Watching the billy boil

This proved no exception, with AgQuip visitors from far and wide trying their hand.

The watched billy took a long time to boil in the first heat as six contenders tried to chip the wood, coax a spark on the cold, wet ground and get the water boiling.

After more than 25 minutes, only two contenders remained, four having given up the challenge.

Adam Sawles, from Kempsey, won the first slow round.

The competition heated up from there, with faster times, leading up to a win in seven minutes and 58 seconds by Rodney Riley, closely followed by Jeremy Valks just four seconds behind, and Nat Groves in third with a time of eight minutes and 12 seconds.

The women’s competition was won by Lisa Ross with a time of seven minutes and 38 seconds, followed by Cathy Riley with eight minutes and 39 seconds, and Katie Edwards with 10 minutes and 58 seconds.

This is the 34th year the event has been held in conjunction with AgQuip, and is now organised by Syd and Vanessa Knight.

Vanessa said the competition began as a challenge between Snow Weston and Roy Jaeger, who both went on to earn the title in the years that followed.

“The older generation got it going 34 years ago, and wanted to keep the tradition,” Vanessa said.

She said entrants came from all over Queensland and NSW and played for prize money and trophies.

The damp conditions failed to quell the enthusiasm of the crowd, who loudly cheered on the contestants in each heat.