Andrew and Maxine Meek created the winning entry in this years Hay Bale Art Challenge called ‘Let Your Hay Down’.

“We had it stretched out with all theses clamps holding it in position and it was a real challenge for us to keep it all together,” Mrs Meek said.

Whereas the the hay bale art will be up for at least two weeks, the NAB B2B and all that it brings will be riding into town this weekend.

Natural fibres will be at a minimum in Blayney this Sunday as up to 2,000 lycra clad cyclists prepare for what is the only fully closed road cycle race in NSW.

With the race’s inclusion in the UCI Gran Fondo qualifiers, the numbers have swollen, with late entries still being taken up until the weekend.

Organisers say that the numbers have already eclipsed last year’s total of 1841 riders with many of the new entrants signing up for the UCI. 

Nearly 500 riders will be competing in the UCI, the same number will be competing in the 70 kilometre race and over 620 have signed up to complete the 100 kilometre ride through the verdant fields around on the back roads to Bathurst.

Over one million dollars is expected to be spent in Blayney and Bathurst from the event.

“Both the challenge and the race work really well together and create a huge boost nationally and locally,” Mayor Scott Ferguson said.

Winners

1st place – Let your hair down – Meek Family, “Greenacres”, Hobbys Yards

2nd place – Three Little Pigs, Barry Progress Association, Barry

3rd place – E.T. - Allen/ Stainlay Family, “Springvale”, Barry

Highly Commended

The Rainbow Fish – B & J Ryan, “Rockvale”, Barry

Titantic – Mendham Family, “Teasdale Park”, Barry

Red Back on a Dunny Seat – Ryan Family, Hobbys Yards

Barry Rest Stop – Ryan & Davis Girls, Barry

Hay chick – Eva Price, “Weemala”, Blayney

Hay henge – Lachlan Price, “Allonby”, Blayney