The Boulia Cup 2006

ALONG with celebrating a possible world first with their nighttime camel racing, spirits dampened for only a brief time when Boulia’s tenth anniversary event suffered it’s inaugural downpour.

By Friday night the upper and lower Limestone Creek floodways were completely covered and deemed impassable due to a 0.8metre torrent which trapped over 120 avid race goers.

In true Outback style, several utes with snorkels braved the flowing river and headed back to Dajarra for vital supplies which allowed the stranded group to party on well into the night while waiting for the level to drop.

Unfazed by the impending disaster, festival organisers went on a mercy dash, saving not only two band members of headline act Steve Forde and the Flange, but more importantly 3,000 bread rolls en-route from Mt Isa and every loaf in the shire had been thawed as a steak burger back-up.

By 8am Saturday, the waters receded 0.2 metres and council chief executive officer Michelle McFadyen and shire mayor Trevor Jones made every effort to get the marooned tourists through-with a very personal welcome.

Driving council utes, the pair ferried waiting punters across the water to waiting buses and then onto the Boulia racecourse to join the festive 2,500 strong crowd.

After cancelling the barrel racing and the ute muster Mrs McFadyen said organisers were not going to let the rain stop any visitor’s enjoyment of the event, even if it meant she missed the races.

"With only a day-and-a-half to run, it was getting on in the event, some of those people had travelled a long distances to get here.

"We had to go and get them.
"There is never a dull moment in Boulia and after the problems of Friday everything went to plan.
"There was some great racing and as far as we know Boulia can now make claim to running the first ever night camel race in the world."

Despite a trying start to the weekend, the success of the tenth anniversary event has ensured many more to come.

After Saturday’s qualifying trials, home town favourite Old Reggie Boy was course favourite to take the Boulia Cup, but not before Loose Lips Lucy took out the local’s final and Kick-A-Long-Tom won the Last Chance race.

Racing out of the Sutton stable, anyone looking to place a bet on the feature event should have kept an eye on the Calcutta.

Spirited betting was seen on Black Fred, Jackie and Dolly reaching upwards of $130. But it was when the announcer called for a $200 opening bid on Reggie Boy that the punters went wild.

$500 was posted straight up by a confident punter, and the winning bid ultimately rose to $750.

Glyenda Sutton didn’t disappoint, leading the feature 1500-metre race from the outset and bringing the former Boulia pet to victory ahead of Buzz, Black Fred and Jackie.

Ms Sutton managed to set a new course record with her flying lap to end the weekend with a staggering eight wins and three places before partying on well into Sunday night.