JONES TAKES INSPIRATION FROM OTHERS AT BUTTER 24 & 48

Kate Dzienis • October 1, 2020

Contributed by Tia Jones, 1st Female/1st Overall at the Butter 24 & 48 and AURA member

Butter 24 & 48, 25-27 September 2020, Qld

The third running of the Butter 24hr race took place at a new venue this year at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Boondall in Queensland. The track and its facilities were great for this format of race, with an international standard athletics track running surface, access to toilets, showers and electricity for hot food and water.

When Bryan and I arrived early on Saturday to set up for the race the wind was already gusting and from what race director Alun Davies told us they had to battle with high winds, heat and an evening storm from the beginning of the 48hr race on Friday. The winds had been so bad that they had taken down most of the gazebos, three of which were badly damaged and had postponed the race for a brief period due to an electrical storm.

We set up our seconding table and waited for the start of the race at 10am.

The race was started promptly at 10am with 11 runners in the race.

It was getting quite hot but the high winds were actually a relief and helped cool us down from the hot, dry heat. The race was progressing smoothly until around lap 21 when a huge gust of wind lifted the covering over the timing system and pulled up the electrical connection and wiring to the system.

Luckily no one was hurt as runners where running over the mat as it happened. This resulted in Susannah (co race director) having to manually count the laps of all the runners for three hours in the hot sun until Alun managed to reconnect the system and get it up and running again.

It took a further two hours to update the system and to get information available again on the number of completed laps. Unfortunately the system went down again 45 minutes before the end of the race and Susannah stepped up again to manually count until the end.

A huge thanks to Susannah, Alun and his team for working so hard in very difficult and trying conditions to recover the timing system and keep the race going. As race directors you can plan and prepare as best you can, but when the elements conspire against you, you have to improvise and adapt and I thought they were brilliant.

The weather gradually started to calm and cool down and we were joined on the track at 4pm by the marathon runners and the 6hr runners. The 12hr runners joined us later at 10am.

The temperatures plummeted in the evening, and fortunately I had a long sleeved top to change into and a jacket, but forgot to bring gloves! I ending up running a number of hours with a spare pair of socks on my hands to keep them warm. It was lovely to see the sun come up and to listen to the birds welcoming in the new day. The race finished at 10am in hot but calm conditions.

Personally for me it was great to have my family, including my two granddaughters and friends come and support me at various times during the race, as most of my races are either overseas or interstate.

It certainly gave me a big boost to see them there. My husband as usual was an absolute star and I wouldn’t be able to do these races without his support. He was able to take a few breaks because Carol Wingreen who ran and won the marathon, joined him crewing for me through the night and next morning. Thank you Carol!

Vivienne Buss a big thank you to you as well for your support in the evening and again the following morning through to the end of the race.

I am always blown away by the strength and tenacity of ultra runners in 24hr races. It takes a lot of mental strength and hours of training to prepare and run in these events and there certainly was no lack of enthusiasm, courage and determination from everyone on the track. It was very inspiring!

Well done to all the runners and a big thank you to Alun, Susannah and their team.

Pictured: Tia Jones takes 1st Female at the Butter 24 followed by Kathryn Austin and Amanda Pavey. 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