yesterday.
All 750 ducks were snapped up as people flocked to the River Ure for the fun.
The first duck race took place in 2019 but, due to covid, had not returned until this year.
Boroughbridge Lions organised the race to raise money for local causes.
Presentations took place afterwards at the Tap on the Tutt pub near the river.
Simon Wade, who owns the pub and was the force behind reviving the event, hopes the duck race will become an annual event.
Read more:
- Ripon and Boroughbridge firefighters called to factory blaze
- New play barn added to attractions at farm shop near Boroughbridge
Here are some photos from the day taken by Pete Durkin.
Boroughbridge Lions volunteers prepare for the race.
Crowds line the bridge over the Boroughbridge to cheer on the ducks.
The ducks are released into the Ure.
Retrieving the ducks afterwards.
The event generated community spirit.
Lions members organised the event.
A late entry for the race.
The Tap on the Tutt was the focal point of duck race day.
A charity duck race will take place over the bank holiday weekend in Boroughbridge.
The first duck race took place in 2019 but, due to covid, has not been able to return until this year.
Sunday’s race is organised by the charity Boroughbridge Lions to raise money for local causes. It will take place from the weir to the bridge on the River Ure.
A total of 1,000 plastic ducks will race for the top prize of £200 cash. The owners of the first 10 to finish will all receive cash prizes.
The race starts at 11am and the winners’ presentation will take place at the Tap on the Tutt at 1230pm.
In a Facebook post about the event, Boroughbridge Lions said:
“Your bathtime duck pal is supporting our local community, you can too for only two Yorkshire pounds.”
Read more:
Ducks are sold by the lions club at the Fox and Hounds, Grantham Arms, and the Tap on the Tutt pubs in Boroughbridge.
Purchases can be made on the day at lions stall at the Tap on the Tutt.
Organiser Simon Wade told the Stray Ferret he hoped the duck race would become an annual event that will “grow year by year”.
Birstwith Duck Race returns tomorrow after a five-year absence with around 1,000 toy ducks set to race to the finish line in this wacky village tradition.
The ducks will be dropped off Packhorse bridge, a village beauty spot, into the River Nidd and race downstream towards the finish line just before the weir.
The village tradition was first held in 2013 in conjunction with neighbouring Hampsthwaite but the course took over three hours to complete so the villages decided to do it independently instead.
But this will be the first one in Birstwith for five years.
The event starts at midday with tea, coffee and cake available in the show field, next to Kerry’s mill, and the ducks are due to be dropped at 2pm.
Organisers from Birstwith Horticultural Society and Birstwith in Bloom have said the ducks normally take about an hour to get to the finish line.
They added lots of tickets have been sold so they are expecting a few hundred people to visit.
Amy Howard, who sits on both committees, said:
“People have gone mad for the ducks, we haven’t had any village events for five years so I think everyone is excited to get out there again.
“It’ll be nice to welcome people back into the area.”
After the event, people are invited to The Station Hotel for food outside.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show to remain four-day event
- Stray bonfire and fireworks officially given go-ahead