A young bullock driver who achieved a career highlight of being part of the 21st Century Australian record bullock team is the winner of the 2026 Tim Peel Cup.
The perpetual award is an encouragement award for young teamsters and the only one of its kind in Australia to recognise young teamsters to further their skills and knowledge, and in doing so promote the art of the teamster.
Darcy Quinn, 24, of Tumut, NSW, was named as the winner by judge Ron McKinnon, Tomerong, NSW, at the 2026 Good Old Days Festival on October 2-4 at Barellan, NSW.Darcy, a weed spraying contractor and farm worker, contributed a team of eight bullocks to the 21st century Australian record team of 56 bullocks set at the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan on October 3.
He was also part of the team which set the previous record in 2025 at Barellan of 40 bullocks.
Darcy said he has many “postcodes” for his bullocks with friends and mentors pasturing them.
He paid tribute to his mentors and fellow bullock drivers, Ron McKinnon, Phil Thomson and Matt Standford.
“Ron has helped me all the way through and I wouldn’t be here without him. He looks after me like his own and has carried me all the way through.”
Darcy admitted the feeling in the bullockies camp after setting the record was “a bit like the song, I can feel a XXXX coming on. Everyone enjoyed themselves and were happy.
“I love all of Barellan – the whole thing, talking to the lot of good people here and everyone is pretty grounded.”
Darcy left home at the age of 16 and moved to Nowra to start an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic.
“I’ve always had an interest in bullocks as a kid, being an old soul all my life.
“One day I walked into Ron’s power tool shop. I asked him if he was looking for an apprentice, and he thought I meant for his shop. No, I said for the bullocks.”
Ron helped source Darcy’s first pair of bullocks from Geoff Cochrane, Kangawarra Illawarra Shorthorns and Bullocks, Nerriga, NSW, in September 2019.
One of those bullocks remains as Darcy’s leader but he sadly lost the other in an incident.
He has some young Devon bullocks he is training.
Darcy and 2025 Tim Peel Cup winner, Joey Reedy, were among the young bullock, horse and camel teamsters keeping the skills alive at the Festival.
Entrants in the Cup had to be 30 years of age or younger and were assessed on their ability to control a team and the response of the animals to their traditional commands.
“I would like to see more young people involved, I don’t want Joey and myself to be the only ones knowing anything about it,” Darcy said.
“It’s a good community and group of people, and I would like to see that continue as a lot of these teamsters are not going to be around forever.”
During the Good Old Days Festival, Darcy stepped up to help with hot and arduous process of wheel retyring where the rims on wagon wheels are heated in an open fire, then fitted around the wheel and shrunk to fit using cold water.
The demonstration was overseen by master teamster Tim Peel, of Borambola, NSW, and he encouraged Darcy to learn black smithing skills.
Darcy has also developed an interest in heavy horses after meeting one of the world’s greatest horse teamsters, Aleks Berzins, at Barellan.
Around the bullockies camp, the joke is when will Darcy “go over to the dark side” to join the horse team.
He laughs about the friendly rivalry between the horse and bullock teamsters.
“There is always a bit of sparring and carrying on amongst them all.”
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Caption: 2026 Tim Peel Cup winner Darcy Quinn, of Tumut, NSW, at the Barellan Good Old Days Festival. Image Kim Woods