With the car park turned into a site set for the “battle of the billies” the championships were under way.

Armed with a box of matches, a piece of cardboard, an axe and a block of pine, fires were stacked and the race was on to see who could boil their billy in the fastest time.

The six overall fastest times from the men’s and women’s heats went on to the finals.

Women’s champion Cathy Riley beat the men to the boil with a record time of five minutes and 56 seconds.

Georgie Carrigan placed second with a time of six minutes and 11 seconds, and Lisa Ross followed closely in third with six minutes and 30 seconds.

Men’s champion Mark Ross sent the chips flying defending previous titles in the final and was first past the post with a time of seven minutes and four seconds. 

It was a close race for the men, with Nat Groves in second with a time of seven minutes and 24 seconds and Steve Wicks in third recording seven minutes and 30 seconds.

The billy boiling competition started with a few blokes, led by Snow Weston, challenging each other over a few beers as to who could boil a billy the fastest.

In 1980, the late Roy Jaeger and Tony Bowles started the competition officially and 35 years on, the competition is bigger and better than ever.

After the death of Tony Bowles, Vanessa and Sid Knight took over the organisation of the popular competition.

“We would like to thank Ray Darcy for providing running commentary, John Hobden, Steve Wicks, Coates Hire, Metaland and all our time keepers and everyone else who helped out on the night,” Vanessa and Sid said.