The 2017 Astley Cup will get underway on Thursday morning, with plenty of athletes representing both Bathurst and Orange High Schools in various sports.
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Held almost every year since 1923, Bathurst will be looking to dethrone defending champions Orange.
Bathurst has not won the Astley Cup since 2015.
Bathurst principle Ken Barwick said the competition has incredible tradition.
“It has been going for over 90 years and is the oldest school sporting competition in New South Wales,” he said.
“Bathurst won many early competitions but went through a long try spell between the 1960s to 2010.
“We’ve done really well in recent years, winning in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015.
“People all over Bathurst and in NSW want to play in a competition like this.”
Mr Barwick said the competition is always played in good spirits.
“The teams have been training all year. The way I see it, it’s played every year but it’s as competitive as the Olympics,” he said.
“The hype around it is like an American college game. It builds great school spirit.”
Mr Barwick attended Bathurst High School from 1982 to 1987 and did not manage to win one.
“A little bit of me wants to lift it with the kids,” he said.
“The tie with Orange is, from what I’ve heard, to be one of toughest ones ever. Both Bathurst and Orange have been coming up against each other in other high school competitions.”
The competition will begin at 10am, with the boys football at Proctor Park.
The Mulvey Cup, a debating competition with a long tradition, will be held at 6pm on Thursday night.
“I’m really looking forward to some exceptional debating,” Mr Barwick said.