In White Cliffs, Australia, lawyers competed in a camel race
In the remote Australian town of White Cliffs, four lawyers and a construction worker took part in a camel race during the annual White Cliffs Camel Cup. Most of them had never ridden a camel before, according to ABC News Australia.
The five residents of Broken Hill competed in one of the six races on the program, in which volunteers—rather than professional jockeys—served as riders. Before the start, participants were instructed on how to stay in the saddle: when the camel stands up, you should lean back slightly and hold on tight.
Lawyer Harry Fisher, who moved to Broken Hill from Wollongong earlier this year, said he was aiming to win, even though he had never ridden a camel before. His colleague, Danyon O’Rourke, set himself a different goal—not to fall off. His camel repeatedly sat down on the track and moved reluctantly toward the starting line.
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Lawyer Felicity Forge said she didn’t have a specific strategy and entered the race mainly because of peer pressure. During the approximately 30-second race, she quickly pulled away from her competitors and took first place. Construction worker Adam Collier came in second, Fisher third, and O’Rourke finished last but managed to stay on the camel.
Before the race, an auction was held to place bets on the winner. Auctioneer David Wittenbury noted that there is no clear formula for predicting the outcome, as everything depends on the camel’s willingness to run.
According to club secretary Honor Taylor, the White Cliffs Camel Cup and Bikekhana have been held for about five years. Typically, participants could take part in two or three races, but this year the number of volunteer riders was significantly higher. Taylor estimated attendance at approximately 650 people and said that the event supports local businesses and lodging establishments amid a decline in tourism in the region.
