WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 12-04-2023

Go West (Qld)
Cairns 50 (Qld)
Tamworth Trailblazer (Qld)
Dead Cow Gully (Qld)
Upcoming Events

We are always on the hunt for your stories and reports, so with April Ultramag coming out by the end of the month, send in your incredible tales to ultramag@aura.asn.au And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AURA-listed event specifically!

If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please do so via email by contacting Kate Dzienis at kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au

GO WEST, QLD

Hosted by AAA Racing, Go West saw runners traverse the Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate in Purga, Qld on Saturday, 1 April (2023). On offer were a variety of distances including a marathon, 30km, half marathon, 10km and 5km in near perfect conditions for most of the day.

This was Go West’s inaugural year and proved to be a testing course!

In the Men’s Marathon, top podium spots were awarded to Sebastian Betten (4:22:06), Kevin Angerer (4:38:26) and Lachlan Smeed (4:44:20). In the Women’s Marathon, winners were named Bonnie Van Wilgenburg (4:20:46), Kate Knell (4:45:46) and Robyn Robertson (4:47:02). 

Congratulations to AURA member Kris Ryan from Pacific Pines, Qld who finished her Go West marathon distance in a fantastic time of 7:01:40 and AURA’s Paul Wood from Boronia Heights, Qld who completed the event in 7:39:58. AURA member John Grieves from Graceville, Qld acted as the marathon’s sweeper and finished in 7:58:37.

For the full list of results that include the 30km and half marathon, click here.

CAIRNS 50, QLD

The Cairns 50 was held the first weekend of the month, 1-2 April in beautiful Cairns, Qld but conditions were hot and humid! For the 50km 6am start, it had already hit 24 degrees with 93% humidity – temps hit a max of 31 for later finishers. 

“The forest sections of the path along Freshwater Creek were cool and the first hour or so relatively pleasant…but those sections exposed to the sun were brutal,” race director Josh Duff explained.

In the Men’s Cairns 50, winners were named Rob Dendle (3:22:16), Bryan O’Mahony (3:49:58) and Levi Chalmers (4:01:28) whilst for the Women’s Cairns 50, top spots went to Sophia Vinecombe (4:28:00), Rachel Matthews (4:34:33) and Kryssi O’Hare Siplon (4:37:57).

“Male winner Rob Dendle from the Sunshine Coast took it out hard and led from start to finish for a big win and a course record by over 30 minutes,” RD Josh said.

“Second place Bryan O’Mahoney also broke the course record but still 25 minutes behind first.

“For the second year in a row, the female winner came from the Gold Coast, this time being Sophie Vinecombe. But it was a much tighter tussle than the men’s, with 3rd female and Cairns local Kryssi O’Hare Siplon leading until the 33km mark and Rachel Matthews coming through to take 2nd in the 5kms.”

There were 45 finishers in the 50km event.

Congratulations to all our AURA members who raced in the 50km, including Jo van Gorp from Mount Sheridan who finished her race in a fantastic 6:52:31.

For the full list of results (including the 30km, 10km and 5km), click here.

TAMWORTH TRAILBLAZER, QLD

The Tamworth Trailblazer in Qld was held on 2 April 2023 and provided a variety of options for runners, including a 10km, 15km, 30km and for ultra runners a 45km and 60km.

There were six finishers in the Men’s 45km, with podium positions won by Ben Stewart (7:07:29), Kody Fitzroy (7:23:11) and Sam Baker (7:35:27).

In the Women’s 45km, there were 2 competitors – Olivia Hulbert (7:23:11) and Nicole Hunter (9:37:07).

For the Men’s 60km there were a total of 4 finishers, with top spots going to Steve Bain (10:04:10), Alex Treglown (10:34:20) and Vince Villarosa (10:42:16).

In the Women’s 60km, there was 1 competitor – congratulations to AURA member Clare Palmer from Glenreagh, NSW who secured a fantastic finish time of 9:54:52. Well done on a stellar performance, Clare!

To view all results, including the 10km, 15km and 30km, visit here.

DEAD COW GULLY, QLD

All eyes were on the Dead Cow Gully backyard ultra last weekend from 8-11 April in Qld, where Ryan Crawford took the title of Last One Standing after completing a total of 42 loops and James Blanton the Assist with 41 loops.

Congratulations to our AURA members who ran in Dead Cow Gully, including Joshua Duff from Bentley Park, Qld (20 loops), Charlotte Roberts from Deception Bay, Qld (19 loops), Robert Knowles from Paddington, Qld (15 loops), John Pearson from Coolum Beach, Qld (14 loops), Adam Lusk from Auchenflower, Qld (13 loops), Carl Schodde from Carindale, Qld (9 loops) and Warren Ansell from Tamworth, NSW (7 loops).

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Irrational South 200 & 100 Miler is already underway in the Flinders Ranges, SA with the 200mi participants leaving the start line early this morning (Wed, 12 April).

This weekend (15-16 April) will see the Coburg 24 Hour Carnival, which is doubling up as the Australian 24hr Australian Championships, to be held in Coburg, Vic at the Harold Stevens Athletic Track. Next weekend (21-23 April) is the GUMBY – the Great Ultra Mediocre Back Yarder in Corree, ACT, whilst on 23 April is the Bottlebutt Bash Trail Run in Herons Creek, NSW.

The last weekend of the month will be the highly anticipated Down Under 135 from 28-30 April in Darley, Vic as well as the Lighthorse Ultra (29-30 April) in Woodvale, WA.

Pictured: 100 mile club at the 2023 Dead Cow Gully. Photograph – Dead Cow Gully/FB.