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Speedboat helps rubber ducks finish charity race

Phil McCannin Chester
News imageBBC A speedboat helps move rubber ducks all congregated near the banks of the River Dee in Chester on a sunny day. Hundreds of people lined the banks of the river to watch. BBC
A speedboat is always on standby but never needed to be used - until this year

A speedboat was employed to help rubber waterfowl reach the finishing line in an annual duck race thwarted by a lack of wind.

The weather played havoc with the Chester Duck Race 2026 staged by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's charity on the River Dee.

Hundreds turned up to watch the family-friendly event but the sponsored rubber ducks failed to move far from the banks of the river.

Organisers always have a speedboat on standby in the event of any issues but have never needed to use it before now - with a paddle boarder also helping to push the ducks to the finish.

News imageHundreds of people line the banks of the River Dee and a bridge crossing the water to watch the duck race. A speedboat is seen in the distance coming towards the ducks all congregated at the banks.
Hundreds of people turned out to watch the annual charity duck race on the River Dee

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