Update from AURA Committee

August 22, 2017

pation in the sport of Ultra Running
Expanding the AURA membership base through addressing the membership value proposition
Assistance and support for event organisers to provide sustainable ultra running events
Provide leadership in terms of governance for the sport of ultra running and member well being
Investigation of funding opportunities outside of current revenue streams
Provide initiatives and pathways to improve the performance of Australian athletes in sanctioned international competition
Ensure AURA provides equity to all members of our society that wishes to participate in the sport of ultra running.

A full outline of the process for developing this strategy can be found here. Members cannominate to be part of a subcommittee addressing one of the above areas here. Nominations close Saturday 2 September.

Development of AURA events safety standards

Earlier this year a sub committee reviewed AURA's event listing process, one of the key recommendations made by this committee was that AURA develop a formal event safety standard. Andy Hewat (Great Ocean Walk), Billy Pearce (Canberra 48), Greg Robinson and Tom Landon-Smith (Ultra Trail Australia) have volunteered to develop the standards and the associated documentation.

As well, AURA member Peter Lugg will be assisting at the documentation phase, Peter has a long professional history in risk management, something that will be invaluable. Similar safety standards (AAAS) are being developed by other adventure sports in consultation with Government, and it is likely these standards will become the defacto standard Government departments will insist on being met for ultra running events.

Developing the standard will be a huge undertaking, and we thank the team for volunteering to drive this forward. This is such an important initiative for our sport that will help protect the well being of our members.

UltraMag to go online: Marketing Officer needed (paid position)

The 2017 survey to AURA members found 70% of members fully supported a move to change UltraMag from a printed quarterly publication to an online magazine.

The AURA Committee has decided to make this change and in the coming months we will see the launch of a members only magazine style website that will be updated regularly with stories of interest to our members, as well regular newsletter emails with links to these stories will be broadcast.

The AURA Committee decided it is not sustainable to rely on volunteers to generate this publication, and a decision was made to reinvest the funds previously spent printing UltraMag in paying a person to undertake the role of Marketing Officer for the organisation. The role includes additional responsibilities to the publishing of UltraMag such as the management of AURA's social media and other tasks. To apply for this position, please see the job description here. The role will be trialled for the rest of this calendar year.

Race results stats for members, association with DUV

AURA Treasurer Alexis Oosterhoff has entered into an agreement with the German Ultramarathon Association (DUV) to act as the Australia representative to DUV, and will be responsible for the entry of Australian ultra-marathon event results into the DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics database.

The DUV database was first established in 2004, and stores results for 4,000+ international events each year with over 700,000 individual runner profiles. As part of this collaboration, the DUV team have provided AURA with direct access to their database, which we use for automating the national ranking and points comp details.

This data-entry service will be provided to all ultra marathon events in Australia, regardless of their affiliation with AURA. Over the next few months, you can expect to see improved integration between DUV and the AURA website, along with more regular updates to national rankings. And, we will be looking at adding extensively to DUV's database, using our own records that go back as far as the 1980's.

Drugs in sport, anti doping

AURA has initiated discussions with IAU to establish requirements and protocols for our members to comply with the WADA code. Implementation of this will require liaison with other third party organisations, and we will advise outcomes when these discussions have taken place.

AURA merchandise

One finding of the 2017 survey to members was that there was an overwhelming wish to have AURA branded merchandise available. The committee has decided that this will be made available through an "on demand supplier". There is still a lot of old AURA merchandise held by the association we intend to make available for sale online at very reasonable pricing to clear this stock. We are seeking a volunteer to take on the merchandise coordinator role to assist with selling the old stock and setting up the new "on demand" system. Please see the role description here.

As you can see from the above, the committee has been very active in shaping strategies and initiatives to build AURA into an organisation that offers more to its members than ever before, and make ultra running an even stronger sport than it is currently. However please remember that AURA is its ~435 members, not just the four members of the committee. Let's refer to AURA as "us", not "them", all of us have a role in ensuring the future of the organisation and the sport, so please seriously consider volunteering to assist, especially as a member of one of the strategic plan development sub committees, this is your opportunity to have significant input in our direction.

As always, if you have any questions or queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch by calling me on 0457 149 169 or via email at president@aura.asn.au.

Rob Donkersloot

AURA President

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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