Call me Queen of the Mountain

Mount Wycheproof was lined with spectators last weekend as the iconic King of the Mountain returned. See the pictures.

When Boort’s Carly Isaac was born 22 years ago, the iconic Wycheproof King of the Mountain event hadn’t been run in more than a decade.

But 35 years after the last time the race was run, Ms Isaac lifted a 25kg bag of wheat, ran up Mt Wycheproof, and snagged herself not one, but three winning titles.

Revamped and revived by the Wycheproof Narraport Football and Netball Club, the King of the Mountain event was held last weekend with a 3000-strong crowd.

The iconic Mallee event saw competitors carry a wheat bag on a 1km course, from Wycheproof’s Centenary Park to the top of Mt Wycheproof at the weekend.

The event was last run in 1988 when “King Jim” Russell won a record fourth successive title.

Following in his footsteps, the 2023 King of the Mountain winner was Tom Rogers, with Ms Isaac winning Queen of the Mountain.

King of Mountain Race winner Tom Rogers from Stawell. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

Fundraising committee member Rory White said the event was “better than expected”, and was blown away by the support from both locals and visitors alike.

Winning the Mountain Dash, the relay, and the overall Queen of the Mountain title, Ms Isaac spent weeks preparing for the event by adding a wheat bag to her usual running routine.

“I’m off a farm just near Boort, and when I told my dad he got me a 25kg wheat bag. Once or twice a week I’d run about 3km with the bag. I’m always doing about 60km to 80km a week,” Ms Isaac said.

“I love a challenge.”

Women’s winning relay team Jo Isaac, Georgia Haw, Emma Darker, in the wheelbarrow – Riordan Queen of Mountain Race winner Carly Isaac, all from Boort.

When she first heard about the revival of the historic event, Ms Isaac couldn’t wait to sign up.

She eventually drafted three of her fellow netball teammates to run the relay with her.

“I signed up and brought the wheat bag to netball training. We all had a go, and put a team together and got a wheelbarrow sorted,” Ms Isaac said.

“It was pretty amazing, and there were people who had been in the race back in the day,” Mr White said.

“It obviously started as a fundraiser for the town, but it was probably better overall for the town.

“There’s still life left in the old town.”