Following the success of Newark Town Centre Races, Newark Half Marathon, and Newark Dragon Boat Race, two local charities are organising a new race to bring to the town – Newark Duck Race.

Newark and District Round Table and the Children’s Bereavement Centre, which supports young people in Mansfield, have joined together to co-host Newark Duck Race, postponed from October due to flooding, on Sunday, 24th March at 1pm.

Small rubber ducks can be sponsored for £2 each. They will be released from the green footbridge near the Swan and Salmon and travel to the bridge at the Wharf in Newark. Already almost 600 ducks have been sponsored and the charities are hoping to release 1,500 ducks on to the River Trent.

All duck sponsorships from October will remain valid for the rescheduled event.

The prize for the fastest duck is £100 and runners-up prizes include a family ice skating pass, Active4Today family swimming passes, and various vouchers. Prizes will be awarded for the 10 quickest ducks to cross the finish line.

The duck race is being supported by local businesses who have donated £80 for a large 32cm duck, which will be decorated. Twenty large corporate ducks have been sponsored and decorated by local groups, schools, and companies.

Event sponsors are The Duck; Swan and Salmon; and ISL Digital based at Newark Beacon.

Ducks can be sponsored online at childrensbereavementcentre.co.uk/newarkduckrace.

Pictured are Daniel Otton, chair of Newark and District Round Table, and Katie Gibson, marketing and fundraising assistant at the Children’s Bereavement Centre.