WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 18-05-2022

Down Under 135, Vic
Kep Ultra V2, WA
Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival, Vic
Upcoming Events

It was an exciting weekend of racing the last couple days with amazing performances by AURA members in WA and Vic, and as always we cover the results with how everyone did.

As always, if you find any discrepancies at all with your timed result, or have noticed a name missing, please email kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au with the information required.

We are always wanting to publish your race reports too in our monthly Ultramag digital magazine, so please consider putting fingers-to-keyboard and emailing us your experiences – they don’t have to be about AURA listed events either. So long as you’re an AURA member, we want to hear all about it! Email ultramag@aura.asn.au to get into the May edition.

DOWN UNDER 135MI

Known as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s ‘gnarliest races’, the Down Under 135 was held across the weekend, from 13-15 May with runners traversing across the single trails of the Lerderderg and Wombat state forests in Vic – but there was only winner this year.

It was a spectacular performance by AURA member Thomas Dade, who hails from Mt Martha (Vic), claiming the top spot, finishing the gruelling distance of 135 miles (220km) in 53:07:53.

Well done to all the AURA starters who gave the Down Under 135 a red hot crack, including Damian Smith, former winner David Giles, Ben Nicholls, Isobel Ross, Mathew Schubert, Chris Wilder and Simon Neale.

KEP ULTRA V2

The Kep Ultra V2 was held on Saturday, 14 May with runners making their way either along the 75km or 100km course which run along the Kep Track and Heritage Trail between Woorooloo and Mundaring. 

Six women and 10 men finished the 100km, whilst 9 women and 10 men completed the 75km.

In the Women’s 100km, AURA’s Margaret Hadley from Henley Brook took control of her race and led the way with a 1st Female finish, crossing the finish line in 9:26:53. Second Female was taken by Sophie Giles with a time of 10:31:01 whilst 3rd Female went to Veronika Kretzer in 11:38:36.

In the Men’s 100km, AURA member Kevin Matthews from Perth secured 1st Male when he completed his race in 10:07:54. Second Male was won by Tom Radonic in 10:37:19 while 3rd Male went to Trevor Bosveld in 10:40:37.

Congratulations to all our members who ran in the 100km, including Nicola Hibbert (12:14:05), Gabe Alves (13:58:30) and John Herzfeld (13:58:30). 

In the Women’s 75km, AURA’s very own Kate Jenour from beautiful Donnybrook claimed 1st Female with a finish time of 9:16:37. Second Female went to Darlene Dale (9:59:50) and 3rd to Lara Louw (10:54:50).

In the Men’s 75km, 1st Male was won by Nathan Reeves (8:01:44), 2nd Male was taken by David White (8:03:57), and 3rd was claimed by AURA member Andrew Jackson from Winthrop, WA who crossed the finish line in 8:41:03.

Well done to the gorgeous Sue Robertson, our AURA member from Noranda, WA who completed the 75km distance in 11:11:15.

KIESER GREAT OCEAN ROAD RUNNING FESTIVAL

Almost 8,000 registered participants took part in the weekend’s Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival, marking the 18th edition of the event. There were nine distances to choose from, starting with the 1.5km all the way through to the ultra 60km.

AURA member Dion Finnocchiaro from Brighton, Vic took out the men’s 44km marathon, fresh from running at the 100km Championships earlier this month, whilst AURA’s Kirstin Bull from St Kilda, Vic claimed 1st Female in the women’s 44km marathon. Congratulations to you both!

In the 60km ultra event, the top male and female to cross the finish were Zac Beasley (4:05:22) for the men, whilst AURA’s very own Sarah Jayamaha from Fitzroy, Vic took out the women’s competition in a time of 4:41:59.

Congratulations to our AURA members who raced in the 60km at the Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival, including Jamey Pemmelaar (4:50:29), Kath Judge (5:07:50) and David Patterson (5:48:53). Eighty-eight runners in total finished the 60km.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The West Macs Monster kicks off 20 May and the Belair Marathon finishes off the month in Belair, SA on 28 May.

ULTRAMAG

We want your race reports and story ideas for our monthly Ultramag digital magazine. Without your tips and leads, there wouldn’t be an Ultramag, and there would be nothing for you to read, so please consider contributing at least once in the new year where you get a chance to share your ultra running experiences with other members! Plus you get a bonus point for contributing, in the points competition!

Email ultramag@aura.asn.au with either your race report or a story lead.

Pictured: The start line of the 2022 Down Under 135, with Isobel Ross in the foreground (left), and Thomas Dade (left) shaking hands with David Giles. Photograph – Down Under 135mi/Supplied.