weekend (April 11-13, 2014) with all of the fast-paced and funny events that have secured the 400-strong town a place on the map of Australia's must-do events.
More than 2,000 visitors packed into the tiny for the weekend, filling every hotel room, caravan and camp site available to take part in Australia's toughest sprint triathlon, have a flutter at one of the North West's richest horse races, marvel at the athleticism of some of PBR Australia's best bull riders, vie for the title of Australia's Best Butt, rub shoulders with special guests from television show Bondi Rescue and dance the night away to lashings of live country music.
Dirt n Dust Committee President Stephen Malone said feedback from Festival-goers was that this year's event was the best yet.
"The Julia Creek community takes great pride in welcoming the hoardes of visitors to our little town each year, and to hear people from as far away as Sydney, Adelaide and Perth comment on how professionally run the weekend is really makes the months of planning and preparation worthwhile," said Mr Malone.
"The Dirt n Dust Festival's significance is not just for Julia Creek, but for all of Outback Queensland who benefit from the Festival's $1.04 million economic impact as people pass through their towns on the way to and from the Festival.
"We've worked very closely with neighbouring towns to ensure visitors experience the very best outback hospitality during their trip, and by all reports it will see many people return to the West for future holidays," Mr Malone said.
The Dirt n Dust Festival will feature as a centrepiece in a yet-to-be named hour-long television special starring Bondi Rescue's Andrew 'Redy' Reid, Adriel 'Bacon' Young and Corey Oliver. The show will air in 35 countries later this year.
The Cannington Dirt n Dust Triathlon
Alderley athlete Sam Betten won his fourth conse'utive Cannington Dirt n Dust Triathlon, crossing the finish line in 01:03:21. Betten beat special guest Adriel 'Bacon' Young from television series Bondi Rescue, who finished second with a time of 01:06:15. Cloncurry's Amanda Gowing won the women's Cannington Dirt n Dust Triathlon in 01:20:26 Amanda Gowing and Townsville's Connor McKay were the North Queensland Champions The course presented athletes with a 25km/h headwind during the cycle and 38oC heat
Dirt n Dust Bullride, sanctioned by PBR
The 2014 Dirt n Dust Bullride Champion is Mackay's Ryan Storey who rode Johnny Ringo and Powers, Sniper to secure an 85 point average Bondi's Adriel 'Bacon' Young had an impressive first attempt at riding Suicidal Blonde, lasting almost 5 seconds on the bull.
Australia's Best Butt Competition
104 booty-shakers vied for the 10th Annual Title of 'Australia's Best Butt', by giving their best hip wiggling and tail wagging. Cloncurry's Aimie Athorn, 18, and Townsville's John Gray, 26, were the eventual winners Bog Snorkelling
- The men's bog snorkelling was won by Cairns' Steve Bailey
- The women's bog snorkelling was won by Winton's Angela Porter
- Bog Snorkellers were tasked to don a mask, snorkel and flippers and swim the length of a shallow, muddy trench using only their legs for propulsion
THE FIGURES- 151 Junior Triathletes competed in the Suncorp Agribusiness Junior Dirt n Dust Triathlon
- 358 Triathletes competed in the Cannington Dirt n Dust Triathlon
- Triathletes in the senior and junior events ran a combined 382km, cycled 9,237km and ran 1857km
- 40 of Australia's Best Bullriders took on the bulls, only 5 riders managed to hang on for the required 8 seconds
- 400 locally farmed red claw were served trackside at the BHP Billiton Artesian Express
- 104 people entered the Australia's Best Butt Competition
4 acts serenaded the crowd across the weekend – The Mick Lindsay Band, Jer Gregg, King and The Little Ripper Band
- 6,600 beers were sold
- 12 people had a dip in Julia Creek's infamous bog snorkelling trench
- 74 tents were erected in Dirt n Dust Tent City, while all of Julia Creek's motels and caravan parks were booked out
- 100 volunteers lended their time to help make the Festival a success
- There were an estimated 15 flies in town for every person.
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