Local resident Sandy Bathgate, in conjunction with 2BS, is today launching a beard growing competition at Christmas on Keppel Street.

Mr Bathgate was inspired to create the fun Bathurst’s Best Beards competition when he came across one Elephant and Castle Hotel worker’s rather impressive beard.

“I met Campbell at the Elephant and Castle and he had the most wonderful, long ginger beard,” he said. “It was inspirational.”

The competition will span across the next six months, with entrants accepted at any point up until March 29, 2015.

There are eight separate novelty categories, with no restrictions on how many you enter.

“We’re happy for people to enter in more than one category,” Mr Bathgate said. “The more, the merrier.”

To enter, email your name and photo to bathurstbeards@rsajss.com.au or visit the 2BS website and follow the prompts.

Before and after shots are welcomed.

All entries will appear on the Bathurst’s Best Beards Facebook page and the one that receives the most likes will win a prize. 

The novelty categories will be judged by an all-female panel and winners will be announced on March 29 at the Community Picnic, with prizes up for grabs.

Each of the eight winning beards, along with the top seven most liked beards on Facebook, will go into the finals.

The beard owners will find as many people as they can to sponsor their great whiskers to raise money for the 2015 2BS Bathurst Lions Christmas Miracle Appeal.

All 15 finalists will be judged at the Illumination and Street Festival in Kings Parade on May 9, 2015. There are great prizes on offer for finalists, including a holiday on the north coast and jewellery. 

“We’re hoping that every person in Bathurst who has a beard or wants to grow one will enter because it’s a fun thing to do and will raise a lot of money for charity,” Mr Bathgate said.