WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 17-06-2021

Kate Dzienis • June 17, 2021

Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler, SA
Upcoming Events

IRRATIONAL S.O.U.T.H 200 MILER

Two years ago after the success of race director Shaun Kaesler’s Delirious W.E.S.T 200 Miler in WA, plans were already in place to add to the 200 table within the Ultra Series banner. The Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler is only the 2nd point-to-point annual 200 miler in the southern hemisphere, and it was finally held earlier this month from 9-13 June, with runners making their way from Lavender Federation Trail Murray Bridge to Clare, SA.

Kaesler said setback after setback from the world pandemic was just something completed unanticipated for.

“A 200 miler isn’t something you can just postpone for a week or two if borders change, outbreaks happen or conditions are thrown around,” he said.

“A 200 miler takes 11.5 months of planning for organisers (or 2 years in this case with 2 previous postponements) and an equal amount of time for entrants, volunteers and support staff as all of us take a dedicated time allocation to ensure we are available for the week that the event is planned for.

“Come race day eve, I received confirmation that no fewer than another 5 runners weren’t coming, crippled by the pandemic, and once again my heart had sunk. From 52 entries we were going to struggle to have 20 starters.”

But the Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler went ahead, and with bated breath a mass load of volunteers, crew and people on the socials followed the event.

And so, your Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler finishers are:

AURA’s Kieran O’Brien from Auchenflower, Qld clocked in to complete the race in a whopping 52:50:01, claiming 1stMale. Following his win, Matthew Woodman took 2nd Male with 64:11:02 and Nick O’Neill took 3rd Male (66:28:25).

For the women’s event, Jacqueline Cresp held on for 1st Female with 73:37:06 and Julie Sager took 2nd Female (74:59:22). AURA member Nicola Walters from Broome, WA wasn’t far behind, closing in and crossing the finish line in 80:12:02.

A massive, virtual-high-five congratulations to everyone who completed the Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler, including our AURA members Jimmy Brook (80:12:02) from Parmelia, WA; Jeremy Beauglehole (80:32:47) from Australind, ACT; and Harmony Waite (88:31:25) from The Vines, WA.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon Weekend from 19-20 June is new to the AURA calendar, and how spectacular does it look! The course takes runners on an amazing journey that takes in the best sights of Newnes and the Wolgan Valley, with participants running across creek crossings, sections of long single trail, old mine cuttings, ruins and some long forgotten railway easements. The event offers a marathon distance, half marathon, 6km and a ‘Mountain Mile’.

GoodRunning’s River Run will be held at Onkaparinga River Recreational Park in SA on 20 June and will offer participants a 5km looped course for 60km, 50km, 42.2km, 30km, 21.1km, 15km, 10km, 7.5km, 5km, 2.5km and 1km.

Another new event on the AURA calendar is the hotly anticipated Transcend Ultra to be held in WA’s Swan Valley at Walyunga National Park on 20 June and finishing near the historic town of Toodyay. The 60km distance is offered for solo runners or teams of 2-4.

The Wild Goose Chase Running Festival kicks off on 25 June and runs through to 27 June, with the weekend offering distances for all abilities from the 5km to the 100 miler.

Come July and we’ve got the Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational from 3-4 July at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, and the Lakes100 across the same weekend in Hawks Nest, NSW.

REMINDER

We love making mention of AURA members when they achieve incredible results at other races across the country and around the world, so if you or someone you know is an AURA member and they’ve had an amazing event that isn’t AURA-listed, email kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au and keep us in the loop!

Pictured: Although not an AURA member, this is an image of Glen Brooks, with 8km to go from the finish at Irrational S.O.U.T.H, making his way with pacer Margot. Photograph – Tash Sekulic.

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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