INDIANOLA — With a miniature cannon blast, 2,500 rubber duckies were released as residents watched with bated breath. The duckies broke free and, well, floated gently down the cork-lined race course. As a result, many had to expel this breath, or risk passing out from lack of air. In the background, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” played and the audience cheered good-naturedly as their ducks bobbed along leisurely.

Though exciting, the Indianola Tour de Duck rubber duckie race took its time getting to the finish line. Residents, however, were not bored during the wait, as they had food, music and good friends to occupy them in the hour or so until the first few ducks floated across the bottlenecked finish line.

“Rubber duckie, your the one,” took on a whole new meaning for a few lucky people whose duckies placed in the race. Indianola resident Judith Wood-Swenson became the grand prize winner when her duck, No. 1,567 inched its way over the finish line first. She took home a Dale Chihuly lithograph.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” Wood-Swenson said, noting that her daughter-in-law had to convince her that she won the grand prize. “I think it’s wonderful. But more importantly was the cause that the money went to, saving our community house.”

Close behind was No. 3,305, making Indianola resident Marilyn Muller $1,000 richer.

“I’m excited,” said a shaking Muller as she accepted her prize. She added that she just moved to Indianola, and boy was she glad she did. “I’ve never won anything in my life. Now I’ve won $1,000. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it. Something special I think.”

Though many who bought duckies didn’t win, they had some fun in the sun at the festival that accompanied the race.

“We’re visiting family in Indianola,” said Colorado resident Sheila Bechtel. “We’re having a great time.”

“I don’t think our duck won,” said Sheila’s husband Ted, adding with a grin, “ours was the yellow one.”

They watched along with approximately 400 to 500 others as some ducks were blown off course by the wind and current. Volunteers were on hand to throw the ducks back into the race. The wind didn’t die down throughout the contest, bringing with it a salty smell that mingled with the smell of hot dogs and clam chowder.

The rubber duckie race was hatched by Joan Lobdell to raise money to save the Indianola Clubhouse. All the money raised from the ducks, $10 a piece, the food and the T-shirts sold went into the $370,000 pot to fix up the ailing community center. Lobdell said that about $28,000 was raised.

“We’ll definitely do it again next year,” Lobdell said. “I had a wonderful time, everybody had a great time. Part of it is just getting people together to spend time with neighbors.”

The money from the Tour de Duck joined the $100,000 already raised, and is enough to get the repairs for the clubhouse started, Lobdell said.

The one thing she said they would change next year is the Tour de Duck would have more kid activities adding to the hole-in-one mini golf game for children last weekend.

“It wasn’t enough,” Lobdell said. “Next year, we’ll plan to have more things for the children to do.”

Music was provided by the band Been There… Done That, headed by Scotty D., also know as Scott Anderson. The band provided tunes and commentary for the residents, causing lots of dancing and laughing.

“I heard there was a party going on,” said Maryann McCormack, who came from Olympia to join her daughter and grandson at the Tour de Duck. “I bought two ducks, but I’m having more fun with my family.”

“It was a great day,” Wood-Swenson said. “Maybe a little warm, but the people were great. It brought the community together, which was just wonderful.”

Lobdell said that not all the winners have collected their prizes. A list has been posted in the Indianola General Store, and winners should contact her at (360) 598-2666 to claim their winnings.