The racing yabbies are raring to go at Mullaley Hotel and Roadhouse on Australia Day.
About five races are planned including the ‘grand national’ main event.
Hotel owner Lindsay ‘Bugs’ Darr said winners from all heats will compete for a final pool of prizemoney.
The great news for the yabbies – probably less so for hungry pub punters – is that all crustaceans are returned to their natural habitat and a “spell in the resting paddock” post-race.
“They go back in the local creek – hopefully they’re bigger and faster for next year,” Bugs said.
The yabby race is one of several Australia Day events planned at Mullaley this year.
A barbecue lunch will also raise funds for the local Goohli rural fire service, in addition to a raffle for a $350 pair of boots and $150 belt buckle.
“They look after us during the summer and they need a couple of things so we thought we’d help them out,” Bugs said.
Also planned is a push bike-powered sheep shearing demonstration and a goanna pull – a tug-of-war type competition where participants face each other like goannas with a strap around their body.
“We’ll call that one on the day,” Bugs said.
Also on the program are two live bands – Jason Carruthers will provide music entertainment during the day followed by Bundarra-based music duo, Bliss Bomb, during the evening.
Back in Gunnedah, Edd Heap was expecting more than two dozen competitors to take part in the Gunnedah Australia Day Chess Tournament.
Mr Heap has been running the competition for the best part of 35 years and said this year’s event was set to be a great one.
“We’re expecting about 30 chess players from Gunnedah and across the region – Narrabri, Tamworth, Armidale and Dubbo – sometimes we have them from Newcastle,” he said.
The ‘Swiss’ styled tournament will provide opportunity for players of all ability and skill to take part.
“It’s a little bit like tennis,” Mr Heap said. “Everybody gets seeded [but] everybody gets to play every round.”
The experienced chess mentor said eventually, players will end up playing against players of similar capability.
Mr Heap was last year recognised at Gunnedah’s Australia Day awards with the presentation of the Eve Turner Perpetual Trophy.
The trophy is awarded to a retired person who has continued to dedicate their time and efforts to impart their knowledge and skills to others in the community, and to assist people to attain higher goals in life.
Mr Heap has been a teacher to many school-based chess players in Gunnedah and it said it was fulfilling “watching the kids improve over time”.
He described the skill of several Gunnedah players who he recently mentored as some of the most talented he had coached in years.
At 78 years-young, Mr Heap said although his good chess days are behind him, he still relished passing on his knowledge to the younger generation.
“I’m way past my best now,” he said this week.
“But I’m still enjoying it, and running events like this.”
This year’s Gunnedah Australia Day chess tournament will be held on Saturday, January 25, at Club Gunnedah’s Green Room, starting 9am. Chess players of skill, age and ability are encouraged to participate.
Also at Club Gunnedah, will be the Australia Day 1-Bowl Triples on Sunday, January 26 from 9am.
More than $1600 in prize money will be up for grabs, including a $900 first prize. Play will consist of 4×10 ends of one-bowl triples and non-bowlers are welcome to take part.
Gunnedah’s 2025 Australia Day sport (Sunday, January 26) –
Triathlon: 6.45am registration, 6am race start.
Splash for Cash: 7.30am registration, 8am race start.
Touch Cup: 9.15am Donnelly Fields – women, men and mixed games.
Touch shootouts: Women, men and mixed games.
Dash for Cash: 10am tiny tots, juniors, women and men’s races.
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