ANOTHER iconic event sees a return in 2023, with the battle to be the Boss of Blueberry back at the Casterton Hill Climb on Saturday, 1 April.

Postponed from last year, the revived event has two major new attractions in 2023, with a big screen to be installed at the bottom of the hill, giving spectators a birds-eye view of every thrill and spill as riders try their hand at conquering Blueberry Hill and a junior section for 16 to 18-year-olds to try their hand, in a separate age group.

After going into hiatus for around a decade after its 1980s heyday, the hill climb is clearly growing in popularity again, with more than 80 riders and 600 spectators recorded through the gate at the event’s last run in 2019, before succumbing to Covid-19.

The aim of the hill climb is simple – start at the bottom, point your bike at the top and hope you have enough power, balance and – sometimes – just pure good luck, to scale the sometimes vertical track.

The 2023 climb will be run in six classes, with 251cc and over, under 250, women’s, vintage, ag bikes and juniors.

Casterton Sporting Motorcycle Club is the host of the event and president Shane Foster said while a favourite among the locals, Andy Wilksch would not be defending his 2019 title, due to injury, but there would be plenty more riders to keep an eye on.

“The ag bikes are always a mystery … local Scott Farquharson became the first and only rider in the history of the event to get up over the hill in 2018, with Bronte Walker awarded the winner’s trophy for reaching the highest point on the hill in 2019, so it will be interesting to see if Scott comes back and has another go this year,” Mr Foster said.

This year’s riders can also take home a highly-valued prize, without even starting their engines, with an earlybird entry prize offered by an event sponsor.

“A lot of people have been asking when entries are opening and they will be now,” Mr Foster said.

“And there’s a bit of incentive to get early entries in, with Midas Tyres and Monza Tyres on board … we’re giving a set of Midas tyres away to entry 20, 40 and 60.”

The Boss of Blueberry Casterton hill climb has gates open from 9am on Saturday, 1 April, with full catering trackside.

“Entry is just $5 for adults and kids are free, we’ve got a heap of lucky gate prizes to give away, so it’s a really great day out for the whole family,” Mr Foster said.