Weekly News Report 27-03-2024

Weekly News Report 27-03-2024

Kate Dzienis • March 27, 2024
  • kunanyi Mountain Run, Tas
  • Noosa Ultra-Trail (2024 Australian Short Course Championships), Qld
  • Washpool World Heritage Trails, NSW
  • Upcoming Events


WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 27-03-2024

As always, we're continuously 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.

kunanyi mountain run (tas)

The kunanyi Mountain Run was held from 22-24 March and offered a 66km (solo and relay) race for the ultra runners, together with a 25km, a 9km and a vertical kilometre 95km).

This year, kMR was selected to be a part of the Golden Trail National Series, powered by Salomon, which is being held in Australia for the first time following its huge success internationally. Just four events and locations (in Vic, NSW and Qld) were handpicked to feature in the Series.

In the Men’s 66km, 1st Male was Piotr Babis (7:14:12) followed by AURA’s Joshua Chugg from Hamilton Hill, WA who crossed the finish line in 7:33:45 to claim 2nd Male and AURA member Andrew Gaskell from Lindisfarne, Tas who completed his run in 7:39:17.  

In the Women’s 66km, top spot went to Patricia McKibbin (8:39:50) whilst AURA’s very own Claire O’Brien-Smith from Swanbourne, WA took home 2nd Female following a finish time of 9:09:11. Jessie Whittle got 3rd Female (9:41:29).

Congratulations to all our members who completed the kunanyi Mountain Run ultra distance including John Cannell (9:27:09 and 1st in his age category), Ursula Adams (9:55:24), David Murphy (11:06:42), Dmitry Pupkov (12:50:46), Glynn Thomas (15:23:27), Kate Asfaq (16:19:30) and Lesley Mason (16:28:40).

For the full list of results, click here.

above Images by calumn hockey.

noosa ultra-trail / 2024 austn short course championships (qld)

Noosa Ultra-Trail was bigger and better this year, held over the weekend from 21-24 March, and gave runners the options of entering the Forest 15km, the Cross Country 25km, the Pomona Sundowner 30km,, the Out N Back 50km, the Hinterland Traverse 80km or the 100 Ultra-Trail – so many options for so many levels of athlete!

This year, Noosa Ultra-Trail also played host the 2024 Australian Short Course Championships (50km).

*Please note, winners of the Championships – podium positions in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions – do not need to be financial AURA members. They simply need to win 1st, 2nd and 3rd to be recognised as Championship winners by AURA.

We’ll kick it off with the Championships!

In the Women’s 50km, we’re proud to say that it was an AURA three-position podium, with all three winners members! Big congratulations to Kellie Angel from Kilsyth, Vic who took out the top spot with a brilliant finish time of 4:29:50, Katy Booth from Pomona, Qld who secured 2nd Female with a performance of 4:38:27 and Victoria Beck from Mackay, Qld who took 3rd Female following a finish time of 4:50:51.

In the Men’s 50km, we also saw a 1st Male prime position taken by an AURA member – massive congrats to John Dutton from Gembrook, Vic who smashed it out of the ballpark and finished in 3:53:06. Second and 3rd Male were won by Eddie Keogh (4:01:41) and Clinton Elliott (4:04:38) respectively.

Well done to all AURA members who raced in the 50km including Sean Stevens (4:22:16 and 4th Male), Montanna McAvoy (5:00:11), Michael Griffin (5:07:03), Kate Worsfold (7:02:13) and Kris Ryan 10:17:20. In total, there were 230 finishers in the 50km.

In the Women’s 80km, podium finishes were awarded to Salome Duff (9:46:55), Tegan Porter (10:34:57) and Jane Conway (11:39:50) while in the Men’s 80km winners were Blaine Bourke (7:39:09), Oskar Booth (7:53:34) and Paul Gourlay (8:33:25).

There were 28 finishers in the 80km, none of whom were AURA members.

In the Women’s 100km, top spots went to Zoe Manning (10:41:35), Roxanne Shahtahmasebi (10:42:45) and Erin Robertson (10:58:54) and in the Men’s 100km winners were named Andrew Dey (9:31:19), Matthew Burt (10:18:24) and Luke Bellamy (10:38:57).

There were 81 finishers in the 100km.

Congratulations to all AURA members who raced in the 100km including Christopher Beavon (11:20:49), Luca Turrini (12:24:14), Rowan Cassidy (12:27:08), Robyn Robertson (13:30:14) and David Campbell (15:18:40).

For the full list of results, click here.

above images supplied by noosa ultra-trail.

Washpool World Heritage Trails (NSW)

Coffs Trail Runners hosted the Washpool World Heritage Trails on Saturday, 23 March through the Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks, and offered a 50km, 25km and 9km.

In the Men’s 50km, top podium finishes went to Daniel Stein (3:46:59), Trent Irwin (4:01:27) and Benjamin Lambert (4:25:57). In the Women’s 50km, winners were named Seabastion Toast (5:46:26), Annabelle Swainston (5:51:43) and Gillian Davidson (6:27:42).

Congratulations to our AURA members who raced in the 50km including Adrian Marchioro (4:56:27 and 4th Male) and Elizabeth Bennett (7:22:29).

For the full list of results, including the 25km and 9km, click here.

Above Image supplied / Coffs Trail Runners website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

By Dave Martin March 14, 2026
AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026
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.
By Kate Dzienis March 12, 2026
Results for 2026 Lark Hill Party Ultra, Belair Marathon, Mirrim Wurnit Back Paddock Ultra, and Coombabah Trail Run.
By Dave Martin March 2, 2026
Carrying that mandatory gear
March 1, 2026
James Sieber explains how a training plan only works when it matches the person.
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IN OTHER NEWS

By Dave Martin March 14, 2026
AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026
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.
By Kate Dzienis March 12, 2026
Results for 2026 Lark Hill Party Ultra, Belair Marathon, Mirrim Wurnit Back Paddock Ultra, and Coombabah Trail Run.
ALL NEWS