PORT ANGELES — Marty Melcher won a new car in a record-setting Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby on Sunday.
Melcher, of Port Angeles, won a white 2021 Toyota Corolla donated by Wilder Toyota — the grand prize of the 32nd annual fundraiser for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation — in a drawing that was live-streamed in a modified format for COVID-19.
Bruce Skinner, executive director of the OMC foundation, said the Sunday event at the Lincoln Park BMX track generated $115,000 in revenue, the most ever after expenses since the derby’s inception in 1990.
“It went extremely well,” Skinner said when reached by cell phone.
Melcher was not immediately available for comment Sunday.
The 30,138 ducks sold for the 2021 derby was the second-best total for a Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby.
“Our last three events now have either broken records or come close,” Skinner said.
“The community has just really stepped up and been very, very generous, not only with us but with other charities. Obviously it’s very much appreciated.”
For the 2021 derby, numbered yellow rubber ducks were pulled from the back of vehicles instead of being made to float to a finish line.
The duck derby is operated under the rules of the state Gambling Commission. Since the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan was changing when arrangements were being finalized more than a month ago, organizers erred on the side of caution and made the event virtual.
“This is the second year in a row that we’ve done it (virtually),” Skinner said.
“We can hardly wait until we can do an event with spectators present.”
KONP’s Scooter Chapman emceed the live event on the OMC Foundation’s Facebook page. Chapman announced 43 race winners from a booth in front of the new car eventually won by Melcher.
Barbard Dileanis of Sequim won the second-place prize of $1,000 cash.
North Olympic Healthcare Network won the third-place prize, a five-night’s stay at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Oregon Coast.
Esther Littlejohn of Sequim was the top-selling individual for the second-consecutive year, with 1,890 ducks sold in 2021, Skinner said. Gail Ralston of Port Angeles sold 1,764 ducks this year and 31,273 all time.
The top-selling partnership was Larry and Sylvia Strohm, who sold 2,723 ducks in 2021 and 15,706 all time.
The Very Important Duck (VID) Race was an opportunity for businesses and individuals to purchase ducks emblazoned with their logo for $300 each.
Prizes in the VID race were awarded to Roger and Maura Oakes ($600 for first place), Jim and Dee Leskinovitch ($300 for second place), and Dr. Joshua and Victoria Jones ($150 for third place).
The duck derby was sponsored by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
The OMC Foundation, which also runs Red, Set, Go, Festival of Trees and the Sonny Sixkiller Celebrity Golf Classic, primarily funds medical equipment for Olympic Medical Center, Skinner said.
“Our vision always is to provide medical equipment so people can get treated locally instead of having to go out of town,” Skinner said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
