More than twice the length of the City to Surf, the bush run has reached iconic status among local and Statewide runners.

The 35-kilometre course starts at Mount Wilson at an elevation of 1100 metres and includes sweeping panoramic views over Wollemi National Park to the Sydney skyline.

The run’s publicity officer John Bryant said the scenery was part of the run’s great attraction.

“It includes magnificent rainforest on the rich basalt soils of Mt Irvine, winding down into the dramatic sandstone Bowens Creek gorge, crossing Bowens Creek Bridge at 380 metres, then uphill along the road, which follows the cliff line, and finishes along Bells Line of Road at Bilpin Community Hall,” he said.

Held as the major annual fundraiser of the Bilpin and the Mount Wilson-Mount Irvine bushfire brigades, the Willy to Billy bush run, as it’s known, covers the expendables and the incidental costs incurred by the brigades during the year, such as new torch batteries, phone bills, tool repairs, extra pumps and installing powerpoints.

While runners are attracted from throughout the State to compete, the event also acts as a training exercise for the two brigades.

The logistics include monitoring 300 runners strung out through 35km of bush tracks using motorbikes and horses, maintaining nine drink stations en route, managing main road traffic, providing shuttle buses, establishing first aid stations along the route, providing

toilet and food facilities and race timing.

Bilpin brigade captain Bill Shields said it was an exercise in communications, co-ordination and co-operation – the sorts of skills crucial in the management of fire events.

“And we try to ensure we cover all the bases, even down to jelly beans and masseurs to comfort the runners when they finally make it to the Bilpin finish line,” Mr Shields said.

Both brigades were delighted to welcome North Richmond’s Community Bank on board as its first major local sponsor for this year’s run, the 13th since its 1995 beginning.