Bombs away

Paul Clinton

Fountain Valley defended its title as the winner of the Mayor’s Race

at the city’s annual Duck-A-Thon.

In a race filled with little rubber ducks from a number of North

County cities, the Fountain Valley quacker sailed to the shore quickest

in the 1:30 p.m. race, retaining the title of victor from last year.

The well-attended event, held on Saturday, is now in its 10th year.

But in the race of thousands of rubber fowl, Karol Bruno and daughter

Kym Little of Huntington Beach took home the crown for the public race,

which was held at 3 p.m. Their duck was named “Baby Emma.”

For that race, two large tractors dumped loads of ducks into the water

off the south side of Huntington Pier. In Sunday’s corporate race,

Riteway Paint and Body Shop stole the thunder, snaring the coveted

“Golden Duck” trophy.

The event raised about $100,000 for the Huntington Beach Community

Clinic, organizers said. More than 3,000 ducks, which were purchased for

between $10 and $125.

Participants could buy ducks with attached wooden surfboards, which

didn’t necessarily help the ducks reach shore quicker, said Pat Davis,

the lead organizer.