Jake Blimka and Bec Ford are Orange's new King and Queen of Sport, respectively, after sealing their maiden titles in this year's Eight Day Games and also cementing their status as the city's sporting power couple.
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In a show of the versatility and adaptability necessary to sit on their respective thrones, Blimka and Ford proved consistent enough across the competition's 21 individual events to ultimately taste success for the first time.
Ford (609) actually did so quite comfortably in the end, leading virtually from start to finish winning by 47 points from 10-time champion Cathy Johnson (562) while perennial contender Jess Marsh (552) wasn't far behind.
Blimka, on the other hand, was made to bust his gut on a tense final day of competition.
Bec's finished third (overall) a couple of times so it was great for her to go and win it and it was nice to be able to win it together.
- King of Sport Jake Blimka
Like Ford, he'd led for most of the competition but dropped back to third after day seven, with Simon Wright assuming a narrow lead heading into the final day's clay target shooting and bowhunting events.
But Blimka finished third in both while Wright didn't have his best day, and in finishing with 579 points the former moved back to the top of the leaderboard, winning from Jono Punch (563) and Anthony Wharton (551).
"It was really good in the end and it was great to get the win, Bec and I don't go into this competition to win though, we just like to have a bit of fun and enjoy the week with a great group of people," Blimka said.
"Bec's finished third (overall) a couple of times so it was great for her to go and win it and it was nice to be able to win it together, for sure."
Blimka's other best results came through his day two mystery event win and his first finish in the competition-opening commando course, while he also finished second in the cross country run, kayaking and mountain bikes.
Ford, on the other hand, dominated. She picked up wins in nine of the individual events and finished second in eight more, missing the podium in just four of the competition's events.
"There was a bit of healthy competition between the two of us, she got me in a few of those events too so she's probably got bragging rights. Although, we probably argued a lot less during this than we do during footy season," Blimka laughed.
"For me personally, with the injuries I've had I've been doing a bit of training anyway so I think that helped with everything and I really enjoyed the [cross country] run event and the orienteering was actually really great too."
"It's just such a good event in that respect, you can do those things and then go play some croquet or jump in the go-karts, there's a lot of variety and it's great fun."
Ford didn't have it all too easy though, not when you consider she played a Western Women's Rugby League grand final in the middle of the competition.
Straight after the second day's events on Sunday, November 24, she and Blimka jetted over to Eugowra for her Vipers side's - which Blimka helps coach - grand final against the Wiradjuri Goannas, which they won.
"The organisers were great, they got us through pretty early on Sunday and we shot over the Eugowra for the final, which one of the toughest games they've played with the heat and the pressure, they had to come from behind to win," Blimka said.
"They got the win though and we had a presentation that night, so she didn't get any ice onto her until about 9.30 that night, she battled a bit on Monday and Tuesday I think, for sure."
Blimka also said and he Ford are planning to return to defend their titles next year.
"Yeah, I think so," he said.
"As I said we both really enjoyed it again so I don't see any reason why we won't come back and compete again next year and then continue coming back after that too."
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