THAT'S it for today's BathurstAM, thanks for sticking with me over the last two hours.

Each day the Western Advocate prints a snap shots on page two of the newspaper, why not take a quick flick through our September snap shots.

Advocate reporter Jacinta Carroll is on board for the BathurstAM on the public holiday Monday, if you've got anything to add feel free to email her at jacinta.carroll@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

8.50AM

THIS season's undefeated Bathurst Panthers Group10 league tag side will be tested like never before as they travel to Scone next weekend for the inaugural Ladies League Tag Premiers Challenge.

The competition will bring together 12 Country Rugby League premiers plus four wildcard entries to determine who is the top regional league tag team in the state.

Panthers have asserted themselves as the dominant force in Group 10, having won the last two premierships and losing just a single match in that time.

8.45AM

V8 RACE fans will have the opportunity to see the Peter Brock Trophy up close and personal, thanks to Wallace Bishop Jewellers in the Bathurst City Centre, which is bringing the coveted trophy to the store for race week.

The trophy, which arrives at the store today, was designed by the company's chief executive officer, Stuart Bishop, and manufactured by the Bishop family's other jewellery concern, Hardy Bros.

While it is insured for around $75,000, the trophy is now thought to be priceless.

8.40AM

TURN off O'Connell Road, head up a gorgeous tree-lined driveway and you will discover the hidden delights of Littlebourne.

Approaching this property is like stepping back to a time when life was simpler, gardens were lush, and afternoons were spent drinking tea on an expansive verandah.

This convict-built house, constructed in 1835, retains an elegance, charm and character all too often missed in modern houses.

Read the full story here.

8.35AM

LOOKING to get fit and earn some money in the process?

This ad was spotted on page 40 of today's Western Advocate.

Maybe this lovely spring weather we're having lately is the perfect time to strap your walking shoes on and get fit?

8.30AM

THE annual Spring Horse Show is on this weekend with the highest number of class entries for showjumping in years.

Held at Bathurst Showgrounds, the two-day event will feature entrants from across Bathurst and further afield.

Bathurst AH & P Association's Brett Kenworthy said the weekend will showcase some of the best riders and horses in the state.

"We're actually up by 100 individual class entries in the showjumping, which is up by 25 per cent," he said.

"We've already had more than last year for the showjumpers, and it looks like it'll go past the [Bathurst] Royal."

"If this keeps up it'll be the biggest horse shows around this weekend."

Mr Kenworthy said pre-entries are only taken for showjumping, but he is hopeful the hacking and breeds competitions across both days will also receive high entries.

The weekend will also be a great opportunity for the wider community to come along to a free event and find our more about horse competitions.

"It's a great way to spend a little bit of time at not cost to see a fantastic equestrian event," he said.

Two showjumping rings will run across the weekend.

There will be a canteen and coffee van on site during the event.

8.25AM

WANT to go to the races on us?

Grab a copy of today's Western Advocate for your chance to score a personalised Nissan Motorsport race shirt - there's three to give away.

You'll need to tell us in 25 words or less who your favourite Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercar driver is and why.

If you win you'll get free entry in the Bathurst 1000 on Thursday afternoon to pick up your prize.

Entry form is on page 42 of today's Advocate. Entries close at 5pm on Monday, October 6.

8.15AM

MILLTHORPE is one of Orange's favourite tourist destinations, and starting this Saturday, visitors will have another reason to make the 20-minute drive.

The Pym Street Markets will be held on the first Saturday of every month behind the Millthorpe General Store and are a welcome addition to the village's

Stalls will include locally grown plants, fresh bread, cakes and biscuits, jams, fresh garden produce, chocolates, bric-a-brac and even bags of manure.

The markets will run from 9am until 1pm just behind the Millthorpe General Store on Pym Street this Saturday

8.10AM

THE streets are getting busier, the crowds are coming and there is just six days to go until the Bathurst 1000 kicks off for another year.

Record crowds are expected to camp at the Mount this year, and 400 camp sites have been added to the Mount Panorama precinct for the 2014 showdown.

The Western Advocate has a dedicated Bathurst 1000 page to keep you up-to-date with the latest racing news from across the many categories, why not check it out.

8.05AM

IT'S Odd Sock Day, where everyone has the chance to raise money for mental illness and awareness about a condition prevalent in our community.

Renee Downey from the Western Advocate is hoping that Odd Sock Day will help people rethink their attitudes about mental illness.

She also hopes people will make a donation to Grow, a proven program for mental well-being.

Statistically, one in two Australians will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives.

Donations for Odd Sock Day can be made at the front office of the Western Advocate, the Portland newsagency or online.

7.55AM

DISNEY'S new comedy-adventure movie Planes: Fire & Rescue is set to light up the silver screen in Bathurst as a fundraiser for local volunteer firefighters.

Bathurst Rural Fire Brigade's inaugural movie fundraiser is on Wednesday, October 8 and everyone is invited to enjoy Disney's latest animated movie.

The film tells the story of a crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire.

7.50AM

WHEN it comes to the 161-lap epic that is the Bathurst 1000, over the last eight years no other team can match the record of Triple Eight Race Engineering.

With Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes as their spearheads, the team won three consecutive Bathurst 1000 crowns for Ford between 2006-2008. Since making the switch to Holden, they have claimed another two.

There have been a handful of podium placings as well and this year the Red Bull backed outfit is favoured to feature once more with two strong entries - Whincup sharing his Commodore with Paul Dumbrell while Lowndes is paired with Steve Richards.

7.45AM

IF you have never been to a blessing of the animals, this Sunday is your chance.

The first blessing of the animals was held three years ago and has proved popular with the people of Bathurst.

This Sunday's event will be held on the lawns of All Saints' Cathedral.

7.40AM

BRETT Youlden's 1971 Holden HQ Monaro may have come into his possession as a rusted out shell, but next week it will be a car he hopes can threaten for a podium placing.

Youlden is one of the competitors in this year's Touring Car Masters series, one which features on the support program for the V8 Supercars' Bathurst 1000 yet again in 2014.

7.33AM

A RESCUE operation was underway in the Blue Mountains after a group of canyoners activated an emergency distress beacon in Mt Wilson last night.

About 5pm on Thursday 2 October, police were contacted by Australian Search and Rescue (AusSar) after an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) was activated in the Mt Wilson area.

A search was commenced involving Blue Mountains Police Rescue, a NSW Ambulance Service helicopter with Special Casualty Access Team (SCAT) officers on board and the Rural Fire Service.

About 8.20pm, a SCAT officer was winched into the bush and located the five canyoners including three adults and two children.

An eight-year-old boy, who was among the group, was found suffering from mild hypothermia and is being treated by the SCAT officer.

Due to the conditions further attempts to winch in a second SCAT officer had to be cancelled with Police Rescue Squad operatives now in the process of walking to their location.

It is anticipated emergency services will remain with the canyoners overnight before attempting to extract them in the morning.

The group logged their trip with Katoomba Police and signed out an emergency distress beacon before setting off, however, it is believed they did not take adequate supplies of food, water and warm clothing.

7.28AM

IN regional news,

WITH more than 750 premises across Orange now ready to join the National Broadband Network, some are happy to be included in the rollout, while others are disappointed to miss out.

ANOTHER business owner caught up in Wednesday's dramatic fire in North Dubbo said he thought he was going to lose everything when the blaze broke out.

COWRA Council has put its hand up to be included in CENTROC's adoption of a pilot program tagged by one Cowra councillor as a precursor to amalgamation.

7.15AM

Making local news this morning:

AN application to build a go-kart track at the former Alec Lamberton soccer field at Kelso has hit a brick wall because of noise concerns.

ALL creatures great and small will gather on the lawns of All Saints' Cathedral on Sunday morning for the annual blessing of the animals.

BANNED from driving in the morning, caught behind the wheel the same afternoon. 

7AM

Welcome to Friday Bathurst! You've got reporter Nadine Morton here with you for the next two hours with all the latest overnight news from across Bathurst and further afield.

After some patchy fog and frost this morning we should be in for a sunny day with a top of 22 degrees - enjoy!

If you've got something to share why not email it to nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

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