GUIDON staff
Sixty-nine duck decoys showed up at Waynesville City Park on Saturday decked out in their best, then floated down the Roubidoux Creek for a chance at victory on during the 23rd annual Armed Services YMCA Duck Race.
Sixty-nine duck decoys showed up at Waynesville City Park on Saturday decked out in their best, then floated down the Roubidoux Creek for a chance at victory on during the 23rd annual Armed Services YMCA Duck Race.
Held each year in conjunction with the Old Settlers Day festival, the Duck Race involves decoys decorated by local businesses, organizations and individuals pitted against each other in six heats on the water, with the winners and runners up advancing to the finals. Ducks are also judged for their appearance in the annual Best Dressed Duck Contest. The event raises money for ASYMCA programs that benefit Soldiers and their Families on post.
The City of St. Robert’s duck was the overall winner of this year’s race, followed by the 31st Engineer Battalion’s “Leonidis” duck in second.
The U.S. Army Engineer School’s “Duck N Cover” won the annual Consolation Race, with the Electric Krayon’s “Drake-ing Warrior” taking second.
This year, for the first time, the competition included several ducks from other installations across the country.
“We have 13 ducks that represented the Armed Services YMCA of the USA this year, “ said Linda Bright, Fort Leonard Wood ASYMCA director. “We’re the only ones who do this. At the National Director’s Meeting in El Paso in March, I talked about our duck race, and they all decided to participate. I expect that every year, now, we will have entries from these other installations.”
In the first heat, “Semper Quack” from the ASYMCA at 29 Palms Marine Corps Base, Calif., took first, followed by “Quilty the Comforter” from the ASYMCA at Fort Brag, N.C., in second.
In Heat 2, the 94th Engineer Battalion’s duck took first, followed by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence’s “Duck in Paradise” in second.
The City of St. Robert’s duck won Heat 3, followed by the Sellers Sexton duck “Shelby.”
In Heat 4, the City of Waynesville’s “Ruby Dew” took first, followed by the 3rd Chemical Brigade duck in second.
In Heat 5, the 31st Engr. Bn. took first, followed by the Association of the United States Army duck in second.
In Heat 6, the Armed Forces Bank duck “Captain America” took first, while the Citizens Bank of Newburg’s “Princess Fermalina” took second.
Best Dressed ducks
Winners of the Best Dressed Duck Contest included “Sgt. Pendleton” from Camp Pendleton, Calif., MSCoE’s “Duck in Paradise,” the Electric Krayon’s “Drake-ing Warrior,” the 364th Training Squadron, Air Force Detachment 1 duck, the Garrison Command duck, the 3rd Chemical Brigade duck, the 58th Transportation Battalion’s “Tee See” duck, the 84th Chemical Battalion duck, the Citizens Mortgage “Big Chief Fowl Mouth,” the Omega Pipeline duck and Armed Forces Bank’s “Captain America.”
The People’s Choice Award, based on the votes of those attending Old Settlers Day, was awarded to the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital duck, “Merlin Von Qwach of GLWACH.” The Army hospital will keep the People’s Choice Award traveling trophy until next year’s winner is crowned.
“I think this is the best looking bunch of ducks we’ve had in a long time,” Bright said.
The City of St. Robert’s winning duck decoy. Courtesy photo
The U.S. Army Engineer School’s “Duck N Cover” won the annual Consolation Race, with the Electric Krayon’s “Drake-ing Warrior” taking second.
This year, for the first time, the competition included several ducks from other installations across the country.
“We have 13 ducks that represented the Armed Services YMCA of the USA this year, “ said Linda Bright, Fort Leonard Wood ASYMCA director. “We’re the only ones who do this. At the National Director’s Meeting in El Paso in March, I talked about our duck race, and they all decided to participate. I expect that every year, now, we will have entries from these other installations.”
In the first heat, “Semper Quack” from the ASYMCA at 29 Palms Marine Corps Base, Calif., took first, followed by “Quilty the Comforter” from the ASYMCA at Fort Brag, N.C., in second.In Heat 2, the 94th Engineer Battalion’s duck took first, followed by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence’s “Duck in Paradise” in second.
The City of St. Robert’s duck won Heat 3, followed by the Sellers Sexton duck “Shelby.”
In Heat 4, the City of Waynesville’s “Ruby Dew” took first, followed by the 3rd Chemical Brigade duck in second.
Lisa Yenter, right, hands the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence duck to Cathy Gates at the Armed Services YMCA tent Saturday. Photo by Matt Decker
In Heat 6, the Armed Forces Bank duck “Captain America” took first, while the Citizens Bank of Newburg’s “Princess Fermalina” took second.
Best Dressed ducks
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital’s “Merlin Von Qwach of GLWACH” was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the annual Armed Services YMCA Duck Race. Photo by Matt Decker
The People’s Choice Award, based on the votes of those attending Old Settlers Day, was awarded to the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital duck, “Merlin Von Qwach of GLWACH.” The Army hospital will keep the People’s Choice Award traveling trophy until next year’s winner is crowned.
“I think this is the best looking bunch of ducks we’ve had in a long time,” Bright said.