COLCHESTER'S popular duck race has inspired a similar event across the pond in America.
The first Minnehaha Creek contest is taking place in Minnesota, to coincide with Earth Day weekend on April 24.
It is the brainchild of Francesco Marraffa, who grew up in north Essex and competed in the Castle Park version in the 1990s.
Now he hopes his trans-Atlantic event makes a similar splash, with 1,000 ducks set to jostle for position in an event organised by the Field, Regina, Northrop Neighborhood Group.
Francesco is president and hopes to replicate the success of the Colchester race.
Family time - Francesco with wife Rebecca, who works at the local VA (Veterans) Hospital. The pair met in London on the fourth day of her study abroad programme from Madison University. They got married in 2005. They have three children, Luciano, seven, Francesca, four, and Santino, two
"The duck race was always great fun and what I'm helping to organise now is based totally on the times when I helped with the Colchester event in the 90s," said the 43-year-old.
"We would paddle alongside the ducks, trying to coax them down river.
"They were fairly large - or perhaps I was just small - and many had injuries, hovering between being fully submerged and just plain sunk!
"I remember people being pretty passionate and excited by the leading duck, wanting to know which number was winning, but if we got too close they would scream at us.
"The event we are putting on is part of the Field, Regina, Northrop Neighborhood Group.
"I became president of the board a few months ago and suggested the idea.
"I recalled how great it was to watch and how families would come out for the event.
Special memories - Francesco Marraffa guiding the ducks and paddling the River Colne
"I wanted to try something similarly fun and positive in our community.
"Last year was a difficult one in Minneapolis, for many reasons, and we're hoping it will bring the community together in a fun way.
"The plan is to have food trucks and booths along the route, teaching kids and residents about nature and the environment.
"Hopefully one day the event will be large enough that we can float tens of thousands of ducks down a section of the Mississippi.
"For now, it's a thousand down the creek!"
Quackers - some of the ducks being used for the event on Earth Day weekend. Note their special branding
Francesco grew up in Colchester - his mum still lives in the town - and was an enthusiastic member of both Colchester Canoe Club and the 1st Colchester Air Scouts.
He moved to America 15 years ago and now lives in Minnesota, a mid-western state bordering Canada and Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes.
The Minnehaha Creek is a 22-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River that flows through the cities of Minnetonka, Hopkins, Saint Louis Park, Edina and Minneapolis.
"Mum and dad met while he owned a hair salon," added Francesco.
"He came over to the UK after the Second World War and initially worked in London before moving to Colchester.
"I grew up living on Maldon Road, near the roundabout before the ‘new’ police station was built. It was a fun place to bike around as a kid and I was sad to lose the play area.
"I initially went to St Teresa’s Primary School, off Lexden Road, before attending St Benedict’s and then Colchester Institute.
Family time - Francesco with brother Carlo and sister Lisa
"They were good times and, when I look back, secondary school was a very big influence.
"I look back with fond memories and sympathy for my teachers.
"As most of my buddies went to Colchester Sixth Form, I decided to go to Colchester Institute.
"One reason was that it was closer to the canoe club and I spent so much time on the river as a kid.
"I used to paddle to the weir and down river, practicing techniques and generally just having fun."
Checkmates - Francesco (centre) with friends at St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, in Colchester
Pirouette - Francesco's brother, Carlo, takes to the River Colne in June 1989
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