ADELAIDE 6 DAY TAKES THE SLEEP, BUT WILMS COMPLETES RACE

Kate Dzienis • December 12, 2018

Contributed by Tony Wilms, AURA member

Nineteen runners took part in the Adelaide 6 Day Race, the first in Australia since 2014, which took place at Thorndon Park from September 30 to October 6, 2018.

A great field showed up with a good mix of new and experienced faces including John Timms who turned 76 the day before the run.

Darren Linney set the early pace, followed by Annabel Hepworth. The course was concrete with some besser pavers in one spot. In the daylight hours there was a small but noticeable hill and it didn’t seem as bad in the reverse direction, as runners changed direction every day at 10am and 10pm.

David Billett settled into third overall with his significantly long legs followed by Perry Newburn from NZ and Stephan Kent who both ran side by side for a lot of the race.

Despite my watch telling me the time and date, it still wasn’t hard to forget what day it was after a while. Everyone had their own unique strategies of coping with the fatigue. In the early hours of the night John Timms would sprint with his towel around his waist and a heap of clothes on to prevent hypothermia.

George Alexandropoulos always had a singlet on, even at night. It was as though his beard alone kept him warm.

Every lap was bit more than 1.4kms in length, and food and drink was available along with pasta, eggs and bacon along with heaps of food. The excellent volunteers kept us stocked for the whole six days, 24 hours every day.

Day three was a hot 30-degrees Celcius.

Linney was still gliding past, but now with a cap with extension flaps to combat the sun. Hepworth had a hat like Paddington Bear.

By the time the final siren went, Linneys had completed 801kms and Hepworth 744kms which are both world class results given the course was not dead flat. Billett finished with 677kms and second male while Alexandropoulos took 3rd male and no sleep on the final night with 577kms.

Newburn and Kent were a tad over 572kms.

Timms, who was going to pull out on day two, kept going for 504kms.

As for me, I finished with 433kms and survived on not much sleep. I’m sure at some stage I was meant to play tennis along with a tow truck on the course as my mind played tricks.

Thanks to Ben Hockings from Ultra Runners SA, and Sarah Barnett (who also came 2nd female) for organising the event along with Michelle Hanlin who organised all the fantastic volunteers.

The Adelaide 6 Day is on again next year and looking back at my time, it was really enjoyable.

Most of us have been talking about going in next year.

Pictured: Tony Wilms competing in the 2018 Adelaide 6 Day. Photograph – Ken Loft.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.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 AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA 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@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President