February 07, 2020
5 mins Read
Overwhelming number of Whacky Races and competitions as it is summer. Most congregate around Australia day. Our favourite are the Cockroach Races at the Storey Bridge Hotel in Brisbane where competitors buy and train or raise and train their own roaches. The names are hilarious- Osama Bin Liner, Cocky Balboa or Ita Buttroach.
Another great Australia day event has to be the Tunarama festival in Australia’s Tuna capital, Port Lincoln South Australia. Competitors in the marquee event the Tuna Toss Competition sees competitors toss a 15kg tuna as far as possible. Olympic hammer throwers are often the winners.
And then the famous Tamworth Music Festival also has it’s ducky race where floating ducks are floated down the Peel River.
A quick note for the Maslin Beach Nude Olympics which are in doubt due to a lack of volunteers. Maybe it was the prospect of tying competitors together for the three legged race that put them off.
It’s the perfect event for Tasmania or Tony Abbott. Tassie is after all the only twee enough state to be able to pull off a Penny Farthing Championships. Mid February in Evandale just south of Launceston the big wheelers come out for a street race. Boy do they take it seriously. Forget the ye olde world costumes, it all Lycra and helmets. with possible.
Unbelievably this one is not that popular with the women, the Bylong Mouse Races. The 11 race program kicks off at the Bylong Sportsground, 80 kms west of Mudgee. There is a kids tent and events but cats are not welcome.
A lot more spectacular and perhaps hands on is the International Kite Festival held at Semaphore Beach, Adelaide in March. The sky is full of colour as loads of kites take to the sky over Adelaide. Extra kite making classes and tutorials make it a big day for all.
Yep this is another only in Australia, the national Goanna Pulling Championships at Wooli two hours north of Coffs Harbour. Despite its name the event has nothing to do with the reptiles but everything to do with looking like one. Contestants compete in a tug of war where they lie stomach down facing each other bound by a head strap. And then the rug of war happens. Traditionally happens in June but due to rain in 2010 was moved to January for that year.
The June Long Weekend is annual highlight for a spec of a town on the edge of the NSW outback, Pinnacle. The tiny settlement between Grenfell and Forbes, four and a half hours west of Sydney hold the annual Guinea Pig Races. The fluffy rodents compete in four lanes at distances of 5 metres for top honours. A day of high drama, and more laughter.
And lastly the dirtiest race of them all, the Peats Ridge Mud Run is entering its second year. Contestants run, slop and slide their way along a 5 or 10km run. It’s a crazy dirty world.
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