Champion weightlifters Peter Kirkbride and Graham Kane lent a hand today (12th July) for the Glasgow Duck Race, the grand finale of this year’s River Festival.

Some 10,000 tiny ducks will be released into the Clyde on Sunday afternoon for a spectacular half hour race along the river, with thousands of people expected to turn out and cheer the ducks towards the finish line.

The athletes, more used to lifting weights of 80kg, helped carry some of the thousands of rubber ducks to the starting point for the race.

One of Scotland’s most successful weightlifters Peter Kirkbride said: “It’s great to be supporting the Duck Race, as well as getting the message out to everyone in Glasgow to Back The Bid. The River Festival is a major event for the city and is all about having fun, something Glasgow is great at."

British junior champion Graham Kane added: “Although these ducks will be racing along the river this weekend we are also approaching the final strait in the race for Glasgow to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The Games would be an incredible triumph for Glasgow and for athletes like us who want to compete at the highest level in our home country.”

Ducks can be adopted online at www.glasgowduckrace.org until Sunday 15th July.