Drafting new sports? Astley Cup proposal set to re-shape school competition

As the first round of the 2024 cup draws closer there's already talk about what next year's competition might look like - and we could be in for some big changes.

This year's edition will already be utilising a new point scoring system (which is being trialled over a two year period) and now as early as next year we could see three new sports being added to the program.

It's a proposal that's beginning to take shape and is set to be discussed during the cup, which is set to begin with Orange High School hosting Bathurst High School on June 13 and 14.

Bathurst High School principal Ken Barwick said the concept would be, at some point prior to the 2025 cup, schools would take turns to decide what gets added.

"It might be in 2025 that we have 11 sports instead of eight, and each school will have a chance to add a sport. That's not set in stone but it's a discussion that we're about to have," he said.

"The school that loses this year would get to choose the first sport, second place goes second, and the winner picks last.

"The other part of that which is being discussed is that of those three sports one would be for boys, one for girls and one mixed."

BATHURST High is set to receive a big splash of blue and gold from Monday onwards as the leadership team begins putting up posters and boosting school spirit in the build up to the opening tie.

The evening of June 4 sees the Bathurst team being presented officially before the holds its mufti day and students-versus-teachers basketball game two days later.

Then it's on to the big two days of sporting action.

Barwick said that the loss of several sporting stars leaves the schools teams with some big shoes to fill, but they're all up for the challenge.

"Gone are the days of the 'Zen Clarks' in the athletics and players in girls soccer like Ellyce Bestwick and Poppy Channing, though they're still a strong side with Jasmine Mitchell," he said.

"We've dominated soccer for the last eight years but I'm expecting those games to be close. That's also the case for the rugby league, netball and basketball.

"We should do well in the tennis. We've got a strong team, particuarly on the girls' side. Who knows how things might unfold in the new points scoring system?"