Ready…Set…Squeak! First-Ever Rubber Ducky Races Held In Muddy River

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

It was a sporting event like no other, and a fundraiser like no other. On Saturday, July 10, a group of about 40 people braved the early morning heat for the first-ever Muddy River Rubber Ducky Race which took place just below the Cooper Street Bridge in Overton beginning at 8 am.

The event had Moapa Valley contestants from four different age divisions wading out into the middle of the stream to release their “high performance” duckies in a race for the ages.

This fundraiser event was the brainchild of Overton resident Nick Yamashita, owner of Under the Mountain Martial Arts (UMMA) academy. Yamashita said he was looking for a fundraiser to help purchase new uniforms for the all-new UMMA competition team which is being formed this fall.

“I have organized a lot of fundraisers in my life, but this time I wanted to find something that the kids would really like,” Yamashita said.

Years ago while attending Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Yamashita said he put together a fundraiser simply involving selling rubber duckies from a display table. Surprisingly, it had been a big success.

“That idea came to mind again but I wanted to do an activity that involved families and especially engaged the kids,” Yamashita said. “So a rubber ducky race came to mind. And the Muddy River seemed like a perfect place to do it.”

A sign-in desk offered rubber duckies for sale that promised to be built for speed. Participants donated $5 for each ducky that they wanted registered in the race for their division.

Each age division waded into the stream and lined up at the starting line. Squatting down in the water, each contestant held his ducky just inches above the stream flow eagerly awaiting the word ‘go’ from Yamashita, who had also waded out into the stream.

The mud beneath the stream was quite slick and many of the young competitors ended up losing their footing and falling into the water. “I don’t think they minded much, though,” Yamashita said. “With how hot it is, the kids seem to enjoy being down in the water more than anything else.”

There were plenty of false starts; especially from the toddler division which included kids aged 5 and younger.

“Invariably the little kids would get over-excited waiting for the green light,” Yamashita said. “We had quite a few duckies get let go early. But we just corralled the early birds back in again so that everyone had an equal chance.”

Once the rubber duckies were released, it was an all-out race in the stream flow about 100 yards to the finish. There a number of young volunteers were gathered to catch the duckies and determine the winners.

In the toddler division there were a total of 12 competitors. The division ran two races. The winner of the first race was Carlee Pulsipher and the second race winner was Jadzia Hadley.

The elementary school age division had seven competitors and also two races. The champion duckies from those two races were let loose by Addison Stevens and Clayton McCauley

Only six competitors waded into the stream in the Middle School/High School division with two races run. The division winners were Dakota McCauley and Morgan McCauley.

There were eight participants in the adult division. The fastest duckie in that division belonged to Carlee Pulsipher, mom of the toddler division winner.

A final all-division championship race concluded the event. All of the fastest duckies from the earlier races were gathered at the starting line for this all-star heat. In the end the grand champion ducky from the 2021 Muddy River Rubber Ducky Race belonged to Carlee Pulsipher of the toddler division. Second place went to Addison Stevens and third place to Morgan McCauley.

The event ended with medals being awarded to the winner. Also announced were winners of a raffle prize drawing which was held.

In the raffle, concert tickets for Lady A were won by Melaina Bradshaw. A Polaroid I-style camera was won by Jonathan Richens. Movie tickets at Regal Theatres were won by Clayton McCauley and Kira Tuiaki. All raffle prizes were donated by local residents who are supporters of UMMA.

Local beverage vendor truck Kuppa Joe was in attendance at the event to serve up cold drinks and smoothies to the participants and their families after a hot morning’s activities.

In the end, UMMA raised a total of $305 for the cause. “I thought it went well,” Yamashita said. “It was a better turnout than I thought. The heat was the biggest drawback. It was pretty hot for that early in the morning. But I think everyone had a good time. So we are talking about holding a Halloween Rubber Ducky race this October to continue the fun.”

In addition to these fundraising efforts, UMMA is seeking sponsors for its Competitive Team. For information about sponsoring the team, contact Yamashita at 702-286-5469.