New blood will add to camel racing spectacle

By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
A few young and frisky camels which haven’t been raced before will add to the excitement of the Camel Cup on Saturday.
 
The “old hands” are spectacular enough, but the starts – tumultuous at best – this year are likely to have more than the usual thrills and spills.
 
More than 20 camels are expected to race, most of them in several of the nine events, says event co-ordinator, Amanda Kuhn.
 
Last year’s Cup winners, Peter Hodge on Roman Ruma, will again be in the main race.
 
Some 40 Camel Cups have been run in Alice Springs, starting at the speedway track but for many years now at the Blatherskite Park show grounds.
 
One of the tourist calendar must-see attractions, the event is run by the Apex Club of Alice Springs – one of the great voluteer-driven spectaculars of the town, usually attracting some 5000 spectators.
 
Other service clubs, including Rotary and Lions, lend a hand. Beneficiaries in the past couple of years are an impressive list: Make A Wish Foundation, Alice Springs Toy Library, Alice Springs Volunteer Bushfire Club, JDFPG Recreational Association, Army CEO Sleep out, Red Centre BMX Club, Riding for the Disabled, Alice Springs Prison Officers, Remote Control Car Club, Disability Advocacy Services, Great Cycle Challenge, Pregnancy Loss Australia, Arunga Park Speedway, Apex Foundation, Centralian Middle School, Salvation Army, Bushfire Appeal, Special Souls, Police Club volunteers, Centralian Senior College. Apex also donated funds to families in need of support.
 
In turn, Apex supports other organisations’ fixtures, including the Henley on Todd Regatta, Masters Games, Old Times Fete, Alice Springs Show, Hamilton Downs Youth Camp, Show us your cans, Annual Apex Icy Pole Treat, Annual Apex Easter Egg Hunt, Australia Day celebrations, St Patricks Day, Hamilton Downs Longest Lunch, Police Auction BBQs, Mister Shaun Memorial Bowls Day, Desert Sports Foundation, Alice Springs Fight Night.