Chamber’s Duck Race Makes a Splash

Nearly 3,000 plastic yellow ducks “raced” down the Mystic River this morning in Medford’s first-ever duck race, organized by the Chamber of Commerce.  Though no one won the grand prize, a brand new Saturn Sky Roadster, the winning duck snagged a 50-inch plasma TV for its owner, Mary Pat Lohse.

Nearly 3,000 plastic yellow ducks are dumped into the Mystic River from the South Street Bridge.

“Duck marshals” shepherd wayward ducks away from rocks and lily pads.

Thousands of ducks bob in the Mystic River on their way to the finish line.

The winning duck comes into the finish line at the Cradock Bridge.

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford’s first-ever duck race on Saturday morning, by all accounts, went swimmingly (pun definitely intended).

With the help of “duck marshals” with leaf blowers and paddles to guide wayward ducks away from lily pads and rocks, the 2,880 ducks raced between the South Street Bridge and the Cradock Bridge, with the winner reaching the finish line in just shy of an hour.

The winning duck snagged its owner, Mary Pat Lohse, a 50-inch flat screen plasma TV, while the second-speediest duck earned owner Arlene Farber a $2,000 cruise certificate and the third place duck won Linda Welter a $1,000 ten-minute shopping spree at Wild Oats.

Several other prizes were donated by other businesses for a total of $8,390 in prizes.

One duck was chosen randomly before the race for a chance to win a brand new, fully-loaded Saturn Sky Roadster, but alas another duck crossed the finish line first and the car went unclaimed.

Better luck next year, and if event organizers have their way, there will be a next year.

Event organizer and Chamber of Commerce Board member Allan Martorana, the brains behind the event who logged time on YouTube researching other duck races, is looking forward to next year and hopes to sell even more ducks, maybe even 5,000.

Though slow at first, duck sales picked up just days before the race and completely sold out the morning of the race.

“It was very exciting to sell out.  It shows Medford residents are eaget to have events of this nature,” said Chamber Executive Director Cheryl White.

It was the first time a long time that any city events were held at the Condon Shell on the Mystic River, and Mayor Michael McGlynn is confident there will be many more.

The city recently gained control from the state of the land along the river where the shell is located, and is investing $700,000 in federal dollars to see if the shell should be refurbished or rebuilt.  McGlynn said he would like to see the shell used for concerts and events like it was when he was a kid.

As it was, the shell bustled with activity on Saturday while bands played and the Medford Arts Festival took place around it, with more than twenty artists showcasing their work.

“It’s the goal of the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Medford to bring life back to this city,” said White.