Blackwater Pyrates announceDuck Race winners, historical theatre event
MILTON – The Blackwater Pyrates held their annual Great Milltown Duck Race in Milton on July 4th.
As thousands of fans lined the downtown Milton Riverwalk, the weather cleared long enough for the race to take place on schedule. People came to see the Blackwater Pyrate Duck Race and were not disappointed. As of July 4th, fewer than 300 ducks had not been adopted and they were devoured by fans wanting to attend the annual event before noon.
The Duck Diva (SasSea) and her Duck Committee (known as the Duck Divas) orchestrated the event to the last disheveled feather. The Merchandise Chairperson (Ruby Red) set up a sales team and supplied the hungry crowd with shirts, koozies and other Pyrate items. The Technical Team Leader (Capt Fins Up) circled the wagons and created the mighty duck drive and noodle channel so that the racing ducks could follow. His team was joined by captains and crew members who were put into bondage in Shanghai.
Sea Rock and Shhh brought the VIP boat and Mayor Heather Lindsay, Police Chief Tony Tindell, Linda Cramer from McKenzie Motors, Karena from Cat Country, Duck Committee Chair Terra and Captain Lucky attended the party on board.
Minutes before the start of the race, the VIP boat made a “slow roll” to inspect the track. They continued their tour to greet the crowds on the Pyrate boardwalk and docks.
As the time neared 5 a.m. (Duck Drop Time), Capt. Boot the Lot and 2 Noodles worked with truck driver David Archer to position the dumper on top of the US Highway 90 bridge. And at exactly 5 p.m. on July 4th, the Pyrates successfully released 5,000 racing ducks into the Blackwater River and the Great Mill Town Duck Race in 2021 began.
Minutes after the race, a small group of ducks separated from the herd and appeared to be on their way to the Duck Race Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, the race this year wasn’t a sprint, and as the finish line drew closer, so did the many, many other ducks.
When the ducks reached the last slide, the duck swimmer was able to determine the winners.
The duck in first place was # 1926, trained by Jess Savoy. Second place went to duck no. 998, trained by Breezie Seitz. And the duck in third place was # 3703, trained by Teresa Coffield.
SPONSORS
Title Sponsor, $ 5,000: McKenzie Motors – Milton.
Admiral Level, $ 2,500: Cat Country 98.7 (in kind) and Bruce Baker Real Estate.
First Officer, $ 500: NW Florida Advance Insurance; Blackwater Bistro (in kind); Boomerang pizza kitchen; CP Rivers Furniture & Decor; Pensacola Coastal Canvas; Cosses corner hut; Cosses Place; Dan Stewart (in kind); Edward Jones – Derek R. Park, AAMS; Navy of the Emerald Coast – Niceville; Grover T’s (in kind); Major home improvement; Masons Restaurant; Milton Animal Hospital – Dr. Loper; Sonny’s BBQ (in kind); Stillhorse RV Boat Car; Stillhorse used tire depot; and vinyl plank 4 less.
Helmsman level, $ 100; 2 gauge marine and trailer; 2nd Fold Men’s Clothing / Shoes – Milton; All Pro Tune Up; Alyssas – pace; Ameriprise – Rick Paschall; Angel nursing home health; Arrow embroidery and screen printing; B’Dubbs Bar & Grill; Beardless brewery; Blackwater Bay tours; Blackwater folkart; Bobbi cake; Brenda Cooper – Broker; Culpepper Insurance; Culpepper printing; David’s Catfish House; Denniel’s monogramming; Derrel’s Sewing of Pensacola; Eddie English Trailer; Eddie Hobbs Automotive, Inc .; El Paso Restaurant; Emerald Coast Dental Laboratory; Eric Cabaniss – State Farm Insurance; Fish the bite; Florida Farm Bureau – Greg Cowell; Florida Farm Bureau – John Johnson; Found it real estate; Fusion Fine Wine & Spirits; GE – Pensacola – $ 200; Genesis Fire Services, LLC; Gorman Company; Graceland Portable Buildings by Milton; LED lighting on the Gulf Coast; ER Roberts roofer; Hanley trailer sales
HBM – Home – Business – Goods; Howard Young Flooring; I love Milton; Jones Fence; K&B Café & Vintage Boutique; Krewe of foxes; Crystal – Milton; LB Elektro; Ladies at the lake; Leek small engine repairs; Lindsay & Andrews, PA; Little Angel Boutique; Litvak, Beasley & Wilson, LLP; McComb’s electrical, heating, and air conditioning; Mike Ryan’s truck and auto accessories; Miley’s Garage; Milton Garden Club; Mountains & mermaids; Muddy Paw Care from Haylee & Company.
Heisman Sponsors went on to NZ: Nick Cote Certified Gearboxes; Ollie’s neighborhood grill; Oscity Labs – Southern Star Farms; Rental of outposts; Oval Office; Pensacola Bay Brewery; Shipowner Finance Group; Remax – Real Estate Management by Horizons; Remax – Horizons Real Estate; Return to health; Riverwalk Hair Exhibition; Robert O. Beasley, PA; Roller Blinds Seafood – Milton; Schwan’s home delivery; Scoops of ice cream and candy; Smith’s Buildings and Renovations; Southeast Association of Healthcare Providers; Texas Roadhouse; The Hangar American Grill; Timothy Koller; Tops Device – Milton; Truly Spokin; Vaughn’s Pools – Pensacola; Wacked Out Weiner by Milton; Sprinkler Systems for Waterworks – Milton; Waiter; Wicked Dragon productions.
Ducks were available for adoption at:
- Blackwater Bistro – 5147 Elmira, Milton.
- Return to Health – 6341 Old US 90 (90 & Glover).
- Sonny’s BBQ – 54115 US-90, Pace.
- Santa Rosa County Chamber – 4315 Avalon Blvd, Milton.