Masters of the Mandagery is back and to be hosted in Eugowra.
Some of the region's rugby league legends will be lacing up the boots for a run in the name of fun at the Ian Walsh football field this Saturday, 29 March.
It's pretty exciting to have this carnival back where it began and with a full program of games from 10.30am through to 6.30pm, says organiser Andrew Barnes.
The club has been rebuilding and looks forward to having a canteen and bar running out of new facilities on the day - thanks to the work of club members and generous supporters.
Eugowra itself will field a team with the likes of Eugowra Golden Eagles captain coach Curtis Wykamp to play alongside David Norris, Allan Myors, Warren Welsh, Guy Parker, Peter Newell and Alex McMillan.
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It's expected Drip's Tigers, the side formed in memory of Andrew 'Drip' Dwyer, will boast plenty of local names as well.
The day is genuinely one for fun: games are 20 minutes and no scores are kept - well certainly not by anyone on the sidelines.
It all came about after Barnes and his mates attended a masters footy day in Orange.
"We went ... this was really good fun, we'll do it again," Barnes said, but the next year's tournament was cancelled just days out.
"Well, we'll just do it then," was the response from the Eugowra boys.
So they did. They started with a handful of teams in 2019 and have held onto the vision and the good times despite all that the last few years have brought from COVID to devastating flooding.
They got back on field with a great day in Forbes in 2023 - playing through blistering heat - but they're thrilled to be bringing it home to Eugowra for 2025.
The ground was restored to host Eugowra rugby league matches through the 2024 Woodbridge Cup season but the club, with the backing of generous supporters, continues to make improvements.
Saturday will be a great time for players to catch up with old teammates as well as people they used to play against - and a chance in many cases for the next generation to watch their parents take the field.
"(It's) Good fun, no scores, everyone's just smiling and laughing," Barnes said.
It's also another chance for Eugowra locals to get out and enjoy the day and the games.
The club's Woodbridge Cup season is just a week away, with the first home game to be hosted at the Ian Walsh field on Saturday 5 April.
Saturday's schedule
10.30am Manildra vs Tuggeranong
11.am Trundle vs Peak Hill (League Tag)
11.30am Canowindra vs Dubbo Macquarie
Midday Parkes vs Trundle
12:30pm Cargo vs Condobolin
1pm Forbes vs Cargo (League Tag)
1.30 Drip's Tigers vs Burrangong
2pm Trundle vs Manildra
2:30pm Trundle vs Eugowra (League Tag)
3pm Canowindra vs Eugowra
3:30pm Tuggeranong vs Cargo
4pm Peak Hill vs Cargo (League Tag)
4:30pm Condobolin vs Parkes
5pm Dubbo Macquarie vs Burrangong
5:30pm Forbes vs Eugowra (League Tag)
6pm Eugowra vs Drip's Tigers
