With 451 rubber ducks purchased for an annual race, you would think that the chances of a repeat winner would be slim. Not so much for the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Ducky Derby held at the Hafen Park pond.
This year’s first place winner in the relatively short race was once again Councilman Rich Green, who was absent this year. His wife, and newly selected Ms. Senior Mesquite Loretta, was on hand to collect his prize money.
But it didn’t end there for the Greens, as two more of his ducks were selected for consolation prizes. The first, a kids-themed basket donated by the Kids for Sports Foundation, was donated to a lucky boy at the event who’s face was painted like a duck. The second was for a basket of goodies from Danielle’s Chocolates, which Loretta also donated to a little girl. The Greens definitely appeared to have bought the luckiest ducks.
The second place winner in the race was Sandra Ramaker, while one of Betty Paulus’s ducks came in third. Paulus also had another duck chosen for one of the baskets. A prize was also given to the duck that seemed to have many troubles throughout the race, resulting in its last-place finish. Ready Golf and Gear, the owner of that unlucky duck, managed to snag a small prize of their own in the festivities.
The winner of the Duck Around Town prize went to the Virgin Valley Theatre Group’s “Duck be a Lady” entry which had a manikin dressed up with a duck face, and the title song playing on repeat as well. Most artistic went to Phyllis Litman’s “Aloha from Koloah” while Desert Oasis Spa and Salon won for Most Humerous with a duck who was having a major hair and makeup crisis.
Just to clarify, Rich Green did win first in the Ducky Derby and two more prizes. I gave the first basket to the boy who had his face painted like a duck. The chocolates I gave to a little girl in a pink top. I took the trophy and first prize home to Rich who is recovering from surgery. Thanks, Loretta
Thanks, Loretta, I have made the edits…