The three part western Queensland festival of the hump is underway with Bedourie leading the charge on the weekend.
About 1500 racegoers – many en route from the Big Red Bash a few days earlier – took every vantage point at Bedourie racecourse to watch the six camel races.
Not that they were bored in between times with pig races, damper baking, footraces, campoven throwing and golf chipping and putting events to keep the throngs entertained.
But it was the camels that were the star attractions with four heats followed by a consolation plate and then the feature event the Bedourie Cup.
In Heat 1 Rod Sampson’s Pete won to book his place in the final while Glenda Sutton’s Outlaw Bobaluie finished second to also claim a place in the final.
In Heat 2 there was chaos at the start with one camel going the wrong way but going the right way was Ace which won and Jackie which finished second to book spots in the final.
In Heat 3 Uncle Bob showed his class to win well clear of Little Tower – which sadly had to be scratched from the final.
In the final heat Which Way defeated old stager Chief for both to complete the seven runners in the big race.
But first the Consolation Plate which Chantelle Janesse won on Razorback Jack with Blinky Bill second.
Janesse admitted that win was unexpected but she must have fancied her chances on Uncle Bob in the cup and sure enough, Uncle Bob delivered storming well clear to claim the Cup from Which Way and Chief.
Uncle Bob’s trainer Rod Sampson said his camel was “fired up”.
Camel owner Diane Gooley said it had been a while since Uncle Bob won Bedourie and it will now be among the favourites for Boulia this week.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
