There was no catching up with the blue duck on Monday.

That was the winner of the Ripon Rotary Club’s annual 1,000 Duck Race. The event benefiting graduating Ripon High / Ripon Christian seniors, opting for vocational school, took place along a stretch of the South San Joaquin County Irrigation District canal.

The winning duck was a runaway winner – the actual race was between the third, fourth and fifth-place finishers, with all three being bunched up in a close finish.

The real winners, of course, will be those from the Class of 2022.

The Rotary Club will soon be presenting a $1,000 scholarship each to the local high school graduates pursuing vocational schooling.

Previous scholarship winners have gone to use these funds to go towards heating & air conditioning, plumbing, or electrical school.

The rubber ducks were each numbered from top and bottom in the event of a photo finish.

Rotary once again received the OK from SSJID for use of the waterway.

The Ripon Consolidated Fire District chipped in by dumping the rubber ducks into the canal.

Those participating were vying for prizes such as a Bank of Stockton gift basket, Ripon Jewelers gift basket, foursome to play a round of golf at Spring Creek Country Club, Blue Diamond gift basket courtesy of Faye and Harrison Gibbs, and pizza per month for one year from Mountain Mike's.