Since the first 16 teams of 'gumis' floated down the river in March 1976, the annual race has become a picture of the city's folklore. 

Aside from the 10-year hiatus it took between 1995 and its revival by the South Wagga Apex Club in 2011, never once has the race needed to be cancelled.

"Generally, we face a completely different problem and that's the river is usually too high. I don't think we've ever had to cancel the event before," Tim Sheather, president of the Apex Club said.

Regulars to the event expressed their shock at the water level, saying it had not been seen sitting this far below a metre in many years. 

"I've actually never seen it this low, you've got people, children even walking out there to the middle and it's still just around their waist," Mr Sheather said.

Before news of its cancellation hit on Thursday morning, it was revealed some 60 teams had registered for the novelty event, with more expected to take part on the day.

"It dropped about half a metre in just the last couple of days too."

The past few years had unfortunately seen diminishing returns from crowds - ever since the flour-bombing tradition was done away with for safety and insurance reasons. 

Although still far from its heyday when scores of international participants would take part, this year's entries indicated the Gumi was well on the way to restoration. 

When in 2011, the Apex Club announced the return of the race, 110 gumis made the journey from Eunony Bridge to Wagga Beach.

Yet, even in the face of disappointment, organisers were still determined to "make a good thing out of a bad situation."

A homage to the pigeon origins of the Gumi name, rubber was still raced down the depth of the Murrumbidgee.

Only this year, instead of homemade rafts, it took the form of bathtub duckies.

The "first-ever World Championship Duck Race" saw four heats launched down the river. At 4pm, the finals pit previous winners against each other for cash prizes.

"It really was just too shallow for anything else, but it's not to say we can't enjoy the river and a nice day out on the beach," Mr Sheather said.