Duck Derby is a Quacking Success

September 1, 2017

Local children have celebrated the end of the summer holidays by taking part in the eagerly awaited Duck Derby at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex.

Children who attended the annual summer scheme had the opportunity to purchase and name a ‘lucky duck’ for the big race, with proceeds for the event raising vital funds for the Mayor’s charities The Corrymeela Community and Habitat for Humanity NI.

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Tim Morrow was delighted to welcome the children to the Duck Derby. He said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex for organising the event and the children for raising funds for my Mayoral Charities.  I hope the children enjoyed the spirit of the Duck Derby and it proved to be a fun activity to celebrate the end of the school holidays.”

Over 200 ducks made a splash along the Lazy River, all striving to clinch a coveted podium place. Madison Wellby’s duck proved to be the luckiest duck as it swam towards the finishing line in a record time to claim Gold.  The next two podium places were clinched by Rose Morgan and Jack Loughhead with only one ‘duck length’ separating the pair.

Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, Alderman James Tinsley added, “The Council has enjoyed another successful year of summer scheme programmes with over 2,000 children taking part in a range of activities at venues across Lisburn & Castlereagh.  The summer activity schemes not only provide valuable support to parents throughout July and August but they also give children the opportunity to try a new sport or activity which will hopefully see many take their first steps to a lifetime of physical activity.

“The Duck Derby is always an exciting conclusion to the summer scheme programme and I hope the children enjoyed the event and look forward to taking part in further activity schemes in the near future.”

A Halloween Activity Scheme will run at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex from Monday 30th October –Friday 3rd November from 9am -4pm.  For details, please contact the centre on 028 9267 2121.