2025 Annual Award Winners
in february 2026, AUTRA announced its winners for the 2025 annual runnerS of the year awards
2025 Performance of the Year Award
selected by members with nominations opened at the end of each year
Phil Gore (WA)
For his outstanding performance at Big's Backyard Ultra Individual World Championship in October, 2025, where he once again proved why he sits at the very top of the backyard ultra world. Competing in the US, Phil was the last one standing at the event, completing an extraordinary 114 yards, equalling 764.94km. The performance further cemented his status as the world's most dominant backyard ultra runner, maintaining his position as the Backyard Ultra World Record holder, following his 119 yard (798.49km) performance at Dead Cow Gully in June, 2025.
From Phil:
My result at the Backyard World Championships was the culmination of a five-year journey toward this event. I first heard about Big’s after my first backyard race in 2020. In 2021, I qualified, but was unable to attend, and in 2023, I made it to the event, but ultimately DNF’d after 100 hours. To come back again in 2025, having learned from those experiences and coming off the back of a world record earlier in the year, made this performance particularly meaningful. Backyard racing rewards patience, resilience, and execution, and being able to put everything together on the world stage was very special. A huge thank you to Gemma and Mally, along with everyone else who supported me throughout the event to help make this result possible.
2025 FEMale ULTRA Runner of the Year
For outstanding single or collective performances by a FEmale
Holly Ranson (SA)
For her performance at the 2025 24hr World Championships in Albi, France (October) where she delivered one of the best 24-hour performances ever by an Australian, covering 274.172km to take individual silver, breaking the previous world record. Holly (W35–39) broke multiple national marks, setting new open and age-group records for the 12-hour (145.531 km), 100-mile (13:21:36), 200km (16:52:51) and 24-hour (274.172 km) events, also claiming the IAU Continental Oceania and IAU WABP W35 titles.
Also for her race at the 2025 Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra (June) where she secured a new Australian Women's Record as the last woman standing, completing a total of 62 loops.
2025 Male ULTRA Runner of the Year
For outstanding single or collective performances by a male
Phil Gore (WA)
For his performance at the 2025 Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra (June) after claiming the title of Last One Standing with 119 laps/yards or 798km and securing the New World Record, Australian Record and Men's Record in the backyard format.
2025 Helen Stanger Award
For the greatest single best ultra running achievement by a female under age 60
Jenny White (NSW)
For her performance at the 2025 24hr World Championships in Albi, France (October), completing a total of 237.442km and helping secure a Team Silver for Australia. She set new age-group records (W40–44) for 200km (19:54:57) and 24-hour (237.442 km).
2025 Bryan Smith Award
For the greatest single best ultra running achievement by a male under age 60
Clay Dawson (Qld)
For his performance at the 2025 IAU 100km Asia & Oceania Championships in Bangkok, Thailand (November), taking silver with a successful campaign as captain that saw him cross the finish line in 7:15:22. This helped secure the Australian Men's Team to claim silver in the team results.
2025 Young Female Ultra Runner of the Year
For outstanding single or collective performances by an up and coming female under age 30
Maia Nagy (ACT)
For her race at the 2025 Sri Chinmoy 48hr Track Festival in Canberra, ACT (March) where she secured 254.792km and a new W20-24 48hr Australian Record.
2025 Young MALE Ultra Runner of the Year
For outstanding single or collective performances by an up and coming male under age 30
George Knight (Tas)
For his 2nd Place win at the 2025 GPT 100 Miler (November) where he finished in 23:16:07.
2025 Shirley Young Award
For the greatest single best ultra running achievement by a female over the age of 60
Heather Hawkins (NSW)
For her performance at the 2025 Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational in the ACT (July) where she secured a new W60 12hr Record of 89.958km, and for her race at the 2025 Southern Sydney Ultra where she smashed the 100mi W60-64 Australian Age Record with 1D:4H:26M:43S.
2025 CLIFF Young Award
For the greatest single best ultra running achievement by a male over the age of 60
Barry McBride (SA)
For setting multiple Australian Age Group records and a World Age Group record at the 2025 SA Track Ultra (September) including the M70 12hr, 100mi, 100km and 50mi.
Also for his performance at the 2025 Dusk to Dawn (November) where he broke the IAU Age Record in the 12-hour, taking the Men's 1st Place finish with a total distance of 113.544km. It also meant he broke his own 50km and 100km National Age Group Records.
2025 FEMALE TRAIL RUNNER OF THE YEAR Award
For OUTSTANDING SINGLE OR COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE TRAIL RUNNER OF ANY DISTANCE
Nicole Paton (Vic)
For her performances at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain (September) where in the 83km event, she finished 55th Female Overall and 1st Australian Female with a time of 12:58:11; her 1st Female win at the 2025 Kunanyi Mountain Run (March) 66km with a time of 8:58:35; and her 2nd Female placing at the 2025 GPT 100 Miler (November) with a time of 29:12:30.
2025 MALE TRAIL RUNNER OF THE YEAR Award
For OUTSTANDING SINGLE OR COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCES BY A MALE TRAIL RUNNER OF ANY DISTANCE
Ben Burgess (Qld)
For his performance at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain (September) where in the 83km event he finished 51st Overall in 10:26:56, and for his 1st Male placing at the 2025 Kunanyi Mountain Run (March) 66km with 7:08:05, which was a new Course Record (Ultra Solo).
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