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Warwick’s 23rd annual Duck Derby held Sunday, May 19

| 23 May 2013 | 02:29
    The Winslow Duck was on hand at the Farmers' Market to sell a few more tickets and pose for photos with children like (from left) Ali Robertson, 10, and Morgan Pietrzak, 10.
    The Winslow Duck was on hand at the Farmers' Market to sell a few more tickets and pose for photos with children like (from left) Ali Robertson, 10, and Morgan Pietrzak, 10.
    Racing towards the Carriage Path Bridge.
    Racing towards the Carriage Path Bridge.
    Photos by Roger Gavan. Additional images can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com Jihoon Kim with his daughter Isabella, 2.
    Photos by Roger Gavan. Additional images can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com Jihoon Kim with his daughter Isabella, 2.
    Although the weather resulted in a lighter turnout, visitors and newcomers could understandably be excused for wondering why hundreds of adults and children came out in the rain to crowd the bridges or run along the banks of Wawayanda Creek in the downtown area of the Village.
    Although the weather resulted in a lighter turnout, visitors and newcomers could understandably be excused for wondering why hundreds of adults and children came out in the rain to crowd the bridges or run along the banks of Wawayanda Creek in the downtown area of the Village.
    Winslow riding instructor Cathe LaPenna, assisted by Todd LaPenna, left, and Kevin Hordych, hands up a tube with the 10 winning ducks in order of finish. The ducks were then matched with the ticket numbers and the names of the lucky winners.
    Winslow riding instructor Cathe LaPenna, assisted by Todd LaPenna, left, and Kevin Hordych, hands up a tube with the 10 winning ducks in order of finish. The ducks were then matched with the ticket numbers and the names of the lucky winners.

WARWICK — The event raffle tickets read, “Rain or Shine,” and, although clear blue skies and mild temperatures are usually the case at this time of year, it was cloudy skies and light rain for Winslow Therapeutic Center’s 23rd Annual Duck Derby.

Although the weather resulted in a lighter turnout, visitors and newcomers could understandably be excused for wondering why hundreds of adults and children came out in the rain to crowd the bridges or run along the banks of Wawayanda Creek in the downtown area of the Village.

The answer was that most had “adopted” one or more of almost 3000 rubber ducks in the race, each bearing the number that corresponds with the $5 ticket they purchased.

Winslow, a non-profit organization accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, shared half of the almost $15,000 proceeds of the popular event with approximately 17 non-profit organizations that help market the tickets.

Many of the tickets are sold on the day of the event but with poor weather and fewer spectators the number of adopted ducks and the final proceeds were down by 25 per cent from last year.

Before the start of the Duck Derby organizers and volunteers waited by a spot on the South Street Bridge where at 1:30 p.m. they were able to launch all the rubber ducks they had placed in a large tarp.

Volunteers captured the winning ducks at a finish line net placed just beyond the Main Street Bridge.

Most of the eight valuable prizes were merchandise or services donated by local businesses or individuals.

The firs- place prize of $1000, provided by Winslow Therapeutic Center, was won by Meg Peterson of Warwick.

Second-place prize winner, Lee Dean of Port Jervis, won an Apple iPad Mini 16gb courtesy of Taco Hombre.

And third-place winner Alex Canale of Goshen, won a Kindle Fire courtesy of Bonni Masi Oswald, State Farm Insurance.

Winslow is already gearing up for next year’s Duck Derby and invites any organization leaders who would like to participate to call 986-6686.