AURA STATEMENT

Kate Dzienis • April 19, 2018

AURA STATEMENT – 50kms National Championships results decision
Friday, 20 April 2018

The Australian Ultra Runners Association (AURA) has worked closely with Fairfax, the race organiser of the Australian Running Festival this past week, to come to a resolution regarding the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the 50km race, which was also the 2018 AURA 50kms Road National Championships, whereby a number of participants mistakenly took a wrong turn on the course.

It must first be clarified that the three males to place officially stayed on course whilst following the lead bike, and therefore received their podium finishings accordingly.

AURA sought clarification from the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) and based on this, provided advice to Fairfax on how to move forward with the results as well as how to manage the outcome of the 50kms National Championships.

We express our upmost empathy to all participants, especially those who were chasing PBs and qualifying times for other events. AURA understands the circumstances during the race were an isolated event, however any and all inaccuracies made will be recorded, and lessons learnt, which will then be passed on to other race directors to try and prevent this from happening again.

AURA has also come to an agreement within its committee that it will do all it can to encourage future National Championship events and their race directors to include a lead bike for both the male and female groups. And for the years 2018 / 2019, the association’s Australian Team Selection Committee will take into consideration any and all extra distances covered when reviewing applications for international representation.

After much deliberation and advice sought between AURA, Fairfax race organisers, and the IAU, it has been determined that official results must be listed as ‘gun to tape’ finish times and there can be no modification, and that runners must have completed the full and complete course. However Fairfax are welcome to publish a secondary set of ‘unofficial’ results to estimate 50kms times based on mat recordings.

Therefore the placings in the women’s event under Fairfax are as follows:

Larissa Tichon
Karen Pienaar
Rachel Glasson
Alena Scurrah

Because of the circumstances, it has been decided to award the AURA 50kms National Championship jointly to Larissa Tichon and Rachel Glasson, with Alena Scurrah third (Karen Pienaar is not an AURA member).

Alexis Oosterhoff
Vice President
AURA

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2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026

AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026

AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time. From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points: At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event. The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line. At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time. Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events.