Ross Polduck battles Brexit at Porthleven Duck Race - photos

Organised once again by Porthleven Community Group, there were decorated handmade ducks of all descriptions and themes vying for the winning place in races along the river at The Moors.

Both the children’s race and adult’s race saw lots of entries, as did the sponsored rubber duck race that raised around £100 for Cornwall Air Ambulance in the run up to the event, with more ducks sold on the day.

The start of the children's decorated duck race. 

The children's race finish line. 

Cober Valley Rotary Club also gave a donation of £100 and an auction of some of the decorated ducks from previous years pushed this total even further.

The adults race saw its own grudge match as Porthleven mayor Andrew Wallis’s ‘Mayor Duck’ faced off against community group chairman Rob Johns’s ‘Winning Duck’. In the event neither won the race, although the mayoral entry placed higher in the rankings.

Porthleven mayor Andrew Wallis with his 'Mayor Duck'

The first three ducks back in each of the races won its owner an Easter egg, as did the last placed rubber duck.

Mr Johns said ahead of the races: “There is a twin objective to do some good for a local charity and get a sense of community.

“Last year it was very wet, but this year we have got lovely weather.” There was blue sky and warm sunshine for people to watch the races in, which helped attract a good crowd of onlookers.

All the winners from the races and decorated duck competition

This year’s races included a new device designed by Falmouth University technology and design student Niall Jones, who after struggling to catch all the stray ducks at last year’s finish line designed a special barrier that made good use of empty plastic milk bottles.

This fitted with this year’s ‘recycled’ theme for the ducks, with entrants asked to make their duck out of recycled goods only.

The Walsh family with their creations