The toads were to be auctioned off before the race, with money donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

And the crowds would cheer their toad on to victory.

However, things didn’t quite go as planned. A Mount Isa man and frequent patron at Townies, known as “Scott,” was appointed the head cane toad catcher.

Scott spent the night before and morning of the big race trying to find fighting fit toads along the banks of the Leichhardt River.

Townies had hoped to race 18 toads over three races, however at 11am yesterday, Scott arrived at the club with only three toads - placing the entire event in jeopardy.

Trying to save the event, the toads were placed in a plastic container at the rear of the club while Townies workers phoned able men from around the city who were willing to locate about 15 additional toads at short notice.

“But the young guys were ringing back saying the best time to catch the toads was last night,” a worker said.

The game was up when less than two hours before the event was scheduled to begin, some children playing at the back of the club opened the plastic container and watched the three racing toads hop away from Townies and into obscurity. And so it was that a disappointed pub manager was forced to announce that the Australia Day toad races had been cancelled.

But there are some positives to the story - Townies still hosted a great day of barbecues, live music and family entertainment and perhaps there were a trio of unfit toads who were relieved last night that they didn’t have to face the starter.