Wycheproof: Football-netball club resurrects of King of Mountain foot race

It was last held 35 years ago, but Wycheproof’s iconic King of the Mountain competition is returning this year. Find out all the details.

Wycheproof-Narraport Football-Netball Club has resurrected one of the Mallee’s most iconic events after a 35-year hiatus.

The King of the Mountain foot race, where competitors carry a wheat bag on their shoulders over a 1km course from Wycheproof’s Centenary Park to the summit of Mt Wycheproof, will return on AFL grand final day, September 30.

The event was last run in 1988 when “King Jim” Russell won a record fourth successive title to beat the previous record of three held by Donald’s Greg Dax in the first three years of the event, 1978 to 1980.

Wycheproof’s King of the Mountain was a major event in the Mallee from 1978 to 1988.

“My generation always heard about it and always wanted to know what it was like,” club official Rory White said.

“I was only three the last time it ran and have no memory of it.

“But everyone still talks about how great it was back in the day.”

White said president Ricky Allan and treasurer Joel Turner had been other driving forces behind the event that was previously run by the Wycheproof Lions Club.

Bridgewater's Claire Harrison is involved with Active Farmers fitness group.

They have worked closely with Bridgewater’s Claire Harrison, who runs group fitness sessions for farmers under the banner of Active Farmers.

“I just love the fact this wonderful, positive event is coming back,” she said.

“It’s about health and wellbeing essentially and is going to help another town lift a little bit.”

Russell, who also holds the race record of 5.02 minutes set in 1986, has agreed to be involved in the comeback year in the role of official race timer.

The King of the Mountain wheat bag will be reduced slightly from when it was last held — 63.5kg to 60kg.

But the Queen of the Mountain wheat bag will increase from 5kg to 20kg.

The event will be run on the same course with all events to be concluded by lunchtime before festivities continue with a food and wine festival and live music in Centenary Park where a big screen will also be erected to watch the AFL grand final.

White said they hoped to attract a crowd of 2000 people in the comeback year.

Meanwhile, Wycheproof-Narraport is presently sitting fifth on the North Central league ladder following another loss to Nullawil last round.