Alice Springs -The Camel Cup

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Part of our timing for coming into the Red Centre, was to be in Alice Springs to catch the Camel Cup. After all, who doesn't want to see a bunch of notoriously recalcitrant camels racing around.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

The Camel Cup was founded in 1970 when Noel Fullerton, a member of the Lions Club, wanted to settle a feud with fellow Lion Keith Mooney-Smith. He wrote "So I challenge him to a duel, weapons being camels. Time and place I leave this up to him. that is if he is not chicken as he is getting fat and I doubt if he can sit on one".

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

I couldn't find anything to say who won that race, or whether the feud was settled, but the Camel Race became an annual event, eventually moving from its first location in the dry bed of the Todd River, to a purpose built course here at Blatherskite Park in 1979. Noel himself died in September 2015 aged 81, but the Camel Cup is regarded as a lasting legacy.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

We nearly didn't make it at all though. We knew that there was a free shuttle bus from town, but we waited and waited, and nothing turned up, so we started to wonder if we were in the wrong place. We were slightly encouraged when a few more people turned up too, but they weren't any more certain of where they be that we were, but we figured it was less likely that we had all got it wrong.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

As it turned out, we were in the right place, but the bus had broken down. Thankfully, the driver of the regular bus that told us this, had a route that went close by, so he took us all with him, and dropped us just across the rail tracks from the park. He was very anxious that we should take care crossing the line as apparently there might be a train due next week. Hmm.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

The  event comprises of nine races, with 21 camels participating. The camels are sponsored, with the local YHA having Backpackers Delight, and McDonald's having four camels, Chocolate Sundae, Cappuccino, Big Mac and Large Fries.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

The races are good fun to watch, not least to see the resigned frustration of the riders when their chariot decides that it doesn't want to move, or if it must move, it will go in the opposite direction. That isn't at all unusual.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Then, to make matters even more complicated, there is the Honeymoon Handicap. In this race one rider starts, and then part way round, has to pick up his 'bride', wearing a veil of course.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

The strategy varies as to whether they decide to spend time getting their camel to sit down so she can get on, or just try to hoist her up what the camel may or may not stand still for them. Needless to say, neither way is likely to be smooth sailing with these particular ships of the desert.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

It isn't all about the camels though. They have best dressed competitions, where most entrants are seriously unambitious in my opinion. They have kids' hobby camel races (think riding a hobby horse, but a camel), which are amusing slimy for some kids sheer lack of effort and expertise. Some kids just picked the thing up and ran, others fell over repeatedly, and some just gave up entirely.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Somewhat more amusing were the Rickshaw Rallies, where teams of four had to race around the track, with two pulling and two as passengers, swapping over part way around. Again, the 'rules' seemed a little hazy, with some swapping half way, as you would presume was expected, and others just letting the weaker pair take over for the very last bit.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Aside from the camels though, the highlight was probably the Henley on Todd Battleship Water Cannon Hose Off. This is a glimpse of a different annual event, the Henley on Todd dry river bed race, where a multitude of motorised, pedal or foot powered 'boats' including bathtubs, compete in a riverbed race, making every effort to disrupt their competition along the way.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

This is the only dry river regatta in the world and, somewhat unusually for a boat race, had to be cancelled in 1993 due to excessive rain flooding the area and creating an actual river in the usually sandy river bed.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

In the event here, the three main 'boats' - the Pirate Ship, the Viking Ship and the Royal Navy - fought it out with water cannons. As you might imagine, there wasn't much playing by the rules. As the boats left after the battle was done, it didn't do to be in the firing line, unless you fancied a drenching.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Overall this was a fun day out. You could go and take a closer look at the camels in the paddock between races, and you could, perhaps slightly cruelly (though we still did), get yourself a tasty camel burger too.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

There was also a little 'farmyard', where you could say hello to the little sheep, goats, chickens and alpaca. It was quite amusing to watch the goats jumping up on the stools and knocking each other off them.

Camel Cup, Alice Springs

Oh, and in case any of you are Kangaroo Dundee watchers, (we're not, but we were told about him,) we did see Chris Barnes here, but he didn't have any of his kangaroos with him.