Fairly gusty winds and the lack of the local Boy Scouts annual pancake breakfast usually set up alongside Duck Derby seemed to limit the number of spectators who flocked beneath London Bridge Sunday, but the charity event was still considered a success, organizers said.

Jayne Hanson/News-Herald Photos. ‘Duckorated’ ducks are pictured here during the WAHS Duck Derby Sunday beneath London Bridge.

“I think we had less turnout because of the wind … participation was down a little but not significant,” said Victoria Cowper, executive director of Western Arizona Humane Society.

About 3,000 individual rubber ducks raced during the event as well as 62 corporate duck entries — together raising about $15,000 for the local Western Arizona Humane Society.

“The money that is raised in Havasu, stays in Havasu,” Cowper said.

The theme of this year’s event “It’s a Jungle Out There” inspired local businesses to decorate duck decoys with zebra stripes, cheetah spots, safari creatures, bold colors and lots of green vegetation.

The “duckorated” ducks were judged in the categories of Top Quaker; Duckiest Use of Materials; Daffy Duck; People’s Choice and Quacks the Quack & Waddles the Waddle.

The event played out to groovy, toe-tapping music courtesy of London Bridge Resort, and the races were staged to run on a north-to-south course to utilize the windy conditions.

“It (Duck Derby) was very exciting and very fun,” Cowper said.

First place rubber duck winner was Janette Stevenson, a standing that earned her $1,000 and a trophy. Second-place winner Pam Dunnett won $250 and a trophy and third-place winner Marian Miller won $100 and a trophy. Rubber duck race last place winner Kerry Young won $50 and a trophy, said Cowper.

The Corporate Duck first place winner was Starline Elementary, which won a trophy.

The Duck Derby is one of two major annual fundraising events organized to raise money for the local animal shelter. Cowper said she believes this was either the 17th or 18th year for the event.

The second major charity event is an annual dinner held in the spring.

Western Arizona Humane Society secured a three-year contract to oversee the animal shelter in Kingman after Mohave County supervisors voted unanimously in favor of the takeover in June of this year.

The shelter locations are run separately, but are both managed by WAHS, Cowper said.

For more information about the local animal shelter visit www.havasuhumane.org on the Web.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.