WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF – 30/10/2018

Kate Dzienis • October 30, 2018

Salming Runningworks Ultra, WA
Heysen 105, SA
Ned Kelly Chase, Vic

The weekend just zipped past, but at least we got amazing weather for the three AURA-listed events which all yielded great results.

Starting with Saturday, October 27 the inaugural Salming Runningworks Ultra 50k was held at The Spectacles over in WA, just 33-kilometres south of Perth, where runners completed laps of an Aboriginal heritage trail either in a 50k, 21.1k, or 8k distance.

For its first year, the ultra saw fantastic entrant numbers, with 20 participants in the 50k event and it was a fierce competition between two of the state’s finest ultra runners in Tony Smith from Tapping, WA and Henley Brook’s Margaret Hadley (WA) – both pictured.

Smith took the crown in overall first place after an intense time of 3:33:31, with Hadley right behind him and claiming first for the women/second overall in 3:44:17. Her time ended up being her new PB after shaving 12min off a previous race as well as catching a new marathon time.

With an early morning chill that soon disappeared thanks to the Perth weather heating up, well rounded efforts were performed by all participants. Congratulations also goes to Nicholas O’Neill (5:10:01), Mark Caldwell (5:46:29), Graham Bell (6:25:31), Fee Salmons (6:51:21) and Louise Wallace (7:24:35).

On Sunday, October 28 it was an all-out AURA podium in Victoria’s Ned Kelly Chase 100k and 50k events despite the chasers (cyclists) peddling in full force trying to catch up to runners.

Stephen Redfern from Heathcote, NSW took out the top gong, crossing the 1ook finish and squeezing in just under the eight hour mark with 7:57:39. A stellar effort from an ultra runner who has clearly made a name for himself along the eastern seaboard.

Victorian Kevin Muller, from Wodonga, was close behind Redfern, claiming second on the podium with his time of 8:16:18, while Mooroolbark’s Dan Beard (Vic) took third spot after finishing in 8:40:18.

AURA members continued to dominate with Nikki Wynd from Lysterfield (Vic) taking it home for the women, rounding out the figures with first female in 9:24:34 and Wamboin’s Pam Muston (NSW) holding it strong in second after finishing in 11:44:16.

Such an intense field at the Ned Kelly Chase with John Koon (fourth overall, 8:44:48), Mak Sawa (fifth overall, 9:11:24), Adrian Mannix (11:43:28), Phil Ryan (12:05:19), George Alexandropoulos (13:45:02) and Tony Wilms (18:48:44).

In the 50k, it was smiles all around as well-known Queensland ultra runner Tia Jones claimed the crown for the ladies, also taking second overall in a time of 3:48:53. Victorian Andrew Ross from Prahran hailed second male/third overall after crossing the finish line in a sub-four, with 3:59:08.

A podium finish also went to Amelia Griffith from Moonee Ponds (Vic), as she held strong on to second female after completing her 50k in 4:04:52.

Congratulations also goes out to all AURA members who ran in the event, including David Beasley (4:32:12), Ingrid Morrison (5:06:02), Leah Weeden (6:40:55), and Samantha Post (6:41:28).

We are still waiting for official results to be released in relation to the weekend’s Heysen 105, so stay tuned.

Pictured (feature): Kevin Muller racing in the Ned Kelly Chase. Photograph – Ned Kelly Chase/Facebook.
Pictured: Tony Smith and Margie Hadley accepting their first place finishings. Photograph – Serendipity Images/Facebook.

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