Excitement was high and people stood on the bridge, platform, roadway and even the rocks to see which duck would arrive at the pointed finish line. Just when it seemed this duck or that one would prevail, the water current sent it in a circle.

The Findley Lake Duck Race was bigger than ever this year, said Secret Cubby of Antiques proprietor Nancy Sonney, who co-organized the event Proceeds from the event go to support the continued functioning of the water wheel.

“The local businesses here pull together to keep the water wheel open,” Sonney said.

Participants in the race purchase a numbered duck, which becomes their registered duck. All of the ducks are dumped into the spillway on the side of the lake and must make their way through the pipe under route 426 and into the foam-constructed finish area.

A flotilla of ducks makes its way through the spillway pipe under 426 in the Findley Lake Duck Race on Thursday. Submitted photo

Sonney’s co-organizer, Lori Wagner from Our Own Candle Company, estimated that about 1,400 tickets had been purchased for the race.

Ducks purchased are either yellow for the adult category, blue for boys or pink for girls.

This year, all of the adult ducks and all of the boys ducks sold out. There were just a few pink ducks left when the race began.

“Every year it grows,” Sonney said. “Two years ago, I bought 300 more ducks…We sold out the ducks for adults by 10 a.m. today.”

Other than the chance to win some really good prizes, Sonney said the increase in ticket sales is due to the fact that people realized they did not have to be present to win.

The prizes were worth coming to see the race, however. Among the adult category prizes were a pass to Splash Lagoon, a paid stay at Fairway Suites, one night’s stay at Peek’n Peak resort, two rounds of golf at North Hills Golf, a $50 gift certificate to Alexander’s restaurant, and a Smokey Joe Grill.

Prizes for boys and girls ranged from a 26-inch and a 20-inch bicycle, to a Peek’n Peak Adventure course, walkie talkies, a kid’s kayak, a wagon, and a lava lamp.

“The community all around helped donate stuff,” Sonney said. “Businesses donated money or a prize such as a gift-certificate … Everybody just pitched right in.”

While the annual duck race raises money for the maintenance of the water wheel, the real benefit is in the promotion of the village, Sonney said.

“How can you not come to Findley Lake, especially on holidays?” she said.