SOME people wish every day was Christmas.
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Denison College of Education Bathurst High Campus principal Ken Barwick, however, wishes every day was an Astley Cup day.
“It’s good fun and the kids love it,” he said on Thursday afternoon as events wrapped up and the local school, which is hosting Dubbo College in the opening tie, took an impressive 261-139 point lead into the deciding day two.
Not that Mr Barwick – or his students – are getting ahead of themselves.
“We are aware that when you go into sports decided by a single goal, like soccer or hockey, it can cause a massive swing in the points differential,” he said.
The Astley Cup, fought for by Bathurst High, Dubbo College and Orange High each year, is a sporting tradition in the Central West dating back almost a century.
Bathurst High have won four of the past six titles, including in 2015 and last year.
Mr Barwick said it had been a “fantastic” opening day for the school – and not just on the scoreboard.
“We were blessed with the weather and all students were heavily involved in the day,” he said.
Bathurst High won the tennis and basketball to start the day, lost the netball with a young side that fought hard and won the athletics in the afternoon.