In the small rural town of Deniliquin, on the edge of Australia's vast outback, around 20,000 people gathered for the annual Deni Ute Muster, a two-day alcohol-fuelled celebration of all things rural Australia. Reuters photographer Jason Reed braved the mud to capture the highlights of the festival.
One of several men dressed as kangaroos is tackled by a drunk man at the Deni Ute Muster in Deniliquin, New South Wales, AustraliaJason Reed/Reuters
Now in its 18th year, the festival champions the Australian-made utility vehicle (commonly known as a ute). Folklore says the humble ute was born when a farmer's wife wrote to a car manufacturer in the 1930s asking for a vehicle that could go to church on Sunday and carry the pigs to market on Monday. Part car, part pickup truck, the ute is a national treasure that has been deemed surplus to requirements by the big car manufacturers.
Ford rolled their last Australian-made Falcon ute off the production line in July and Holden said they will cease making similar vehicles in 2017 as buyers look to more fuel-efficient, smaller cars. "It is extremely sad that they [Ford] are closing down production in Australia, but we don't believe that this will affect our festival," Anika Ahmad Bull, part of the organising team, told Reuters.
A pair of 'truck nuts' – decorative adornments dangling on the tow balls of many Australian utes – are pictured on the back of a ute taking part in a mud derby at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersRobert Dowse, 35, from Frankston in the Australian state of Victoria powers his ute General Lee through thick mud during a 'circle work' competition, demonstrating vehicle handling skillsJason Reed/ReutersMel Harris shouts whilst a pick up truck belches smoke on the final night of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersMen ride on the back of a truck driving through mud on the final night of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/Reuters
The festival has grown to include country music performances from Grammy award-winning artist Keith Urban, a rodeo, whip-cracking championship and gallery of artwork created with chainsaws.
Sally Malay from the Kimberley region of Western Australia tapes up his hands prior to the bull riding competition at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersSally Malay is thrown off a bull during competition at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersA bull rider's spurs feature images of golden kangaroos as he helps a competitor mount his steer at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersSam Woodall from Heywood in the Australian state of Victoria is thrown off a bull during competition at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersTags normally attached to cows' ears to identify them are used decoratively by a regular attendee of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/Reuters
But it's the utes that keep the revellers coming back, even though a deluge of rain turned the usually dusty New South Wales state venue, some 300km (186 miles) north of Melbourne, into a mud pit. A A$10,000 (£6,200) prize was up for grabs for the 'Ute of the Year' while A$500 rewards were on offer in 13 other categories including Best Chick's Ute and Best Feral Ute (for the dirtiest, worst maintained, lived-in vehicle).
Campers trudge through mud among hundreds of ute vehicles in a paddock in this aerial picture of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersSheep shearer Chris Kermond from Ballarat in the Australian state of Victoria rides an 'Esky' or motorised drink cooler, while drinking a can of pre-mixed rum and cola at the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersChris Kermond holds onto his can of pre-mixed rum and cola after losing control of his motorised drink cooler, commonly known in Australia as an EskyJason Reed/ReutersA couple kiss on the final night of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersJess Elderedge makes a 'mud angel' as a friend lays toilet paper around her during a party at sunset on the final night of the Deni Ute MusterJason Reed/ReutersOperators of a monster truck bearing a skull and crossbones pirate flag alongside an Australian flag watch a display of dirt drivingJason Reed/ReutersDarren McGarvie, 27, and Nicole York, 24, wake up after spending the night together in McGarvie's Holden Commodore UteJason Reed/Reuters
Many revellers, however, were only here for the beer. "It's a party that doesn't stop, it's a great atmosphere and everyone gets on with everyone," said 27-year-old delivery driver Darren McGarvie, who used the back of his ute as a bed for the festival.
