ALTHOUGH team numbers may have been down on last year, there was no doubt that competitors were as keen as ever to take out this year's Dubbo Ducks Clive Roots Relay Trophy at the RSL pool.
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Twenty-seven teams of four were on the blocks compared with 40 teams in 2011. "A sign of the times" commented one knowledgeable member of the audience as to this occurrence.
Other suggestions ranged from climate change to the carbon tax, the Dubbo Council elections and electricity prices - even Big Brother got a mention.
As they say in the classics "the show must go on", "break a leg" etc, and it was evident from the cheering in the grandstands that a great time was being had by all.
And, for the first time in the history of the Dubbo Ducks, we had a dead-heat for first place.
The first Clive Roots Memorial Relay was held in 1969, this therefore was the 43rd year this prestigious event has taken place. Thanks to the foresight of Clive Roots and subsequent captain Gerry Collins, (a former editor of the Daily Liberal), it is considered the longest running sporting event in Dubbo.
There were some wonderful main preliminary events for the relay, namely the Whitney's Jeweller's Open Sprint, won by Jerryn Biles in 12.45s, 0.31s slower than the current pool record of 12.14s set in 2011 by AJ Newman.
Georgia Baker was second, but dominated the Ladies Open event.
After the program concluded competitors adjourned to the upstairs terrace area for a barbecue meal which was provided to all the competitors, workers and visitors.
As a result of the carnival, it is hoped that a cheque for about a thousand dollars can be presented to Regional Legacy in the near future.
