IN yesterday’s glorious lunchtime sunshine, families young and old crowded along the banks of the Macquarie River bank to watch the annual duck race.

The Rotary Club of Bathurst event attracted  more than 250 entries, with picnic rugs placed to ensure the best viewing spot for the short race.

Now in its fifth year, the race raises funds for the ongoing work of the Rotary Club of Bathurst locally, nationally and internationally.

Four-year-old Chloe Duff was at the finish line to witness her duck come a close second in the tight race.

“My poppy gave me the money to buy a duck,” she said.

Fourth placegetter Jim Dahlhelm said there was no strategy when it came to finishing well in the annual race.

“There’s no secret, just go up and pay the money,” he said.

Rotary Club of Bathurst treasurer Bob Pardey said around $2500 is raised each year from the event.

“We have a lot of charities and organisations around that we support and we do a lot of work with the youth around town,” he said.

“Last year we donated $20,000 to Glenray to purchase a bus.”

Internationally, the club also support Rotary’s Polio Plus program to help eradicate cases of polio.

“We’re about 98 per cent there with that program, which was started by Rotary International.”

Ducks were available for purchase at the Rotary stall at Bathurst City Centre on Saturday and from the Proclamation Day events at Bicentennial Park yesterday.

Duck race winners were first Wylie Chapman, second Chloe Duff, third Angus McIntyre and fourth Jim Dahlhelm.