This Event was postponed from July due to difficult weather conditions, and although the day was not ideal, it was dry enough to secure a pretty good attendance and a jolly day was had by all. A total of just £1000 was raised on the day for Dovecote funds.

The winner of the first Race, the Right Royal King Charles III Coronation Stakes was David Pickup with “DUCK” – a duck originally named by his son George.

Runner up was Dr. Paul Roberts with “PAUL” – his own duck.

Race 2, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Handicap was won by Charles Hanks with the duck inherited from his Grandmother, Kay Harvey. Originally named ‘KAY’, the duck was renamed ‘HANK’ on the change of ownership and ran a blinder to come in first.

The runner up was Stuart Whitticase who was running “NUTS” – Pat Boult’s duck

Race 3 at 3.30 p.m. was also well supported.

The lucky winner was Georgie Hanks with her own duck “GIGI” sponsored by her father with the proceeds of Race No. 1. Shouts of ‘foul’ and ‘corruption’ were heard in the crowd as a third winner related to current Trustees was announced. However, so random is the nature of Dovecote Duck Racing that Penny Hanks was able to assure all concerned that no manipulation of these races could possibly guarantee the winner, given the uncertainty of the Course and the hazards it is required to negotiate – something akin to The Grand National on water with 100 runners.

Runner up in Race 3 was ‘NICK’ (originally belonging to Nick Powell) which was supported by Nikky Shergold on this occasion.

Trustees took the opportunity to exhibit the technical drawings of the interior of the Dovecote completed by Mary Fiveash in 1999 as part of the original fund-raising scheme. Steve Shergold had kindly fabricated an elegant easel with a framed reproduction of the drawings, and a copy of the version with the names of those who have already ‘sponsored’ a nesthole and made an Entry in the Great Dovecote Book were available. Attendees were encouraged to choose a hole and they will be invited to make an Entry in the Book. This option is open to anyone who has either made a donation of a minimum of £50 or who is a Friend of the Naunton Dovecote paying an annual subscription.