WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 18-01-2023

WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 18-01-2023

Kate Dzienis • January 18, 2023
Memberships
National Record
Sandman 50, WA
Two Bays Trail Run, Vic
More News (IAU Athlete of the Year nominations)
Upcoming Events

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our bumper end-of-year edition of Ultramag. It was an amazing edition to put out with a fantastic collection of race reports!

On that note, we are always on the hunt for your stories and reports, so with January Ultramag due out soon, send in your incredible tales to ultramag@aura.asn.au And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AURA-listed event specifically!

MEMBERSHIPS

This year’s membership competition (for the 2023 membership year) was won by Amelia Griffith from Watsonia, Vic who has been given an opportunity to enter any race of her choosing to the value of $500. Congratulations Amelia!

Don’t forget to renew your membership for 2023. Membership do lapse, so we encourage you to head to our Memberships tab on our website and renew (or join for the first time!) for your chance to get discounts on race entries, the monthly Ultramag, support and networking, plus so much more! Seriously, for $49?!

NATIONAL RECORD

In case you missed it on the socials, Holly Ranson broke a new national record at the GoodRunning’s 6/12 in early December 2022. She entered the 12hr event and after doing a bit of research on what it would take to break the record, she secured herself a total distance of 136.722km.

Holly ran at a pace above the national record, setting a new female national record for a 12hr race, and was recognised by AURA. She received a certificate for her age-based record and a trophy for the overall female record.

Congratulations Holly!

Holly Ranson with her AURA trophy and certificate

SANDMAN 50

The Sandman 50 was held on Saturday, 7 January offering a 50km distance from Old Dunsborough boat ramp to the Busselton Jetty (in Busselton, WA) and back. With the course on the beach, it meant the race line was within 3m of the water’s edge, and beautifully started under the bright moon at 2am.

The event could be done as a solo participant or in teams of two.

For the 50km Teams of Two, podium finishers were Tom Smoker/Thomas Monkhouse (3:41:30), Chris Martin/Aaron Young (3:49:34) and Ethan Stirrat/Mac Richardson (3:55:59).

In the Men’s 50km, top spots were awarded to Ryan Baillie (3:50:12), Jack Crago (3:56:56) and Ben Freer (4:32:53).

In the Women’s 50km, winners were named Ashlee Ritson (4:23:26), Loralee Worrall (5:07:31) and Michelle Dekker (5:12:55).

Congratulations to all our AURA members who ran in the Sandman 50, including Colin Moulden (4:36:51), Shaun Kaesler (5:18:55), Diane Breant (in a team of two with Geoff Quinton, together making it 6:18:11) and Mark Sewell (in a team of two with Willah Sewell, together making it 6:44:55).

For the full results, click here.

TWO BAYS TRAIL RUN

The Two Bays Trail Run was held last weekend, 15 January (Sunday) and the socials were awash with happy faces.

The Men’s 56km was won by AURA’s very own Dion Finocchiaro who blitzed the field and crossed the finish line in an amazing 4:10:11, whilst 2nd and 3rd Male winnings went to Zack Beasley (4:27:40) and Joshua Lynott (4:30:38).

In the Women’s 56km, Sarah-Jayne Miller claimed 1st Female (4:59:45), Narelle Crozier 2nd (5:14:50) and Dannielle Vanderheul 3rd (5:15:17).

Congratulations to all our members who ran in the 56km, including Thomas Dade (4th Male, 4:32:13), John Yoon(5:31:19), Simon Neale (5:39:12), Jamey Pemmelaar (5:46:05), Stuart Hughes (6:56:00) and Jody Daff (7:37:09). 

MORE NEWS

AURA members Cassie Cohen and Allicia Heron have been nominated for IAU Athlete of the Year!

Cassie won 2nd Place at the 2022 IAU 24hr Asia and Oceania Championships with a total of 214.590km and Allicia claimed 3rd at the same event with a total of 210.642km. Congratulations to you both! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

This weekend will see the Australia Day Ultra in WA kick off on Saturday (21 January) in Australind, WA and providing distances of 25km, 50km, 75km and 100km along the foreshore.

Come February, and the first event on the AURA-listed calendar is the Cradle Mountain Run on 4 February, where participants will traverse the famous Tasmanian region to Lake St Clair Overland Track in 80km.

Next will be the GoodRunning’s City Run on 5 February in the Adelaide CBD, SA with two ultra distances on offer – 60km and 50km. From 8-12 February, Ultra Series’ Delirious WEST 100 & 200 Miler will be held along the Bibbulmun Track in WA, whilst 19 February will see the kunanyi Trail Series – Potato Hopper & Snake Plains kick off in Fern Tree, Tas with a 21km and 13km on offer.

The 24-26 February will host the Twilight Series by GoodRunnings, with the Cosmos Run on 24 February, the Star Runon 25 February, and the Moon Run on 26 February. All in SA and offering up to 50km (with $5 from every registration going to Northern Adelaide Domestic Violence Services, a subdivision of Women’s Safety Services SA).

Pictured: AURA’s Dion Finocchiaro at the 2023 Two Bays Trail Run. Photograph – Supplied/FB.

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
August 29, 2025
David Martin heads out with Kevin Matthews on WA's unofficial Choo Choo Run.
By Kate Dzienis August 29, 2025
Learn how you can get the most out of your aid stations when competing in an ultra.
By Gary Mullins August 29, 2025
Gary Mullins gives an update to members for the month of August 2025.
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IN OTHER NEWS

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
August 29, 2025
David Martin heads out with Kevin Matthews on WA's unofficial Choo Choo Run.
ALL NEWS