1.
MV MISS CAIRNS ON FLOAT
0.05

2.
MV FLOAT WITH BOY FISHING
0.08

3.
MV MARLING ON FLOAT
0.11

4.
SLV FLOATS GOING AWAY
0.15

5.
LV BANNER AND CROWDS
0.17

6.
SV CROCODILE (TILT UP) WOMAN
0.28

7.
LV RACE STARTS
0.29

8.
SLV NAN PRODDING CROCODILE (TWO SHOTS)
0.37

9.
LV BANNER AND CROWDS
0.39

10.
MV BANNER ARE CROWDS
0.42

11.
LS START OF SECOND RACE
0.45

12.
MV MAN AND CROCODILE
0.50

13.
MV WOMAN PUSHING CROCODILE
0.58

14.
SV MAN AND CROCODILE
1.03

15.
MV WOMAN AND CROCODILE
1.12

16.
MV MAN AND CROCODILE
1.16

17.
MV WINNER OF RACE
1.21



Initials JM/V/UM/ES JM/V/MGT/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CAIRNS, AN AUSTRALIAN TOWN IN NORTHERN QUEENSLAND, HAS RECENTLY HELD ITS ANNUAL 'FUN-IN-THE-SUN' FESTIVAL, WHICH AS USUAL, STARTED WITH A SPECTACULAR PARADE OF FLOATS THROUGH THE TOWN'S MAIN STREET. THE 125 FLOATS TOOK MORE THAN TWO HOURS TO PASS BY.

AT THE FESTIVAL, THE OTHER MAIN HIGHLIGHT IS THE RACE MEETING...THE ONLY THING IS, IT'S NOT A HORSE RACE - BUT A RACE OF CROCODILES. THERE'S NO HANDICAPPING IN THE EVENT -- EXCEPT THE HANDICAPS IMPOSED BY THE JOCKEY-OWNERS, AS THEY EMPLOY A VARIETY OF METHODS TO PERSUADE THEIR CROCODILE TO REACH THE FINISHING POST FIRST.

THE CROCODILES ARE HIGHLY TRAINED -- BUT NEVERTHELESS TEMPERAMENT SHOWS THROUGH ON THESE IMPORTANT OCCASIONS. FROM THE LOOK OF THINGS IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT TO GET THE CROCS GOING -- AND ONCE THEY'RE ON THE MOVE, ALL THE JOCKEY'S SKILL IS NEEDED TO KEEP THEM ON COURSE.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THESE CROCS ARE NOT THE FULL LENGTH VERSION -- BUT EVEN A 'MINI-CROC' TAKES A DEAL OF EXPERT HANDLING.