Despite the setbacks of a challenging year, the Allens Pond Duck Derby made a splash for the 17th year in a row on Aug. 15.

Normally, the annual fundraising race has a handful of spectators around to see the ducks released at Barney’s Joy. Because of the pandemic, the event was instead held virtually, with the race streamed on the Allens Pond Facebook page. 

“Our team was absolutely fabulous,” Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary Director Gina Purtell said. “Overall, the event went really well.”

Purtell added that while trying to decide the best place for the start line, a herring gull swiped one of the test ducks to shore after poking it multiple times.

“Who would have guessed that a bird would interfere with the race?” she laughed.

Each year, the Wildlife Sanctuary sells both individual and bundles of rubber ducks for their derby. This year, more than 3,000 ducks set sail on Allens Pond for the big race, around half the normal number, Purtell noted.

Purtell said there was quite a variety of duck names, noting her personal favorites were Duckter Fauci and Quacker Quarantino.

The winning duck, named Richard, netted Dartmouth resident Lydia Giordano the grand prize: dinner for four anywhere in the country.

Giordano said in a statement that she hopes to go “somewhere out west” like San Diego or San Francisco, before speculating that Napa Valley could be the perfect setting for a complimentary dinner for four.

The South Dartmouth resident isn’t the only participant who won a prize. Runners-ups will receive gift certificates to local establishments, and even the last duck to finish the race — the “Slacker Quacker” — won an entry in next year’s race to try again. 

This year’s slacker quacker honor went to School Committee Member Mary Waite. She said she “adopted” 200 ducks for this year’s race, hoping one of them would be the winner — only to see one duck, Ripley, cross the finish line last.

“I was really excited and filled with hope, and here I am with the pity prize,” Waite laughed. “But I’m very proud to come in any place — even last.”