WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 29-03-2023

Kate Dzienis • March 29, 2023

Noosa Ultra-Trail (Qld)
Sri Chinmoy 48hr Track (ACT)
kunanyi Mountain Run (Tas)
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival (NSW)
Washpool World Heritage Trails (NSW)
Upcoming Events

We are always on the hunt for your stories and reports, so with March Ultramag due out soon, send in your incredible tales to ultramag@aura.asn.au And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AURA-listed event specifically!

If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please do so via email by contacting Kate Dzienis at kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au

NOOSA ULTRA-TRAIL, QLD

Noosa-Ultra Trail festival was held over the weekend from 23-26 March in Qld.

Ultra Trail 100 Men’s results for the podium were Andrew Dey in 1st Male (9:23:45) and AURA’s very own Noelis Rheault from Carindale, Qld who took 2nd Male after crossing the finish line in 10:53:16. Marc Godemann took 3rd(11:29:09).

In the Women’s Ultra Trail 100, Roxanne Shahtahmasebi took 1st Female (11:45:56) whilst AURA member Anna Pillinger from Fairlight, NSW claimed 2nd Female with her fantastic time of 11:53:03). Jacqui Bell won 3rd Female (12:49:50).

Congratulations to all AURA members who ran in the Ultra Trail 100 (of which there were 41 finishers), including Luca Turrini (11:40:16) from Little Bay, NSW; Ben Wilson (12:52:16) from The Gap, Qld; and Adrian Polidano (14:26:40) from Pacific Paradise, Qld.

The Hinterland Traverse 80km saw 35 finishers cross the finish line.

In the Men’s Hinterland Traverse 80km, top podium spots went to Shaun Pettit (8:07:09), Michael Bray (8:44:35) and Jarrod Snow (8:50:11).

In the Women’s Hinterland Traverse 80km event, Carol Robertson won 1st Female (8:44:51) whilst our very own AURA Treasurer Simone Hayes from Gymea Bay, NSW secured herself a top spot as 2nd Female with her brilliant time of 9:23:54. Valerie Fox won 3rd Female (10:00:43).

The Out’N’Back 50km saw 259 runners finish their distance.

In the Men’s Out’N’Back 50km, top spots were won by Anthony Gordon (4:20:25), Richardt Schwalb (4:21:41) and Travis McElligott (4:22:32). In the Women’s Out’N’Back 50km, the winner was named Juliette Soule (4:00:57) whilst AURA member Kellie Angel nee Emmerson took a brilliant 2nd Female with a great finish time of 4:07:40. Kate Wildes took 3rd (4:36:58).

Well done to all our AURA members who raced in the 50km, including Trent Milton (6:09:55) from Brisbane, Qld; Sarah-Jane Hipwell (6:54:18) from Rochedale South, Qld; Clifford Jones (8:21:14) from Palm Cove, Qld;

To see the full results, click here.

PHOTOS

Noelis Rheault on the 100km at Noosa Ultra-Trail.

Noelis Rheault, far left, on the podium after his 100km at Noosa Ultra-Trail.

Simone Hayes (far right) on the podium after her 80km at Noosa Ultra-Trail.

SRI CHINMOY 48HR TRACK, ACT (AUSTRALIAN 48HR CHAMPIONSHIPS)

The Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival, which kicked off on Friday, 24 March 2023 at the Australian Institute of Sport in the ACT, also doubled up as the 2023 Australian 48 Hour Championships.

(Please note, 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 1st, 2nd and 3rd to be recognised as Championship winners).

What incredible performances on the track! Need I say more?

In the 48hr, there were 21 participants in total (8 women, 13 men).

American Camille Herron set a new 48 Hour World Record, passing the mark set last month by Joasia Zakrzewski at Taipei Ultramarathon with a final distance of 411.458km; Camille passed that in 45:08:06. Taking 1st Female with a new Women’s Record, she took it in 435.336km (270.505mi) and a total of 1,088 laps around the track. Camille also secured herself a number of other records including 1st Female to be the Overall American Record Holder at any distance.

In 2nd Place for the Women, it was Gesiane Nascimento who finished with 259.849km in 649 laps and in 3rd it was Paola Flury with 243.784km in 609 laps.

However, because Herron and Nascimento are non-Australians, the 1st Place Female title in the Australian 48hr Championships went to Flury, whilst 2nd Female went to Beck Myors (226.160km) and 3rd Female to AURA’s Karen Woon Cheung Chan from Coogee, NSW who finished with a total of 219.089km.

A big congratulations to AURA men who filled out the podium in the 48hr. Joffrid Mackett from Gordon, ACT secured 1st Male with 294.973km in 737 laps, Greg Wilson from Kyneton, Vic who took 2nd Male with 287.404km in 718 laps and David Billett from Coromandel Valley, SA who won 3rd Male after finishing with a total of 266.705km in 666 laps.

RECORDS! Mackett secured himself a new Australian Record in the Open 48hr Walk and Centurion 100mi, whilst Wilson a new M70 Australian Record: 200km and 48hr!

Spectacular performances by everyone in the 48hr! Congratulations to Matthew Griggs (238.400km), Peter Murphy (212.450km), Ron Schwebel (207.623km), Zed Slotnick (205.607km), Annabel Hepworth (200km) and Paul Gay (186.285km).

In the 24 Hour, there were 15 participants (9 women, 6 men)

In the Men’s 24 Hour, the top spot was awarded to AURA member Grant Brisbin from Woy Woy, NSW who won 1stMale after a fantastic 225.197km in 543 laps. 2nd Male was won by Ullas Narayana (220.636km) and 3rd was taken by Troy Ruivenkamp (173.407km). Well done to AURA’s Richard Crane from Farrer who secured himself 66.767km in his event.

In the Women’s 24 Hour, AURA’s very own Maree Connor from Newcastle, NSW took the honours of top spot with a total distance of 212.650km in 512 laps. AURA member Amanda Pavey from Heathwood, Qld took 2nd Female with 194.143km in 468 laps whilst Priyanka Bhatt took 3rd Female (184.577km).

Congratulations also to our members Lisa Sherman (182.547km) and Kathryn Austin (121.093km) in the 24 hour!

16 runners participated in the 12 hour event (6 women, 10 men).

In the Men’s 12 Hour, AURA member Kevin Muller from Wodonga, Vic secured himself 1st Male after completing 138.015km in 345 laps as well as claiming a new M50 12hr Australian Record! Congratulations Kevin, a well-deserved record! Second Male went to Daragh O’Loughlin (124.618km) and 3rd went to Stuart Wallace (110.072km).

In the Women’s 12 Hour, 1st and 2nd Female went to Sharon Pieterse (92.518km) and Niboddhri Christie (90.518km) respectively, whilst 3rd Female was won by AURA’s Leah Weeden from Harrison, ACT who took the podium finish after completing 87.718km in 219 laps.

Well done to AURA member Brent Ford from Gungahlin, ACT who ran 73.526km in 183 laps.

There was also a 6 Hour event, in which 24 runners participated (12 women, 12 men).

In the Men’s 6 Hour, podium finishes went to Baden Reynolds (79.461km) and AURA member Tom Allen from Lyneham, ACT who took 2nd Male after completing a total distance of 71.865km in 173 laps. Third Male went to Ashley Colquhoun (71.236km).

In the Women’s 6 Hour, 1st Female was won by Kelly Bennett (54.185km), 2nd Female by Nikki Whelan (54.146km) and 3rd Female by AURA member Kerrie Bremner from Nicholls, ACT who completed 62.679km in 127 laps.

Congratulations to all our AURA members who raced in the 6 Hour, including John Nuttall (54.374km), Bei Hu(50.541km), Kirsten Maplestone (43.060km), David Von Senden (29.443km) and Dominic Bullock (27.370km).

For the full list of results, click here.

PHOTOS

Kirsten Maplestone fan-girling over Camille Heron at the Sri Chinmoy event.

Joffrid Mackett in the 48hr. Photograph – Jillian Mitchell.

Greg Wilson in the 48hr. Photograph – Jillian Mitchell.

Matthew Griggs in the 48hr. Photograph – Jillian Mitchell.

AURA member Brent Ford sporting his club shirt in the 12hr. Photograph – Jillian Mitchell.

KUNANYI MOUNTAIN RUN, TAS (AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE TRAIL CHAMPIONSHIPS)

The kunanyi Mountain Run was held across the weekend (24-26 March, 2023) in Tasmania, and doubled up as this year’s Australian Short Course Trail Championships. On offer for ultra runners was the Ultra 67km race, which saw 111 participants run in.

In the Men’s 67km, Andrew Gaskell took 1st Male (7:52:25) whilst AURA member Nigel Hill from Bullengarook, Vic took home 2nd Male after a spectacular run and crossing the finish line in 8:18:28. Liam Crozier took 3rd Male (8:23:17).

In the Women’s 67km, top spots were awarded to AURA’s very own Sarah Ludowici from Sydney, NSW who took 1st Female in a spectacular time of 9:09:27; Jasmine Sargeant (9:13:19) and Meagan Brown (9:27:03).

Congratulations to all our AURA members who ran in the kunanyi Mountain Run 67km solo event, including Jessica Schluter (9:56:49), Gill Fowler (10:17:32), Gerard Riordan (10:53:15), Geoffrey Langhans (12:07:44) and Shiree Yap (12:42:40).

For the full list of results, click here.

LITHGOW RIDGY-DIDGE TRAIL RUN FESTIVAL, NSW

Blue Mountains Fitness hosted the Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival over the weekend (25 March, 2023) in the beautiful ridges on Hassans Walls above Lithgow. For ultra runners, there was a 50km event options, whilst others got a chance to participate in a 42km, 30km, 22km, 13km and 7km.

35 runners raced in the 50km, with only 3 DNFs.

In the Men’s 50km, podium finishers were named Marc Brown (5:38:16), Steve Bushby (5:43:10) and Ryan Mckernan (6:05:00). In the Women’s 50km, winners were Florentina Dulceanu (6:27:06), Kristy Killesteyn (6:50:56) and Madie Garnache (7:06:38).

For the full list of results, click here.

WASHPOOL WORLD HERITAGE TRAILS, NSW

He 13th running of the Washpool World Heritage Trails was, according to race director Keelan Birch, the biggest year of the event to date. Held on Sunday, 26 March 2023 entries sold out quickly and in the end 150 runners took part in the event with the 50km (44 participants) and 25km (83 participants) having the largest fields to date.

It was the 2nd year the Coffs Trail Runners organised and hosted the race, and in the 50km division, participants enjoyed cooler conditions of the day and no one took a wrong turn.

In the Men’s 50km, a new course record was secured by 1st Male winner Tait Hearps who finished the distance in 3:49:31 – a full 10 minutes faster than the previous record. Second Male was won by David Waugh (4:32:26) and 3rd Male was claimed by Will Davies (4:38:24).

In the Women’s 50km, the top podium spot was awarded to Belinda James (4:53:13) whilst 2nd Female was won by AURA’s Clare Palmer from Glenreagh, NSW who crossed the finish line in 4:54:08, less than one minute behind the winner (she posted the 4th fastest 50km time in the race’s history). AURA member Lou Clifton from Mt Victoria, NSW took 3rd Female in 5:02:46 – a stellar effort on the back of Six Foot Track two weeks ago.

Congratulations to AURA member Adrian Marchioro from Clunes, NSW who finished his 50km event in a fantastic time of 5:33:00.

UPCOMING EVENTS

It’s April next weekend, so that’s a wrap for March!

Go West hosted by AAA Racing will be held on 1 April and allow runners to traverse the Flinders-Gooldman Conservation Estate in Ipswich, Qld from one end to the other and back.

The Cairns 50 will also be held from 1-2 April with a 50km option for ultra runners; this is a road ultra through the Redlynch Valley rainforest and cane fields.

Tamworth Trailblazer kicks off on Sunday, 2 April in Tamworth, Qld offering runners a 60km (4 laps) option for ultra runners; known to be the race ‘where fun goes to die’. The highly anticipated Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra in Runnymede, Qld will start on 8 April and continue until there is only one person standing while the Irrational South 100 & 200 miler hosted by Ultra Series SA in the Flinders Ranges will see runners leave the start line on Wednesday, 12 April.

From 15-16 April, runners will race in the 2023 Coburg 24 Hour Carnival in Coburg, Vic which will also double up as this year’s Australian 24 Hour Championships.

That’s not it for April though!

The GUMBY (Great Ultra Mediocre Back Yarder) will be held from 21-23 April in Corree, ACT whilst the Bottlebutt Bash Trail Run kicks off on 23 April in Herons Creek, NSW. Down Under 135 in Darley, Vic will be held from 28-30 April and WA’s Lighthorse Ultra in Woodvale will kick off 29 April.

Pictured: AURA members Matthew Griggs, Greg Wilson (great shirt Greg!) and Justin Hiatt at the 2023 Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival. Photograph – Supplied/FB.

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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.