Hundreds of people gathered in Appley Bridge on Saturday May 9th for the return of the village’s much-loved Duck Race, a biennial charity event bringing together residents and visitors from across the area.
Held at Heron’s Wharf along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the event saw numbered rubber ducks launched into the water by Appley Bridge Scouts as crowds gathered, waiting to see whose duck would cross the finish line first.
Tickets cost £2, going towards funding the Appley Bridge Scouts and Cancer Research UK donations. Prizes including vouchers to local restaurant Pesto, a signed Wigan Warriors rugby ball and a whopping £350 cash for the winning duck.
The race itself was only part of the attraction, with the village transformed into a family fun day featuring games stalls, live music, food and drink vendors, and fairground rides.
One of the visitors attending for the first time was Kim Harrison, 22, from Eccleston, who said she was impressed by the atmosphere created throughout the event.
“It’s my first time coming to the race. The vibes are here. You can see there’s such a strong community sense here like you’ve never seen before.”
“Everyone’s laughing, having a good time, having a drink, and we’re raising money at the same time. What more could you want on a Saturday like this?” Harrison added.
The football field on Appley Bridge South became packed with visitors throughout the afternoon, while The Bridge Inn and the Boathouse pubs acted as central hubs for the event.
Both local residents and newcomers travelled to the village to experience the atmosphere, with many saying the event highlighted the strong sense of community within Appley Bridge.
Alongside the race, visitors also took part in additional fundraising activities including a raffle and a ‘Name the Duck’ competition organised by long-standing resident Sarah Stephenson.
Ms Stephenson, who helps run local allotments and encourages community involvement within the village, said events like the Duck Race are important in bringing people together.
“If you’ve got a village, and people, do it,” she said.
“I can’t tell you how great it’s been seeing everyone together. We’ve a real community here and I love it.”
“People need people. And here at Appley Bridge, you see someone and you chat, no matter if you know them or not. It’s such an amazing place to live in,” Stephenson added.
Despite the weather taking a turn for the worse later in the afternoon, the celebrations showed no signs of slowing down as crowds continued gathering around the local pubs and canal side.
Jaden Williams, 23, from Eccleston, said: “Yeah it’s annoying the sun’s gone and it’s raining, but we’re still here and having fun. Bit of rain never hurt anyone. I’ve had such a great day.”
Williams said the turnout at the event stood out compared to other community events he had attended.
“I’ve been to one or two events similar in my local area like fairs and stuff, but none of them have had such a turnout like this,” he said.
“The staff at the Boathouse have been incredible, serving people all day non-stop. The race has ended, I didn’t win unfortunately, but the day doesn’t stop there.”
As the final ducks crossed the finish line and celebrations continued into the evening, many attendees agreed the event had once again succeeded in putting Appley Bridge on the map while raising money for two important causes.