Local 'Gunna' win in Boulia Camel Races...
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There has been a local winner in the Boulia Camel Races which offered a record $45,000 prize pool this year. A record number of travellers made the trek to Boulia to witness "the Melbourne Cup of Camel Races" with the local population exploding tenfold, from 300 residents to around 3000. Mayor of Boulia Shire Council, Rick Britton said camels were fascinating, nomadic animals with minds of their own and funny to watch. "The Boulia Camel Races is our biggest event and it's all run by a very small number of volunteers. It really means a lot to the locals," Cr Britton said. The Thirsty Camel Cup is the most coveted and prestigious win on the camel racing circuit, Australia's longest camel race, run over 1500m. The Cup Final on Sunday is the climax of the two full days of professional camel races, run with the oversight of regulatory body Racing Queensland. Australia's richest camel races came in with a hometown win, with local camel 'Gunna' lumbering over the finish line to take out the Thirsty Camel Cup for Boulia camel trainer, Roman Czubak to the cheers of record crowds. Jockey Kelly Sloan rode 'Gunna' home across the 1500m in 2 minutes and 40 seconds to deliver the hometown team's first ever Cup win. "At the start, I didn't think it was going to go real well, we went all the way around on the outside running rail and at about the 800m he decided to take off towards the other camels and by that time a couple started to trot and he went straight through them and you wouldn't have wiped the smile off me dial," Sloan said. "From about 600m out I knew I had that cup." 'Gunna' is owned by local Boulia camel trainer Tom Woodhouse, who relinquished his camels to Roman Czubak to race the weekend after having to head to Brisbane for medical attention for his young daughter. Uluru cameleer Chris Hill's camel 'Tex' took out second, delivering a reward for his return to professional camel racing in Boulia. "Nineteen years ago, is when I was here last, but certainly it's exciting to be back and it's only bigger and better and certainly a well-run event. I got second in both finals (the 1500m and the 400m) which I was certainly overwhelmed. Tex is just a working ride camel at home, he's not trained, he's not a professional racing camel, but to put a little bit of pressure on everyone else racing was certainly good, but it was certainly great to see a camel from the hometown take the win anyway," Hill said. Anna Bay, New South Wales team Oakfield Camels crossed the line in third place, with 'Dolly' ridden by Abby Douglas for camel trainer Rod Sansom. Abby was picked up along the way by Rod Sansom who was left a jockey short and found Abby fighting under the name 'Baby Rabbit' in Brophy's Boxing Tent in Bedourie. Glenda Sutton of Shepparton, Victoria took home the 400m Cup Final, the P&G Harris Road Contractors 1/4 Mile Flyer, training and jockeying her fast young camel 'Hajime' for the win. This is the 20th year Glenda has raced here with almost 280 wins in her career. This year marks the 24th Boulia Camel Races, first held in 1997. READ ALSO: Business wants action on Mount Isa CBD crime Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Bookmark https://www.northweststar.com.au/ Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Google News
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July 19 2021 - 6:50AM
There has been a local winner in the Boulia Camel Races which offered a record $45,000 prize pool this year.
A record number of travellers made the trek to Boulia to witness "the Melbourne Cup of Camel Races" with the local population exploding tenfold, from 300 residents to around 3000.
Mayor of Boulia Shire Council, Rick Britton said camels were fascinating, nomadic animals with minds of their own and funny to watch.
"The Boulia Camel Races is our biggest event and it's all run by a very small number of volunteers. It really means a lot to the locals," Cr Britton said.
The Thirsty Camel Cup is the most coveted and prestigious win on the camel racing circuit, Australia's longest camel race, run over 1500m. The Cup Final on Sunday is the climax of the two full days of professional camel races, run with the oversight of regulatory body Racing Queensland.
Australia's richest camel races came in with a hometown win, with local camel 'Gunna' lumbering over the finish line to take out the Thirsty Camel Cup for Boulia camel trainer, Roman Czubak to the cheers of record crowds.
Jockey Kelly Sloan rode 'Gunna' home across the 1500m in 2 minutes and 40 seconds to deliver the hometown team's first ever Cup win.
"At the start, I didn't think it was going to go real well, we went all the way around on the outside running rail and at about the 800m he decided to take off towards the other camels and by that time a couple started to trot and he went straight through them and you wouldn't have wiped the smile off me dial," Sloan said. "From about 600m out I knew I had that cup."
Action from the Boulia Races. Photo: Alvin Lim
'Gunna' is owned by local Boulia camel trainer Tom Woodhouse, who relinquished his camels to Roman Czubak to race the weekend after having to head to Brisbane for medical attention for his young daughter.
Uluru cameleer Chris Hill's camel 'Tex' took out second, delivering a reward for his return to professional camel racing in Boulia.
"Nineteen years ago, is when I was here last, but certainly it's exciting to be back and it's only bigger and better and certainly a well-run event. I got second in both finals (the 1500m and the 400m) which I was certainly overwhelmed. Tex is just a working ride camel at home, he's not trained, he's not a professional racing camel, but to put a little bit of pressure on everyone else racing was certainly good, but it was certainly great to see a camel from the hometown take the win anyway," Hill said.
Anna Bay, New South Wales team Oakfield Camels crossed the line in third place, with 'Dolly' ridden by Abby Douglas for camel trainer Rod Sansom. Abby was picked up along the way by Rod Sansom who was left a jockey short and found Abby fighting under the name 'Baby Rabbit' in Brophy's Boxing Tent in Bedourie.
Glenda Sutton of Shepparton, Victoria took home the 400m Cup Final, the P&G Harris Road Contractors 1/4 Mile Flyer, training and jockeying her fast young camel 'Hajime' for the win. This is the 20th year Glenda has raced here with almost 280 wins in her career.
This year marks the 24th Boulia Camel Races, first held in 1997.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: