Great British Duck Race 2009 set Guinness World Record

Yesterday found our favouriteduck fan Misty yet again at Molsely Lock, Hampton Court armed with cameras set to shiny in order to capture the third Great British Duck Race for photographic posterity.

Created by Mike Scott in 2006, the Duck Race raises money for charities by asking people to sponsor small rubber ducks that are let loose on the river Thames. The duck fleet floats full pelt (or as fast as the tide will carry them) towards the finish line where the luckiest ducks are gathered and their numbers recorded so their fortunate sponsors can win fabulous prizes.

The crowds were out in force to cheer on the brave little ducks and luckily the weather was good for humans instead of ducks and no-one got soaked to the skin like last time. The race was started by DJ Norman Jay (pictured), fresh from Notting Hill Carnival, who kept the fans happy by playing his rare groove sounds whilst awaiting the release of the ducks.
This year's lead charity is the NSPCC, but over the years the Great British Duck Race has also raised money for Cancer Research UK, Cats Protection, MacMillan Cancer Support, Diabetes UK, BEN, Shelter, FSID, BBC Children in Need, and Dogs Trust to name but a few. Now that the duck race has gained all necessary approvals from the Environment Agencies and local authorities it is a registered organisation in it's own right, so looks set to carry on the good duck work for many years to come. Fittingly, the Duck Race even has Olympic aspirations, hoping to race a million ducks in 2012, beating this year's 175,000.