WHITBY - It was a beautiful day for a duck race.

Hundreds of people gathered at D’Hillier Park, in Whitby, on Saturday, to cheer on more than 4,000 rubber ducks as they raced down the creek.

Before the race there was plenty for families to do. A huge picnic area was set up with a barbecue. Children had their choice of several activities including a beanbag toss, face painting and a huge jumping castle.

After spending a few hours enjoying food and games, the group moved to the creek for the race that started at 1 p.m. They stretched from the opening gate to the finish line a few hundred feet away to cheer on the ducks.

Kids blew bubbles from their duck containers as they anxiously awaited the release of the yellow creatures.

Each duck participating in the race had a number printed on the bottom, which corresponded with a ticket number. Tickets were sold for $3 each. Although tickets were on sale prior to race day, people lined up at 9 a.m. to get their tickets for the big race.

As the ducks were dumped into the creek, cheers from the spectators grew louder. The gates were lifted and the ducks made their way down the creek, where the first ducks to make it to the finish were sectioned off.

In the end there were eight big winners. The prize for first place was $1,500, second won $750, third received $500 and $100 was given for ducks which finished in fourth to eighth place.

Whitby Councillor Elizabeth Roy, who volunteered at the duck race, said the day was a success.

“(We are) tremendously happy. Today was supposed to be 14 (C) and cloudy but it’s bright and beautiful,” Ms. Roy said. “Compared to last year the water was faster because the current was a little bit higher. It was very quick this year.”

Whitby This Week's Bob the Duck was preparing for the race a few weeks in advance. His practice video was posted online last week as he made his way down the creek. On race day, Bob’s fans cheered him on as he swam with his fellow ducks.

Unfortunately, Bob didn’t win the race. But he is proud that he did his best for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds from the Great Little Duck Race will go towards children’s activities at the Whitby County Town Carnival on June 28, at Cullen Central Park.

Look for Bob at the race next year, as he plans on training full-time from now until spring.