By Bobby Bourke
Students gathered at Riley Creek bridge for the annual Riley Creek Duck Race on Friday, April 28 at Noon. This activity kicked off the weekend of Riley creek events.
Sophomore Bryson Boyle collecting ducks. Photo by Bobby Bourke.
Riley Creek festival weekend was kicked off on Friday with the Riley Creek duck race. Students could pick a duck with its own number and then see how it does in a race down Riley Creek and under the bridge.
Before the race could begin students had to clear the water of any sticks or logs blocking the creek flow so that the ducks could float down the creek without obstacles. There were also students standing in the water along the bridge with large nets so they could retrieve the ducks after crossing the finish line.
Students stop at Beeshy Bridge to watch the winning ducks be collected. Photo by Bobby Bourke.
As the misty rain came down Bluffton students still had a blast picking ducks and waiting to see which three would finish first.
“It was probably one of the most fun events that has been had on campus. I had a great time competing with my friends and it was funny to see a bunch of fake ducks in the water,” said junior football player Andre Price. “
Price said the students all chose different ducks from a bin from a Student Senate table at The Spot outside the Commons. Each duck had a number on the bottom to assign to a student. Participation in the Duck Race cost $1 per duck.
“We all picked different ducks and had different numbers so it was really fun to see whose duck would come out on top,” said Price. “I am pretty upset that my duck — number 44 — lost though.”
With this event taking place on Friday it is the first event of the last weekend on campus. This year the duck race was followed by Spring campus clean up on Saturday, April 29, and the annual Riley Creek Festival on Sunday, April 30 from noon to 4 p.m.
