Missing from Countryfest’s 2009 line-up the popular event will make its return to the main arena this year with plenty of action to keep the crowds entertained.

Rivalry will be fierce with Singleton’s bull riding contingent led by Cody Heffernan set to take on ‘the rest of the country’. Seventeen riders will compete in the invitational series with the top five bull riders to progress to the final.

Competitors will be battling it out for the top prize with $2000 up for grabs. The series will be run as round one of the East Coast bull riding championships

Locals cowboys set to compete will be brothers Cody and Craig Heffernan, Tyler Corrigan, Matt Mapp, Luke Nichols and Matt Griffiths.

Spectators will get a special treat in between rounds with a mini bareback ride, the first in the Hunter Valley according to Countryfest organiser Peter Heffernan, also set to take place.

In what is sure to get a few laughs, Mr Heffernan said competitors aged 14 to 15 would jump on board Shetland ponies in an attempt to crack the eight second barrier.

Countryfest will be held on Saturday, March 27 with the bull ride scheduled to start at 6.30pm.

The hotly anticipated Australian Wife Carrying titles will return with eight couples entered so far. Tackling the course this year will be Singleton’s Alan Lantry and Emily Cant, last year’s third place getters, with new comers Greg Gilmont and Tegan Harrison also throwing their names in.

Reigning champions Anthony Partridge, Singleton’s very own king of wife carrying, and partner Kath Whalan are yet to disclose if they will race.

The crowd favourite dog high jump will return again as well as the Ute muster, an expanded NSW Farmer’s Challenge and photography competitions.

A new addition needing entrants is the World Husband Dragging titles, a concept of Countryfest organiser Peter Heffernan that will match the hilarity of the wife carrying.

Entrants have the chance to win $1000 in prize money if they can tackle the course in the fastest time. The job will be up to “wives” to drag their “husbands” off bar stools, down 30 metres of black, wet and soapy plastic.

The husbands then have to pick up a bag of rubbish, sprint 10 metres and deposit the rubbish in a bin. Husbands then have to run back down the plastic, back to their bar stool to finish their beer.

To enter the World Husband Dragging titles or any events at this year’s Countryfest visit www.countryfest.com.au.