THE WINNER of this year’s “mad, but typically wonderful British” duck race in aid of Trotton church floated across the finishing line in the slowest time ever recorded, say organisers.
The annual duck race and fete is held at Trotton Place, courtesy of owners Tim Parker and his wife, and is the biggest fundraiser of the year for St George’s church, which is mentioned in the Domesday Day Book of 1086.
To enter the race, fete goers and church supporters ‘buy’ a plastic duck, and they are then mass launched from Trotton bridge into the River Rother and float downstream to the finishing line, where they are rescued from the water by village youngsters. The winners of the various categories receive a small prize.
Event spokesman Sasha Boam said: “The duck race was a mad but typically wonderfully British entertainment enjoyed by everyone who was there.
“This year though, I think the winning duck recorded the slowest ever time to cross the finishing line. Fortunately, the race missed the rain.
“The fete went very well, lots of bric-a-brac was sold and lots of teas were enjoyed. We haven’t had the final total in yet, but I think the afternoon raised several thousand pounds for the church.”