Bidding was furious and alcohol flowed freely in the south west of the state when Eulo held its annual World Lizard Racing Championships.
An eager crowd was assembled early in the hot outback sun in front of the Paroo Track to try their luck in winning a bit of money on the racing reptiles.
The bearded dragons started off feisty - but took a long time to get moving.
If you think racing lizards sounds a little strange, the people of Eulo certainly don't and have been carrying on the tradition for 36 years.
Shinglebacks, bearded dragons and western blue tongues are caught in the surrounding bushland by a few brave locals who must tag the lizard and the spot where they found it, so it can be returned to its home after the event.
A shingleback saunters towards the finish line
It seems there is no special technique in catching the lizards but to dive around in the bush and hope for the best or spot them on the side of the road when they are sunning themselves.
So what makes a good racing lizard? The auctioneer of the day Bob reckons its all in the breeding and many a good lizard has come from former champions.
The lizards are held up for inspection in front of the crowd while bidding takes place.
Bob maintains he's often seen lizards on the side of the Cunnamulla-Eulo Road, waving their hands at passing cars around this time of year in the hope they will be selected to compete in the races.
But it's not always lizards - in 1980 a champion racing cockroach "Destructo" challenged the lizards to a battle of breeds and was victorious.
Unfortunately the victory was short lived after Destructo was stepped on by a spectator.
A monument now stands at the track which reads, "DESTRUCTO - World champion racing cockroach. Accidentally killed at this track (24-8-80) after winning the challenge stakes against 'Wooden Head', champion racing lizard."
Eulo has its very own monument celebrating the annual event.
Bidding began early in the day to purchase a possible champion. Many chose to bid on lizards with the most interesting names such as "The Eulo Queen", "Straight from Birdsville", "Matilda Highway" and "Billabong".
The shinglebacks were first off the mark but have a reputation for being a little slow. After a bit of prodding from the handler they eventually made a move for the finish line.
Nick from Sydney was lucky enough to win first race with "Whichbank" but when asked if he was surprised that his lizard moved fairly quickly he replied dryly that he thought the phrase "fairly quickly was a relative term".
The much anticipated feature race of the day was the bearded dragons who fought their way out of the barrier only to freeze with the first glimpse of freedom.
After many minutes of foot stamping and sand throwing, "Straight from Birdsville" stormed to the finish line and almost made it over the barrier and into the stunned crowd.
The lizards have now retired to the banks of the Paroo river and will return next year to again to race in Eulo.
An eager crowd was assembled early in the hot outback sun in front of the Paroo Track to try their luck in winning a bit of money on the racing reptiles.
The bearded dragons started off feisty - but took a long time to get moving.
If you think racing lizards sounds a little strange, the people of Eulo certainly don't and have been carrying on the tradition for 36 years.
Shinglebacks, bearded dragons and western blue tongues are caught in the surrounding bushland by a few brave locals who must tag the lizard and the spot where they found it, so it can be returned to its home after the event.
A shingleback saunters towards the finish line
It seems there is no special technique in catching the lizards but to dive around in the bush and hope for the best or spot them on the side of the road when they are sunning themselves.
So what makes a good racing lizard? The auctioneer of the day Bob reckons its all in the breeding and many a good lizard has come from former champions.
The lizards are held up for inspection in front of the crowd while bidding takes place.
Bob maintains he's often seen lizards on the side of the Cunnamulla-Eulo Road, waving their hands at passing cars around this time of year in the hope they will be selected to compete in the races.
But it's not always lizards - in 1980 a champion racing cockroach "Destructo" challenged the lizards to a battle of breeds and was victorious.
Unfortunately the victory was short lived after Destructo was stepped on by a spectator.
A monument now stands at the track which reads, "DESTRUCTO - World champion racing cockroach. Accidentally killed at this track (24-8-80) after winning the challenge stakes against 'Wooden Head', champion racing lizard."
Eulo has its very own monument celebrating the annual event.
Bidding began early in the day to purchase a possible champion. Many chose to bid on lizards with the most interesting names such as "The Eulo Queen", "Straight from Birdsville", "Matilda Highway" and "Billabong".
The shinglebacks were first off the mark but have a reputation for being a little slow. After a bit of prodding from the handler they eventually made a move for the finish line.
Nick from Sydney was lucky enough to win first race with "Whichbank" but when asked if he was surprised that his lizard moved fairly quickly he replied dryly that he thought the phrase "fairly quickly was a relative term".
The much anticipated feature race of the day was the bearded dragons who fought their way out of the barrier only to freeze with the first glimpse of freedom.
After many minutes of foot stamping and sand throwing, "Straight from Birdsville" stormed to the finish line and almost made it over the barrier and into the stunned crowd.
The lizards have now retired to the banks of the Paroo river and will return next year to again to race in Eulo.