The 15th annual Great Bath Duck Race faced a difficult race environment July 27. A paucity of rain lowered the Monocacy Creek to a level that might slow the race.

In past years, the race was nearly canceled due to high water from heavy rains. During that time, the duck race winner crossed the finish line in less than 10 minutes. This year’s winner needed about an hour to get to there.

It was clear from the outset the duck race would be reduced to a crawl. Even help from volunteers stroking the water behind the ducks to create waves that would propel the ducks downstream was limited.

“This is gonna take long. Let’s get something to eat and then come back,” a spectator said after noticing the pace of the ducks.

Tracy Berger-Carmen and Susan Funk ran the entrance table for duck sponsors. Sponsors of about 300 plastic ducks put down a $5 entrance fee to enter the race. Many of the sponsors were on hand to watch their ducks try to float down the Monocacy Creek from the Northampton Street bridge in Bath to the finish line at the Main Street bridge.

Folks lined up by the side of the stream and on the walkway bridge over the stream hoping to get a glimpse of their duck. As the ducks went by slowly, patrons followed their ducks to the finish line.

Winning ducks must enter the V-shaped funnel area in the middle of the stream to win one of 25 prizes. Darrin Heckman, of Bath, was the official checking the winners.

First-place winner Olivia Brozman won $250. Kevin Lewis was awarded a $25 gift certificate for coming in second place.

There is also a Caboose Award for the last duck to cross the finish line. That duck was sponsored by Deborah Rogers. AK Farms contributed the Caboose Award, which was a $25 gift certificate.

After the race, people lined up to have a picture taken with the race mascot Quackie, who was perched on a silver sports car parked on Main Street.

The event was sponsored by the volunteers of Bath Farmers Market and Cub Scouts Troop 33 for the benefit of Christ United Church of Christ.

The annual duck race grows every year. Carol Bear-Heckman, an event co-coordinator, noted Greater Bath Area Chamber of Commerce ran a contest for a Bath high school senior to receive a scholarship, and one scholarship winner noted in his essay the most memorable event in Bath for him as a kid was the annual Great Bath Duck Race.

Longtime Bath resident Kathy Stump was happy to be at the race. It was her first time experiencing the event. She recently retired and said she now has the time to attend more events in and around Bath.

Stump noted her favorite thing about living in Bath is being able to walk in town safely to all the stores and shops that meet her needs, as well as the friendly residents.

Bear-Heckman said she was happy with the turnout, growth and fun of the race. The Great Bath Duck Race team looks forward to the growth of this annual, one-of-a-kind event in the community.

Bear-Heckman also hopes to see the farmers market return to Bath in 2025.