Winners announced for Anchor River duck races

The Anchor River saw a (temporary) influx of brightly-colored ducks to its ecosystem on Sunday afternoon.

Part of Anchor Point’s Fourth of July festivities sponsored by the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 and the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce, event organizers dropped tubs of ducks over the Anchor River Bridge and monitored the short race downstream.

The ducks were picked up at the finish line and checked for the number written with a black marker on the bottom to evaluate whose duck came in first, second or third place in each color category.

Yellow, pink and blue ducks were available for purchase for $2, $5 and $10 respectively from local Anchor Point businesses starting May 21 through the day of the event on July 2. First, second and third place race winners for each color were eligible for monetary prizes. Blue ducks awarded the highest prizes and yellow ducks awarded smaller prizes, with pink ducks in the middle.

Fourth of July Anchor River Duck Race Results:

Yellow Ducks

First place: Lorie Schreifels, $400

Second place: Nellie Keller, $250

Third Place: John Roussel, $150

Pink Ducks

First Place: VFW Post 10221, $1,000

Second Place: American Legion Post 18, $600

Third Place: Chris Bob, $400

Blue Ducks

First Place: Corbin Thiry, $2,000

Second Place: Mark Chappel, $1,200

Third Place: Wakeen Brown, $800

Anchor Point VFW Commander Charles Collins commented in an email to Homer News, “Thank you to all our participants and everyone who helped sell ducks. We are so grateful for such a supportive community!”

Event volunteers wade through the Anchor River to snag ducks as they cross the finish line during the Fourth of July Duck Race on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Community members watch ducks, run down the Anchor River during the Fourth of July Duck Race on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Event volunteers stand downstream in the Anchor River to snag ducks as they cross the finish line during the Fourth of July Duck Race on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Community members watch pink ducks, the second color category, run down the Anchor River during the Fourth of July Duck Race on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Anchor Point VFW Post 10221 Commander Charles Collins pours a tub of ducks into the Anchor River from the Anchor River Bridge on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Community members watch yellow ducks, the first color category, run down the Anchor River during the Fourth of July Duck Race on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)