Beautiful weather. A big crowd. And a pond full of tiny yellow ducks. Welcome to the Barrington Education Foundation Duck Race. 

More than 500 people attended the BEF fund-raiser near Woods Pond on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 5. Many of them had purchased a rubber duck. In fact, BEF organizers ran out of ducks to sell — 655 ducks filled a section of the pond. 

At about 3 p.m., firefighters from the Barrington Fire Department helped propel the ducks across the pond. Waiting on the other side was Barrington Superintendent of Schools Rob Wargo, who picked up the three ducks to reach the shore first. 

First place went to Eileen Nee. 

Second place was Rebecca Platt. 

And third place was Laurie Tickle.

BEF organizers said the duck race raised more than $8,000 for the foundation.

“We are so appreciative of our amazing parent and student volunteers, event business sponsors and year long business partners, our in-kind donors, the Town of Barrington (who hosted a fabulous Great Pumpkin Harvest party just prior to the start of the BEF Duck Race event) and our entire community for coming out to support Barrington Education Foundation’s mission of championing extraordinary educational opportunities in the Barrington Public Schools,” stated a press release from BEF. “We are touched by the continued support and feel honored to be continuing the 33-year-long legacy of BEF.”

Barrington teacher Stu Moran helped entertain the crowd with plenty of duck jokes — he also helped start up the “duck wave” around Wood’s Pond. 

Superintendent Wargo helped retrieve the winning ducks and announce the winners. And former Barrington students Charlie Shapiro and Thomas Franke helped “referee” the ducks in kayaks.

Clara Bucher served as a student mascot for the event, while Roxana Mohammadi and Briella Weimer assisted her. Molly Franke, Robin Shapiro, Tyla Bucher, Maura Spector, and Liza Echols served as the BEF Duck Race Comeback Planning crew. 

This year’s event marked the first BEF Duck Race since 2014.