WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF – 10/10/2018

Kate Dzienis • October 10, 2018

Adelaide 6 Day
Sri Chinmoy Ultra
Haunted Pines Ultra
Western Coastal

With a barrage of amazing events held over the last few days, it’s easy to see how busy the ultra community is as we move into the tail end of the year. The Adelaide 6 Day kicked off on Saturday, September 29 and finished on Friday, October 5 and we had an array of AURA members successfully participate – for starters, there’s no need for an introduction to the first place podium finisher, Darren Linney from Paradise, SA who dominated throughout the six days.

He completed a total distance of 800.959kms and according to on-the-ground reports, looked strong throughout the event.

Not to be outdone, there was another spectacular performance on the cards, with Annabel Hepworth from Annandale, NSW securing 1st female/2nd overall with a total of 742.803kms. Yet to be confirmed with results still provisional, but Hepworth unofficially ran the longest distance for a female in a six day event in the world this year.

Second male/3rd overall went to Coromandel Valley’s David Billett (677.945kms) while 3rd male/4th overall was taken by George Alexandropoulos (587.344kms) from North Dandenong, Vic.

Congratulations also goes out to John Timms, who at age 76 was the oldest runner on the course and who provisionally set a new 75-79 male age group 500k national record. He completed a total distance of 504.665kms.

Well done to all those who raced at the Adelaide 6 Day, including Tony Wilms (433.587kms), Steven Houldsworth (421.209kms), Cherie Rothery (353.846kms), Cassie Smith (329.331kms), Douglas Kewley (133:997) and Barry McBride (19.957kms).

Kavan Dedman from Seaview Downs, SA took out 1st place in the 72hr event with a total distance of 181.042kms, and in the 48hr it was Qld’s Stephen Wright who secured 1st place with 255.085kms and Brad Boyle with 3rd male in 161.235kms.

The Sri Chinmoy Trail Ultra 105 was held on Sunday, October 7 in the ACT, and it was another AURA-filled podium finish for our members. Brendan Davies from Woodford, NSW took out 1st place, completing the 105kms distance in 9:38:31, while Mick Thwaites held strong to 2nd after finishing in 11:00:07.

First female went to Pam Muston from Wamboin, NSW who completed the event in 13:44:55.

Over in WA, the Ultra Series WA’s first event for the Forest Series kicked off on Saturday night, with the Halloween themed Haunted Pines Ultra where participants were encouraged to dress in costume and run through a middle-of-nowhere pine forest from 7pm.

A plethora of AURA members dressed for the occasion, where in the men’s 50k Rob Freitag aka Edward Scissorhands took out 1st male/1st overall with 4:48:21 and Alexis Oosterhoff claimed 2nd male 5:48:01.

Sarah Farrell was 1st for the women with a time of 5:09:47, and she was closely followed by 2nd female Beck Hefferon (5:12:00). Congratulations to all those who took on the spooky 50kms, enduring the endless dark, including Emma Luscombe (6:44:36), Frank Chauveau (6:50:20), Mike Gibbon (6:59:32), Tina Jones (7:08:40), and Sue Robertson (7:08:40).

AURA members also participated in the 25k, and the race saw Andrew McLeish take out 1st place with a time of 1:55:25. High fives go to Robert Colligan (2:30:48), Nick Goddard (2:39:48), Jen Millum (2:54:58), Gemma Hamilton (3:09:47), Peter Barry (3:22:56) and Lucia Caravia (3:22:57).

Congratulations also to those who ran in the 12.5k – Joanne Dean, Kate Dzienis, Kerri Klumper, Shon Fry, Louise Wallace, and Gary Wilmot.

Chris Lark from Belmont smashed it and claimed 1st place in his time of 58:16, while Butler’s Glen Smetherham took 2nd, not far behind Lark and chasing him with a total end time of 1:00:36.

The Western Coastal 50k was also held over the weekend, and we would like to congratulate all of those runners who participated.

Next on the calendar for AURA-listed events is the Great Ocean Walk in Vic, Hume & Hovell Ultra in NSW, and Washpool Trails 50k in NSW.

Pictured: Adelaide 6 Day top 3 finishers Annabel Hepworth, Darren Linney, and David Billett. Photograph – Ultra Runners South Australia/Facebook.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater