Dominic Geiger
31st July 2013
The Daily Mercury, Mackay
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Big Boar Competition, held over the weekend.
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PIG hunters from across the state have taken to Mackay's canefields, bringing in nearly six tonnes of hog and raising $26,000 for valley schools and sporting clubs.
The annual Pinnacle Big Boar competition was held at the weekend and recorded its biggest turnout ever.
A total of 493 hunters registered while spectators from every state and territory other than Tasmania attended.
Organiser Paul McFarlane said it was a tremendously successful event.
"There were thousands, it was a big crowd," he said.
"(It) is now considered the biggest event of its kind in Australia."
The biggest sow weighed in at 129kg, while the biggest boar was 114.4kg and was caught by Trace Cronin from Bundaberg.
But it wasn't just pigs the people came to see.
The "Ugliest Dog" prize went to a mongrel named Gooch, while the longest tusk was brought in by Dean Jenkins and measured 207mm.
A total of 70 pigs were weighed during the competition, with $21,000 going towards computer equipment and a veggie patch for Pinnacle State School.
Mirani Kindergarten, the Pinnacle Cricket Club and Gargett, Eungella, and Finch Hatton State Schools each received $1000.
Mr McFarlane said the competition went a long way towards keeping feral pig numbers down in the valley.
"If we didn't have recreational hunters here the farms would be overrun," he said.
"I know the blocks I hunt, if I leave them for over a week they (the pigs) will move back in.
"We keep onto them - it keeps them on the move."
The money donated to valley schools and clubs was raised through registration fees, raffles and food and drink sales.
PIGS
- 70 weighed, totalling nearly six tonnes
- Biggest boar weighed 114.4kg while the biggest sow weighed 129kg
- $26,000 raised for Pioneer Valley schools and sporting clubs
http://m.dailymercury.com.au/news/comp-brings-in-the-pigs/1965618/
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