The 10th annual Paul McGuire Memorial Dachshund Dash, a beloved part of the Middlemount Race Day, drew a huge crowd despite the absence of horse racing due to wet weather.

Organised by Catherine Phillis, the event is held in honour of Paul McGuire, who tragically lost his life in a mining accident.

“Paul’s parents have said that the race is a perfect way to celebrate his fun, cheeky personality,” said Catherine.

Although Mother Nature forced the cancellation of horse races, the day was far from a washout. Instead of cancelling, the organisers turned the focus to the dachshunds, a decision that was met with enthusiasm.

“Middlemount had about 110mm of steady rain over a few days, and with the predicted weather conditions, it was clear that the condition of the track was not going to be up to racing horses by the Saturday.”

“Not a lot of people stand against the rails to watch the horses but come the dachshunds and they’re lined three deep!” joked Middlemount Race Club President Sam Creedon.

It was decided that the day would proceed in every other way that was planned, including the Sponsor’s Brunch, marquee, free kid’s rides, Fashions of the Field and the band. 

Catherine, a self-professed “crazy Dachshund lady”, had previously entered her own dogs in ‘The Dash’ and was already part of the Race Club Committee when the opportunity to organise the race came up.

“When they said they were looking for someone to take on the organisation of the race, I jumped at the chance.”

But it wasn’t just about the dachshunds. The BMA CQ Rescue Helicopter is a cause very close to Catherine’s heart.

“My family has had personal experience with the service, and I am acutely aware of how important it is to an area like ours, which is predominantly mining and agriculture.”

With Diversified Building Services backing the event, they were able to run three heats of six dachshunds each throughout the day, followed by a ‘Wildcard’ event. In total, 18 sausage dogs strutted their stuff on the track, which, as Catherine quipped, “was quite the logistical feat!”

One of the day’s highlights was the ‘Dashun’ Fashuns’ competition, where dachshunds could show off their style in the height of doggy fashion.

“It’s great for those dogs who are a bit more athletically challenged and may not be keen on exerting themselves by racing.”

But the real excitement came with the Calcutta auction, where the top-priced dog, Pammy, was snapped up by a syndicate for a whopping $4,100.

“The auction always whips up great excitement amongst the crowd. 50% of all funds raised from the Calcutta go to BMA CQ Rescue, with the remainder going into the prize pot. Between the auction and additional donations on the day, we raised $10,000 for BMA CQ Rescue. The club is incredibly proud of this effort and the generosity of our local community.”

Pammy, owned by Ken Todd and Corinne St Martin from Proserpine, didn’t disappoint. She took out ‘The Dash’ for the second year running, proving once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with. Middlemount local GiGi and fellow Proserpine dachshund Dashie took second and third places, respectively.

Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the Middlemount Race Day was a huge success, with 870 patrons turning up to enjoy the festivities.

“It was such a fun day, but we do hope that next year, the horses will return to the track,” Catherine concluded with a smile.

The Paul McGuire Memorial Dachshund Dash continues to be a fitting and playful tribute to Paul’s memory, bringing together the community for a day of fun, excitement and lots of laughs.