It’s a chance for one of the three leading public high schools in the Central West to claim unbridled bragging rights.

On Thursday morning, Bathurst High Campus is set to kick-start its Astley Cup defence when it hosts Dubbo College.

Bathurst High sports organiser and former student Lachlan Blaikie is all too familiar with the Astley Cup.

He never found success as a student but he’s witnessed plenty of glory as a teacher.

He said it’s a big deal for the school and everyone involved.

“It’s massive and the whole school loves it. They all look forward to it,” he said.

“The whole community also gets around it, which is great.”

There’s a strong State of Origin-feel when it comes to the Astley Cup, with students proud to represent their schools.

“There’s a lot of rivalry between the schools,” he said.

“I know come this time of year, the kids who play each other on the weekends, they start to talk up the rivalry with kids from other schools.”

While it’s hard to predict who will exactly come out on top in each sport, Blaikie said he has a few ideas about where his school’s strengths are. 

“We’ve got some state hockey players, our boys soccer team has just made the region final against Dubbo College and our girls are going really strong in the soccer,” he said.

“I think those three teams will go well but our rugby league team has took out the western region final. They’ve got a strong side.

“Even our Mulvey Cup is doing really well. 

“It’s hard to pick anyone.

“We’re in a really good situation to take out both the Astley and Mulvey Cup.”

The Mulvey Cup takes place during the Astley Cup and sees competing schools’ best debaters go head-to-head.

While it may be one of the less talked about events on Thursday and Friday, that doesn’t mean those competing in it will be taking it lightly.

“A lot of sporting talent is on show at Bathurst but getting the academic talent involved is really brings the school together,” Bathurst vice-captin and Mulvey Cup debater Maddy Masters said. 

She said the rivalry in both cups brings out “peak performance”.

“The whole school gets involved in the rivalry, even if they aren’t competing. It’s a really awesome feeling,” she said.

“The hype is awesome and it’s like nothing else in Bathurst.” 

This year marks the 96th year Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange have competed for the right to be crowned Astley Cup.

Currently, Bathurst have won four of past six titles, claiming victory in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Both schools will compete for 800 points in rugby league, girls and boys football, tennis, hockey, basketball, netball and athletics, as both schools look to get as many points as possible. 

Points are split according to the ratio of the actual score and points are taken in sets and if equal, then on games.

In athletics, points are awarded for each event while in the event of one side not scoring in hockey, netball, rugby league, basketball or football, teams start from 1-all.