Weekly News Report 18-01-2024

Weekly News Report 18-01-2024

Kate Dzienis • January 18, 2024
  • Six Inch Trail Marathon, WA
  • Two Bays Trail Run, Vic
  • Member News
  • Upcoming Events


WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 18-01-2024

We hope everyone has had an amazing start to the new year, and thank you so much for supporting AURA with your membership. We are always on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@aura.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 AURA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AURA member for the 2024 year.Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AURA 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@aura.asn.au

If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email. This is a long one, and I do personally apologise for taking a bit longer to get these results out.

6 Inch trail marathon (wa)

The iconic 6 Inch Trail Marathon, in Dwellingup (WA), was officially the last AURA-listed event for 2023 and was held on Sunday, 17 December. There are two distances for trail runners at 6 Inch – the 47km (6 Inch) and the 23km (3 Inch).

In the Men’s 6 Inch, top spots were won by Michael Carroll (3:32:59), Bryce Turvey (3:47:19) and Jonathan Sammut (3:48:41). In the Women’s 6 Inch, winners were named Lauren French (4:00:12), Hannah Paget (4:15:20) and Kirsten Buist (4:28:36). 

In the Men’s 3 Inch, podium finishes went to Dale Zabiela (1:33:51), Sam Herrmann (1:39:30) and Alan Stabler (1:44:51). In the Women’s 3 Inch, top positions were awarded to Jess Reynolds (1:53:55), Anna Gannett (2:05:23) and AURA’s Claudia Seke from Muchea, WA who finished the distance and claimed 3rd Female with a time of 2:08:13. 

In total there were 249 runners in the 6 Inch distance. Congratulations to all members who raced in the 6 Inch, including Nathan Fawkes (3:59:55), David Murphy (4:12:21), Kevin Matthews (4:35:06), Sarah Dyer (4:39:57), Brenton Davies (4:45:11), Andrew Jackson (5:16:09), Glen Smetherham (5:23:48), David Giles (5:29:47), Alexis Oosterhoff (5:33:02), Dave Romanin (5:48:12), Fay Wells (5:50:19), Barbara Fieberg-McFarlane (5:51:13), Andy Thompson (5:52:20), Chetan Sadhana (5:54:29), Bianca Harding (6:26:13), Mark Caldwell (6:48:10), Martyn Flahive (6:49:58), Del Thompson (7:09:39), Kerriann Bresser (7:10:30), Ian Nichol (7:31:40), Georgia Snowball (7:31:56), Eve Knudson (7:31:57), Sue Robertson (7:38:05), Jason Kell (7:46:11), Hayley Boneham (7:52:01) and Rob Donkersloot (8:12:00). 

Head here for the full list of the 2023 results.

two bays trail run (vic)

The first event for 2024 was held on Sunday, 14 January and it was the Two Bays Trail Run in Dromana, Vic – always highly anticipated and found to be on many runners’ bucket lists. On offer was a 56km and a 28km. 

In the Men’s 56km, 1st Male was awarded to AURA’s Dion Finocchiaro from Frankston, Vic who crossed the finish line in a whopping 4:09:40. Second and 3rd Male were awarded to Daniel Ebbott (4:10:39) and John Csongei (4:25:44) respectively. 

In the Women’s 56km, top spots were won by Sarah-Jayne Miller (4:46:30), Christi Berenz (4:55:20) and Rhiannon Snipe (4:58:18). 

Congratulations to all members who raced in the 56km Two Bays Trail Run, including Simon Neale (4:49:25), Rhiannon Snipe (4:58:18), Kevin Muller (5:28:50), Jennifer Kellett (6:31:08), Stuart Hughes (6:38:37), Jody Daff (6:55:10) and Cheryl Symons (7:35:44).

In the Men’s 28km, podium finishers were Michael Kernahan (1:50:11), Jared Kahlefeldt (1:53:53) and Paul Marchant (1:54:59), whilst for the Women’s 28km winners were Sarah Klein (2:00:10), Kate Avery (2:01:11) and Anna McKenna (2:02:11). 

Well done to everyone who raced in the 28km, including our members James Sieber (2:05:59), Mak Sawa (2:45:36), Steve Jackson (2:53:58), Fleur Douy (3:31:20) and Theresa Cole (3:40:42). 

For the full list of 2024 results, click here.

Member News

RUN ANTARCTICA: Two years of planning paid off earlier this month, when Donna Urquhart crossed the finish line of her Run Antarctica – World Record Attempt for the Longest Polar Run. Battling all the weather challenges that part of the world could throw at her, including temperatures of -20 degrees Celcius, Donna ran 10km circuits around Union Glacier Camp, completing 1312km in 26 days – an average of 50km per day. 

She beat the previous record by over 100km. Big congratulations to you Donna from all of us here at AURA and abroad, what an amazing achievement! We are all so incredibly proud of you.

24 PARKRUNS IN 24 HOURS: On Saturday, 13 January a large contingent of runners participated in the annual 24 Parkruns In 24 Hours event around the metro region of Perth and near Busselton in WA. I managed to catch some AURA members in action at Aveley parkrun, which was parkrun number 4 on the list. 

Perth was in the middle of a stifling heat wave on the day, with temperatures reaching a horrid 42 degrees, but so many runners pushed through for the event, which was raising awareness and donations for charity On My Feet. 

Congratulations to all those members who ran at 24 Parkruns In 24 Hours, including Kevin Matthews (completed all 24), Phil Gore (completed all 24), Sarah Dyer (completed all 24), Shaun Kaesler, David Murphy, Jagpawan ‘JP’ Dhillon, Abdul-Raouf Mohamed-Isa, Chetan Sadhana and Frank Chauveau. 

It must be noted that Sarah Dyer became WA’s first ever female to complete the entire 24 parkruns, and the second ever female nationally, with a total of 121.6km (averaging 5:26/km). Congratulations Sarah, what an effort!

UPCOMING EVENTS

AUTRA Race Report 23-3-2026

By Kate Dzienis • March 23, 2026
Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, WA Gold Coast Backyard Ultra, Qld I'm Still Standing Sydney, NSW Trail Run Australia - Tathra, NSW Sri Chinmoy 48hr Track Ultra (Australian 48hr Track Championships, ACT Washpool World Heritage Trails, NSW Tamworth Trailblazer, NSW Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 23-3-2026 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 2026 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.

2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026
AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026
AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time.​ From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points:​ At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event.​ The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line.​ At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time.​ Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events due to the remote and higher‑risk nature of the trails. AUTRA was aware that in‑person briefings were used and had not raised concerns about that general approach. The organiser has indicated that this requirement is driven by safety, duty‑of‑care and insurance obligations, and follows previous experience where remote or online briefings resulted in athletes starting events without critical safety information.​ The organiser maintains that the event was not conducted in a manner that was intended to be non‑inclusive, inflexible or discriminatory, and that decisions made on the day were based solely on safety requirements that apply equally to all participants.​ AUTRA’s aim in issuing this statement is solely to clarify the context and ensure that the public record reflects the information provided to us by the organiser.

AUTRA Race Report 12-3-2026

By Kate Dzienis • March 12, 2026
Results for 2026 Lark Hill Party Ultra, Belair Marathon, Mirrim Wurnit Back Paddock Ultra, and Coombabah Trail Run.

Feature: Trail Tails

By Dave Martin • March 2, 2026
Carrying that mandatory gear
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IN OTHER NEWS

AUTRA Race Report 23-3-2026

By Kate Dzienis • March 23, 2026
Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, WA Gold Coast Backyard Ultra, Qld I'm Still Standing Sydney, NSW Trail Run Australia - Tathra, NSW Sri Chinmoy 48hr Track Ultra (Australian 48hr Track Championships, ACT Washpool World Heritage Trails, NSW Tamworth Trailblazer, NSW Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 23-3-2026 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 2026 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.

2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026
AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026
AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time.​ From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points:​ At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event.​ The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line.​ At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time.​ Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events due to the remote and higher‑risk nature of the trails. AUTRA was aware that in‑person briefings were used and had not raised concerns about that general approach. The organiser has indicated that this requirement is driven by safety, duty‑of‑care and insurance obligations, and follows previous experience where remote or online briefings resulted in athletes starting events without critical safety information.​ The organiser maintains that the event was not conducted in a manner that was intended to be non‑inclusive, inflexible or discriminatory, and that decisions made on the day were based solely on safety requirements that apply equally to all participants.​ AUTRA’s aim in issuing this statement is solely to clarify the context and ensure that the public record reflects the information provided to us by the organiser.
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