WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 17-06-2021

Kate Dzienis • June 17, 2021

Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler, SA
Upcoming Events

IRRATIONAL S.O.U.T.H 200 MILER

Two years ago after the success of race director Shaun Kaesler’s Delirious W.E.S.T 200 Miler in WA, plans were already in place to add to the 200 table within the Ultra Series banner. The Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler is only the 2nd point-to-point annual 200 miler in the southern hemisphere, and it was finally held earlier this month from 9-13 June, with runners making their way from Lavender Federation Trail Murray Bridge to Clare, SA.

Kaesler said setback after setback from the world pandemic was just something completed unanticipated for.

“A 200 miler isn’t something you can just postpone for a week or two if borders change, outbreaks happen or conditions are thrown around,” he said.

“A 200 miler takes 11.5 months of planning for organisers (or 2 years in this case with 2 previous postponements) and an equal amount of time for entrants, volunteers and support staff as all of us take a dedicated time allocation to ensure we are available for the week that the event is planned for.

“Come race day eve, I received confirmation that no fewer than another 5 runners weren’t coming, crippled by the pandemic, and once again my heart had sunk. From 52 entries we were going to struggle to have 20 starters.”

But the Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler went ahead, and with bated breath a mass load of volunteers, crew and people on the socials followed the event.

And so, your Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler finishers are:

AURA’s Kieran O’Brien from Auchenflower, Qld clocked in to complete the race in a whopping 52:50:01, claiming 1stMale. Following his win, Matthew Woodman took 2nd Male with 64:11:02 and Nick O’Neill took 3rd Male (66:28:25).

For the women’s event, Jacqueline Cresp held on for 1st Female with 73:37:06 and Julie Sager took 2nd Female (74:59:22). AURA member Nicola Walters from Broome, WA wasn’t far behind, closing in and crossing the finish line in 80:12:02.

A massive, virtual-high-five congratulations to everyone who completed the Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler, including our AURA members Jimmy Brook (80:12:02) from Parmelia, WA; Jeremy Beauglehole (80:32:47) from Australind, ACT; and Harmony Waite (88:31:25) from The Vines, WA.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon Weekend from 19-20 June is new to the AURA calendar, and how spectacular does it look! The course takes runners on an amazing journey that takes in the best sights of Newnes and the Wolgan Valley, with participants running across creek crossings, sections of long single trail, old mine cuttings, ruins and some long forgotten railway easements. The event offers a marathon distance, half marathon, 6km and a ‘Mountain Mile’.

GoodRunning’s River Run will be held at Onkaparinga River Recreational Park in SA on 20 June and will offer participants a 5km looped course for 60km, 50km, 42.2km, 30km, 21.1km, 15km, 10km, 7.5km, 5km, 2.5km and 1km.

Another new event on the AURA calendar is the hotly anticipated Transcend Ultra to be held in WA’s Swan Valley at Walyunga National Park on 20 June and finishing near the historic town of Toodyay. The 60km distance is offered for solo runners or teams of 2-4.

The Wild Goose Chase Running Festival kicks off on 25 June and runs through to 27 June, with the weekend offering distances for all abilities from the 5km to the 100 miler.

Come July and we’ve got the Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational from 3-4 July at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, and the Lakes100 across the same weekend in Hawks Nest, NSW.

REMINDER

We love making mention of AURA members when they achieve incredible results at other races across the country and around the world, so if you or someone you know is an AURA member and they’ve had an amazing event that isn’t AURA-listed, email kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au and keep us in the loop!

Pictured: Although not an AURA member, this is an image of Glen Brooks, with 8km to go from the finish at Irrational S.O.U.T.H, making his way with pacer Margot. Photograph – Tash Sekulic.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

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.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

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