WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF – 5/12/2018

WEEKLY NEWS BRIEF – 5/12/2018

Kate Dzienis • December 5, 2018

Wellington Forest Ultra 45k, WA
2018 IAU 24hr Asia & Oceania Championships, Chinese Taipei

Decently warm conditions played to a number of runners’ advantages at Sunday’s Wellington Forest Trail Ultra 45k race. Held at Wellington Dam National Park in Worsley, WA the event was the second out of four Forest Series WA races in the region, and we had amazing results within the AURA circle.

Rob Freitag from Wembley took control of the distance from the get-go, and claimed 1st Male in a nimble time of 4:24:21. No holding him back, Alfred Cove’s Shane Holstein also finished on the podium, taking 3rd Male with 4:54:02 while Glen Smetherham from Butler claimed a close 4th Male in 5:26:53.

A big congratulations goes to all our members who successfully took on the race and finished, including Darlene Dale (7:19:48), Frank Chauveau (7:26:04) and Emma Luscombe (7:50:48).

Also on the cards at the weekend, as we all know, was the 2018 IAU 24hr Asia & Oceania Championships in Chinese Taipei. The Australian team of Matthew Eckford, Ewan Horsburgh, Tia Jones, Stephen Redfern, Sharon Scholz, Mick Thwaites, Donna Urquhart, Nikki Wynd and John Yoon represented the country, as well as AURA, with pride.

AURA president Rob Donkersloot was also in attendance, where he filmed the Aussies to share with the ultra community (the clip can be viewed here) for a broader perspective of the harsh, humid conditions our team faced on the day. Many may have already read his report via Facebook on how it went, but to recap his post, there were challenges faced by the Aussies.

In 32 degree hot and humid weather, Eckford suffered a dizzy spell and went head first into the railings with a sickening blow, but in true Australian spirit he insisted he continue running.

Wynd collapsed in the evening and succumbed to four bags of IV fluids, but when the medics released her she refused to go back to her hotel room and instead remained with the team for support.

In his words, “Everyone was there to run for the team, and believe me they all gave it 200% and then some…it was incredible to see runners push it as far as they possibly could, and they all did without exception…it was amazing to witness such an incredible team spirit in what is often an individual sport.”

Results for the Aussies were Ewan Horsburgh 235.7kms, Mick Thwaites 231.3kms, Tia Jones 218.1kms, Stephen Redfern 208.2kms, John Yoon 205.9kms, Donna Urquhart 194.5kms, Sharon Scholz 186.9kms, Matthew Eckford 184.8kms, and Nikki Wynd 143.8kms.

Jones won the silver medal in the individual competition whilst both the men’s and women’s teams won the silver – beaten only by the Japanese ultra running team.

Men
1. Japan 752.474km
2. Australia 675.354km
3. India 645.936km

Ladies 
1. Japan 620.818km
2. Australia 599.654km
3. New Zealand 563.443km

A stellar effort by these athletes who did Australia proud.

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.
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
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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.
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
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