The competition for the title of King of Sport has been thrown wide open, with 2017 King Henry Savage not returning to contest his crown when competition kicks off on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A whole host of former Kings including three-time winner Jackson Leckie will return to vie for the title, with Jono Punch, Simon Wright and Andrew Marsh all set to line up.
In the Queens competition, games stalwarts Cathy Johnson and Nicole Williamson will return in an attempt to continue their dominance over the title.
Between the two of them, Johnson and Williamson have won nearly every title over the past 15 years, with Johnson picking up an incredible 10th title win last year.
However, games organiser Jason Lyne said cross-code star Bec Ford – who placed third a few years ago – could pose a threat to their dominance on the athletic front.
Amanda Livingstone and Jess Marsh were two others Lyne floated as challengers.
Lyne said he was champing at the bit to get out and begin, with competition starting with the traditional commando course and a mystery event before canoeing, mountain biking and a second mystery event on Sunday.
After last year’s mystery events were largely more physical trials – including motorised eskies, which Lyne said had been serviced and prepared for a potential return in the 2018 competition – this year’s mysteries will be more skill-based trials.
“There are two events that have never been done before, and they’re not too taxing,” he said, hinting that physical prowess might not have as much of a bearing on the 2018 winner as it has in previous years.
That said, Lyne believes the rest of the competition will need to do “something special” to break the Johnson-Williamson duopoly on the title, with Ford the most likely in his eyes, while Jackson Leckie will be “hard to beat” in the Kings competition.
Prue McCarthy will also return to compete in the disability section of the games.
Lyne encouraged anyone with any interest to come down and support competitors at the games, with all welcome.
The Eight Day games begin on Saturday with the first event being the Commando Course as usual, from 9am at Integra.
That’s followed by a teams mystery event, mountain biking, and individual mystery event and then canoeing to round out the opening day.
Sunday’s second day will start with athletics and swimming at Kinross from 9am, before karting and and individual mystery event.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...