THIS weekend White Cliffs will be brought to life by the sounds of hooves hitting red dirt and motorbikes exhausts in the air.
It’s White Cliffs Camel Cup and Bikekhana and the event is set to draw in people from near and far come to see the action.
“Our Gymkhana Club would normally run a gymkhana and rodeo every year for over 130 years and we thought we might change it up and do camel races and a bike gymkhana,” said Honor Taylor, the secretary and treasure of the gymkhana club.
“It’s not just creating another event in town, it gets some tourism out into White Cliffs and it’s a family event.”
In terms of accommodation, there are plenty of options, with both campgrounds and underground hotels available for the weekend.
While these do come without power, they are included in the event ticket, and people can also take hot showers and have access to onsite toilets.
In Taylor’s eyes, camel races are a “super exciting” event, and she remembers her first event fondly.”The first time we did it, I had never seen a camel up close until the first race that we did out here and. holy cow, those animals are huge,” she said.
“It’s just really cool to see something different. How often do people in cities or anything see camels racing? It is really cool and the kids just get really excited about it,”
The camels at White Cliff come from Oakfiled Ranch in Queensland, with a trainer bringing them down for the event.
“He might bring 12, he might bring more, and he just rotates the camels through,” Taylor said.
The event will have six camel races per day, and the animals change every event, as they don’t want to overwork them.
“With the jockeys, some professional jockeys may turn up, but otherwise, if people want come and jump on a camel and do a race, they can,” Taylor said.
Camel racing is not just for those in their prime either, Taylor recalled a story from last time out.
“Last year there was a lady and she would have been in her 60s and she jumped on a camel,” she said.
“It’s not just about the camels, and when the hooves give way to the wheels, it is just as entertaining, as well as welcoming all who wish to participate.
“Throughout the day we have motorbikes events.
“In the morning we normally do all the kids and it’s just the same as a gymkhana with a horse but it’s on a motorbike.
“So you know there’s flag races and bending races and barrel races and sometimes there’s kids at the age of four on a little motorbike with mum and dad walking beside them.
“It’s just so cute for kids to be able to come and have a bit of fun on their motorbikes.”
Away from the track, patrons can expect plenty of action.
“We turn it into a weekend event,” Taylor said. “On the Friday night, most people go down to the local pub here and they got a band playing.
“People can get some tucker and then on the Saturday night after our events we have a band out there for entertainment and we have caterers.”
With the event being focused on community, the Gymkhana Club donates money after the event has concluded, although at this stage it remains unclear as to who.
“We always give money to the White Cliffs Hospital and the White Cliffs School, and then generally we think of a research type thing,” Taylor said.
“At the end of the Gymkhana this year, we donated to research Dementia Australia. After we’ve all wrapped up a few weeks later in a meeting, we decide who we’re going to donate to.”
