Weekly News Report 26-04-2024

Kate Dzienis • April 26, 2024

Cairns 50, Qld
IAU 24hr Asia & Oceania Championships, ACT
Australian 24hr Track Invitational, (National 24hr Championships), ACT
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival, NSW
Backyard Ultra Trial Series, Vic
Upcoming Events

WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 26-04-2024

As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@aura.asn.au with the following information:

Word document, single spaced
Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great)
Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way!
As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report
No PDFs please

And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AURA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AURA member for the 2024 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AURA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au

If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

cairns 50 (qld)

The Cairns 50 Ultra was held on 5 April 2024 in Glenoma Park, Qld and is known to be the only 50km road ultra in Far North Queensland. On offer was the 50km ultra distance (with 50 finishers) as well as a 10km and 30km, so there was something for everyone.

In the Men’s 50km, AURA’s very own Joshua Chugg from Hamilton Hill (WA) took top honours with 1^st male, coming through the finish line at a fantastic 3:21:43. Second and 3^rd Male were named Jarrod Ausburn (4:02:48) and Julian Picot (4:09:53).

In the Women’s 50km, top spots were awarded to Akane Goode (4:19:55), Isis Flynn-Pittar (4:34:38) and Kryssi O’Hare Siplon (4:39:42).

Well done goes out to our AURA member Gary Venz from Port Douglas (Qld) who also completed the 50km distance and did so in 5:11:08.

For the full list of results, click through here.

iau 24hr asia & oceania championships (act)

There were 3-events-in-one for the following race/s, so we’ll separate them for simplicity and accuracy. The 2024 IAU 24hr Asia & Oceania Championships were held the weekend of 6-7 April 2024 at the AIS in Canberra, ACT with a chosen team of Aussies. These championships were also held at the same time alongside the Australian 24hr Track Invitational, which was also hosting the Australian 24hr National Championships (which are open to everyone wanting to participate, members and non-members alike).

The IAU event was Australia’s first time hosting a Championship.

It started with a downpour of rain, but the weather soon improved and set the stage for a fiercely competitive race. The individual winners in the men’s and women’s categories, Amar Singh Devanda from India and Cassie Cohen representing Australia, displayed exceptional prowess and determination, setting the tone for an exhilarating competition.

In the Men’s competition, it was Amar Singh Devanda from India, our own Phil Gore from Australia, and Ullas Narayana from India who seized an early lead and maintained their positions throughout the race.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s competition, Carol Robertson from New Zealand initially led the race, accompanied by Maree Connor and Cassie Cohen, both from Australia. Ultimately, Cassie, Maree and Jennifer White, all from Australia, secured their places on the podium.

Men’s Top 6:

1. Amar Singh Devanda (IND) - 272.537 km
2. Phil Gore (AUS) - 265.653 km
3. Ullas Narayana (IND) - 245.574 km
4. Saurav Ranjan (IND) - 240.137 km
5. Luke Thompson (AUS) - 231.753 km
6. John Bayne (NZL) - 229.447 km

Women’s Top 6:

1. Cassie Cohen (AUS) - 227.803 km
2. Maree Connor (AUS) - 221.347 km
3. Jennifer White (AUS) - 217.430 km
4. Shannon Leigh-Litt (NZL) - 213.609 km
5. Carol Robertson (NZL) - 209.642 km
6. Allicia Heron (AUS) - 203.531 km

Men’s Team Standings:

1. India - 758.248 km
2. Australia - 719.560 km
3. New Zealand - 636.679 km

Women’s Team Standings

1. Australia - 666.580 km
2. New Zealand - 568.401 km
3. Chinese Taipei - 551.686 km

Congratulations to each and every one of our AURA members who represented the Green and Gold:

Men (25 competitors):

2^nd Phil Gore (265.653km)
5^th Luke Thompson (231.753km)
8^th John Yoon (222.154km)
12^th Matthew Griggs (204.850km)
16^th Michael Hooker (187.649km)
21^st Grant Brisbin (172.848km)

Women (20 competitors)

1^st Cassie Cohen (227.803km)
2^nd Maree Connor (217.430km)
3^rd Jennifer White (217.430km)
6^th Allicia Heron (203.531km)

Full list of results can be found here.

above images supplied by IAU

AUSTRALIAN 24HR TRACK INVITATIONAL / NATIONAL 24HR CHAMPIONSHIPS) (ACT)

Held 6-7 April 2024, the Australian 24hr Invitational and Australian 24hr National Championships took place at the same time and the same location at the IAU event above.

Please note, as explained on the Australian 24hr Track Invitational Facebook page by race director Matthew Eckford, that due to a technical fault in the timing system that occurred at 3am (the daylight savings change-over time), lap recording and live results displayed in the Australian 24hr Championships race thereafter were not 100% accurate. A full explanation can be found on the FB page.

Results below are according to the best efforts by Matthew and his team, who have worked tirelessly to get the best provisional results possible.

A reminder also that winners of the Championships – podium positions in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions – do not need to be financial AURA members. They simply need to win 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd to be recognised as Championship winners by AURA).

In the Women’s 24hr event (championships), AURA’s very own Holly Ranson from Renmark (SA) took home the top spot following a fantastic 545 laps to secure a total of 238.546km. Second Female went to AURA’s Corrina Black from Mermaid Beach (Qld) who finished with 518 laps and a total of 226.958km, whilst AURA member Liv Compton from Cannonvale (Qld) claimed 3^rd following 460 laps and a total of 201.533km.

In the Men’s 24hr event (championships), 1^st Male went to Blaine Bourke (235.704km), a non-AURA member. AURA’s Joe Ward from Manly (NSW) won 2^nd Male after 486 laps and a total of 212.975km, whilst AURA member Adam Keighran from Helensburgh (NSW) took home 3^rd Male with 453 laps and 198.536km.

Congratulations to everyone who ran in the Invitational/Championships, including Kath Judge (189.768km), Margie Hadley (182.520km), Bernadette Benson (161.510km), Jason Richard (172.509km), Stephen Bowers (170.816km), John Walsh (162.386km), Rick Wales (114.482km), Greg Wilson (108.549km), Steve Appleby (100.670km), Clay Dawson (100.670km), Ken Marsh (100.670km), Mark Avery (94.543km) and Kevin Muller (75.721km).

Above Image supplied

Lithgow Ridgy Didge Trail Run Festival (NSW)

The Lithgow Ridgy Didge Trail Run Festival was held on 6 April at the Lithgow Pony Club in Lithgow, NSW with host Blue Mountains Fitness offering 7km, 13km, 22km, 30km, Mara and a 50km.

In the 50km event, there were 42 finishers.

For the Men’s 50km, top spots went to Peter Braga (5:24:56), Tian-Ming Whyithe (5:36:39) and Ian Wheatley (5:42:07) while in the Women’s 50km, winners were named Georgia Winton (6:12:22), Beatriz Ogilvie (6:34:30) and Angela Tokley (7:24:36).

Well done to our AURA member Dave Brown who ran in the 50km and finished in 7:28:09!

For the full list of results, including the 7km, 13km, 22km, 30km and 42km, click here.

Backyard Ultra Trial Series Bendigo (Vic)

The Backyard Ultra Trial Series – Bendigo event was held on 7 April at Big Hill, Vic hosted by North-Vic Backyard Ultras, and is done in the backyard format for all levels of runners, especially beginners.

In the Men’s event, top spots were awarded to Kurt Northausen, David Snowden and Cameron White and for the Women’s event it was Stacie Symons, Rachel Jenkins and Rebecca Schifferle.

UPCOMING EVENTS

4 May: Dead Cow Gully Dead Cow Gully, Qld
5 May: Organ Pipes Classic kunanyi/Mt Wellington, Tas
8 May: Irrational SOUTH Heysen Trail, SA
16 May: Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB NSW
17 May: No Time to Die LOS Victoria Park, SA
1 Jun: Coffs Backyard Ultra LOS Coffs Harbour Showground, NSW
7 Jun: Southern Sydney 24/48 Ultra / Australian 48H Australian Championships NSW
8 Jun: Adelaide 24 Hour Festival Memorial Drive, SA
8 Jun: Ultra Perth Sir James Mitchell Park, WA
15 Jun: Red Dirt Backyard Ultra Balmoral Rd Caravan Park, WA
21 Jun: Wild Dog Backyard Ultra Lardner Park, Vic
22 Jun: Transcend Walyunga National Park, WA
28 Jun: Brisbane Ultra Trail Brisbane, Qld
28 Jun: 3M3D Kuranda, Qld
6 Jul: Lakes Trail Festival Hawks Nest, NSW
6 Jul: Ultra Adelaide Elder Park, SA
20 Jul: Yaberoo Trail Ultra Yaberoo Budjara Heritage Trail, WA
20 Jul: Boyne Valley 50 Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail, Qld
21 Jul: Antsy for Anstey Anstey Recreational Park, SA
21 Jul: Karratha Trail Adventures Karratha BMX Track, WA

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AUTRA News Report 19-02-2025

By Kate Dzienis • February 19, 2025

The latest in race results, covering Cradle Mountain Run, City Run, Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut and Yaberoo Trail Ultra.

Final 2024 Points Competition Results

By Alexis Oosterhoff • January 30, 2025

Results for the 2024 AUTRA Points Competition have been finalised, and are available on our Points Competition page. Full details of the top 10 (as shared on Facebook during January) are detailed below, and results for all participating AUTRA members can be found in the documents at the above link. It was a real battle throughout the year between our top two finishers, Phil Gore & Kevin "BK" Matthews, with both giving it their it their all at events, and through contributions to the community - volunteering at multiple events, and submitting articles to our monthly newsletter, Ultramag. They finished within 2km of total distance for the year (Phil on 1203.087km, and Kevin on 1205.510km), and it was only Phil's final volunteering effort on 6 Inch Trail Marathon in December that gave him the that very narrow victory. As you'd be aware from previous communications, this marks the end of the Points Competition. With trail running (of all distances) now incorporated into AU T RA's constitution, and after careful consideration of the costs of the competition payouts in it's current form, the committee felt it was time for it's retirement. This marks my seventh and final year of delivering the points competition to membership (2018-2024), after taking on the role from Cheryl Symons. It has brought me great joy in doing so, and I feel like I've had an opportunity to get to know so many of our members through seeing their race (and volunteering) performances over the years! I'm continuing in my role as the AUS/NZL statistician for DUV (from whom we shared the data for the points comp), and you can expect to continue to find your ultra-race result on their site. 1st Place - Phil Gore (WA) - 86 points Phil's achievements this year have included a massive 265.653km (and 2nd place) at the IAU 24h Asia & Oceania Championships, wins at the Red Dirt Backyard Ultra (33 laps), the Australian leg of Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship (96 laps), and the Soochow/Taipei 24h Ultramarathon (270.826km). He also knocked out an easy (!) 72km at the Light Horse Ultra 24h in between supporting his amazing wife Gemma. Those two 24h wins netted Phil new Oceania 24h Open Male records, IAU Level 1 qualifiers, and pushed him to the top of Australia's 24h trophy board (with only the great Yiannis Kouros having run further). Phil topped-up his points by contributing one article to Ultramag, worked as an Event Director at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, and volunteered at a further five events through the year. He finished on 86 points. 2nd Place - Kevin Matthews (WA) - 84 points Finishing in 2nd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Kevin Matthews. He monstered his way through the year with finishes at Australia Day Ultra 100km, Delirious WEST 200mi, 24 laps at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, 190km at Light Horse Ultra 24h, 23 laps at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, and also completed Feral Pig 100 miler, Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km. And to top things off, he contributed five articles to Ultramag, and volunteered at five events. BK ran 1205km in Ultramarathon races this year, all of them AUTRA-listed, and surpassed 100 marathon finishes (including 51 Ultramarathons!) Kevin finished the year on 84 points, a massive 34 points ahead of our 3rd place finisher Sue Robertson. 3rd Place - Sue Robertson (WA) - 50 points Finishing in 3rd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Sue Robertson. Sue completed the Ultra Series 100 miler trilogy of Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST, and rounded out her year with the Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km races. She received 30 points from the racing at AUTRA-listed events, and was awarded a further 20 points by volunteering across eight events and contributing two articles to Ultramag, for a total of 50 points for the year. Thank you Sue! 4th Place - Margie Hadley (WA) - 47 points Finishing in 4th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Margie Hadley . She was the top-female finisher at both the No Time to Die Frontyard Ultra & Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, 2nd at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, ran 182km at the Australian 24h Track Invitational and placed 3rd at Coast to Kosci. Margie received 47 points in the competition 5th Place - Melissa Robertson (NSW) - 44 points Finishing in 5th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Melissa Robertson. Melissa took out 1st place at Irrational SOUTH 200 miler, 2nd place at Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place at Hume & Hovell 100 miler, 3rd place at Rumble in the Jungle and 6th place at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100 miler! She also volunteered at the GNW 50km event, receiving 44 points in the competition! 6th Place - Aaron Young (WA) - 42 points Finishing in 6th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Aaron Young . Aaron finished in 1st place at each of the Ultra Series "Triple Crown" of 200 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), 55 laps at Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship, and rounded his year out with Feral Pig 100 miler. Aaron receives 42 points, just nudging ahead of Maree Connor (who also finished on 42 points) on a count-back 7th Place - Maree Connor (NSW) - 42 points Finishing in 7th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Maree Connor. Maree had an outstanding year, achieving 2nd place with 221km (and an IAU Level 1 qualifier) at the IAU 24th Asian and Oceania Championships, 1st place at the Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place with 67km at the Southern Sydney 6h race, and 1st place with 116km at the Narrabeen Allnighter 12h. Maree also competed at Spartathlon race this year (for which she contributed an article to the September Ultramag on her experience), receiving 42 points in the competition. 8th Place - Darren Linney (SA) - 41 points Finishing in 8th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is SA's Darren Linney . Darren completed 34 laps at No Time to Die BYU, 199km at the Adelaide 24h race, and 814km at the Australian 6 Day race, for a total of 1241km raced and 41 points . 9th Place - Tristan Cameron (WA) - 40 points Finishing in 9th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Tristan Cameron. Tristan completed the Ultra Series Triple Crown of 200 mile races (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), along with Feral Pig 100 miler, for a total of 1154km raced and 40 points. 10th Place - Jen Millum (WA) - 39 points Finishing in 10th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Jen Millum . Jen finished 1st at all three of the Ultra Series Trilogy of 100 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), and was 2nd female with 35 laps at the Wild Dog Backyard Ultra. With a volunteer stint at the Yaberoo Trail Ultra, Jen finished the year with 39 points in the competition. To view the complete list of members who secured points in 2024 click here and then follow through to Points Summary under the 2024 tab. All winners have already been contacted, with cash prizes distributed for 1st - 7th places, and AUTRA Store vouchers sent for 8th, 9th & 10th.