The Great Nundle Dog Race Nundle Public School P&C Ass. Nundle Public School 95 Jenkins St, Nundle NSW 2340 Ph: 02 6769 3253 Fax: 02 6769 3128 Email: greatnundledograce@yahoo.com.au

The Great Nundle Dog Race

The Great Nundle Dog Race is held every year on the first Sunday in May on the Nundle Recreation Ground. It is the major fundraiser of the Nundle Public School Parents & Citizens Association (P&C) and attracts families and their dogs from around the North West region.

2009 will be the running of the 30th Great Nundle Dog Race.

History

The very first dog race at Nundle was held on Oakenville Street after a bet was waged by a couple of farmers arguing over whose dog was fastest. As word of the impending race spread other dogs were entered and the great race was born, beginning at the Peel River and ending at the local pub The Peel Inn, a distance of about 150m. Both farmers lost their bets however, as the race was won by a dog called Kelly, owned by Bill Hempstead, the caravan park caretaker.

The farmers were both P&C members and took the race idea further, turning it into The Great Nundle Dog Race (GNDR) only open to working dogs. The day now involves over twenty races for all types of dogs and is one of Nundle's major annual tourist events.

The Nundle Public School is a small school and is relatively isolated being 65km from Tamworth, the nearest major centre. The money raised at the GNDR is used by the P&C to subsidise excursions for students, to purchase educational equipment and to provide quality prizes for Presentation Night.

The Great Nundle Dog Race has grown over the years to include more than twenty races and competitions for dogs and their owners and is a great day for children, adults and dogs.

Events and Entertainment

There is free entry to the ground and the first race is at 10.30am. Click here to view the program and find an event suitable for your dog. There are many races to enter such as the House Dog Derby, Mongrel Invitational Stakes and Juvenile Canine Stakes. If your dog can jump there is the Doggy High Jump, or if he loves to chase rabbits then you might try him in Doogan’s Doggy Derby. There are great prizes to be won.

The main race is The Great Nundle Dog Race at 3pm, which is open to bona fide working dogs only. District graziers and station hands pit their pride and joy working dogs against each other to keep the tradition alive of finding the fastest dog. Of course, these days it’s all about keeping the dog on track to run the hundred metre sprint, and those dogs who are both fast and well-trained usually make it to the end!

As a spectator, watching the races is great entertainment. Each dog lines up for the race being held by a “handler” until the starter tells them to go. Meanwhile, the “catcher” who is usually the owner, has been holding the dog’s attention from the finish line 100 metres away. This is a vital component of race success and is usually achieved by walking backwards from the dog towards the finish line without losing eye contact. At the call of the starter the handler frees the dog and the catcher starts yelling and whistling to make the dog run to the finish line.

Absolute mayhem is the result while the freed dogs try to work out where to run. Some dogs run off barking and chasing each other, others turn their heads while running with a gleeful look in their eye as if to say “Come on, let’s play!”. Some don’t care for what’s going on and make a dash for safety on the side line or look confused and run back towards the start.

Those who do happen to run in the right direction might make it to the end of the race, and the first dog to cross the finish line, “irrespective of the route taken or the fights entered into” is the winner. Those who don’t win a prize during the day may enter the Open Consolation Event at 3.15pm.

The new Pedigree/Mongrel Dog Steeplechase is very popular. This involves dogs running over a series of hay bales on a shorter course towards their owners who are yelling and shouting at them to “Come 'ere!”

A special event for greyhounds and whippets called the Juvenile Whippet/Greyhound Stakes allows whippets and greyhound breeds to run with their child owners.

Children

A good race for the kids to enter with their dog is the first race of the day at 10.30am, the Junior dog on a Leash with prizes donated by NSW Guide Dogs Association. Kids hold their dogs on the lead and line up at the start to run as fast as they can to the end. This is followed by the children’s running races. There is also a sack race for kids at 1.30pm.

A surprise visit by the biggest dog in the land, Big Dog of NBN, enthrals the children at 11.30am. Other entertainment on the ground and in the school grounds includes face painting, balloons, show bags and lucky dips to keep them amused all day.

Prizes

Every event has great prizes for first, second and third which have been donated by local and regional business houses. Most first place prizes include a bag of dog food. A raffle is drawn at 3pm with great holiday and accommodation prizes.

The P&C Ass. would like to thank the local business community for their generous support of the Great Nundle Dog Race.

Food

A  barbeque lunch and morning and afternoon tea are available at the ground. There is also a bar service. Water is available for your dog.

Accommodation

There are many places to stay in Nundle from caravans and cabins to the comfortable and popular B&B.

Please refer to the following links for more information: The Peel Inn, River Glen Cottages, Hills of Gold Motel, Fossickers Tourist Park or English in the Australian Outback.

Getting there

Nundle is 65km south-east of Tamworth in north-west NSW. Take the Nundle Road from Nemingha, just north of Tamworth, and follow the signs to Nundle. The Recreation Ground is on the left hand side as you come into Nundle. Parking is available on the left adjacent to the ground.

Donations

If you would like to make a donation to the Nundle Public School P&C please contact the school on 02 6769 3253.