AUSTRALIA DAY ULTRA RACE DIRECTOR REPORT

Kate Dzienis • January 29, 2018

Contributed by Ron Mcglinn, Race Director, Australia Day Ultra

Leading up to the 4th instalment of the Australia Day Ultra event on January 20, a number of runners had put it out there that they were going to have a shot at breaking various age group records and personal milestones. The fast, flat course did not disappoint once again.

The temperature was predicted to be somewhere around 17C overnight, however the breeze did pick up slightly, and cooled it down to somewhere in the vicinity of 10-12C….perfect running conditions, while being shielded by the paperbark trees along the estuary.

Bernadette Benson had been training to break her own race record set back in 2015 of 8:32:00 and attempting to better her age group record of 8:22 for the 100kms event. Kevin Matthews had made no secret of his attempt break his 50+ age group time set by Bryan Smith in 1995 of 7:58:38, and Richard Avery was chasing that elusive sub 7hr prize after his 7:35:56 scorcher from last year.

As midnight ticked over, Alexis Oosterhoff sent the 100kms runners off into the night, a sea of hi-vis vests and headlights. It was obviously very early on that Bernadette, Kevin and Richard were all smashing out consistent laps with all three looking very good in the early stages, all putting in speedy 12.5kms laps. The mood was light and relaxed as the runners crossed the mat after each lap, however at the 50kms mark, crossing the mat in 3:30 Richard was starting to labour after a nasty fall. At the 62.5kms point Richard regrettably called it a day, leaving Big Kev and Bernadette out there to chase their goal times. Both looked great all the way through with only slight pace drops in the last couple laps, but otherwise dream runs if you were going to label them anything.

As the sun came up over the estuary, Kevin bolted home with a brilliant time of 7:47:33, beating the old age group record by roughly 11 minutes, with Jon Pendse trailing close behind after hanging onto Kevin’s dust cloud in 8:06:50, followed closely by Bernadette (overall 3rd) with a new course record of 8:27:47. Although B missed out on the 8:22 she was after on the day, she had set another Canadian Age Group record and thoroughly showed us she is just lifting the bar with each run.

The 50kms runners were set off at 3am, with a number hoping to finish in sub 4:30 to make the pilgrimage into Bunbury to the local parkrun (which is a bit of a tradition). A last minute entrant, Wayne Spies contacted me to see if I could find a spot for him, as he was in the area, and wanted to use ADU as a training run for an upcoming event. I have to say that it was certainly impressive watching him break the course record and tuck a 3:19:03 into his belt, all the while looking like he was running down to the letterbox to post a letter.

As the sun came up and broke over the estuary and black swans, I was taken back by how many great performances I was privileged to be a witness to. As a race director you quite often get lost in the day to day running of these events which starts months in advance, but having two great friends (Alexis Oosterhoff and Shaun Kaesler) to help race direct on the day gave me the opportunity to be more a part of the atmosphere of the event, and to share in the personal triumphs of the runners as they slogged it out, out there.

Watching Sue Robertson cross under an arch of our arms to a standing ovation for her first 100kms in a time of 14:13:13 was something quite special. To be able to shed a tear with the competitors as they received an award for the Longest Day (last person on course under cut off), and break through a barrier they once never thought they would, was a truly fantastic moment and something that inspires me and the other RDs here in the wild west, to keep investing into the sport and the people.

I don’t know a better bunch of people to hang out with, and here’s hoping the pikers from this year get back to ADU next year and kick the ass out of those barriers. Even those loonies who are backing up for their 5th in a row!

Ron Mcglinn

Featured Picture: AURA member Chris Lark set in a comfortable pace to take second overall in the 50kms event at ADU. Photograph – Supplied.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater