WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 29-09-2020

Kate Dzienis • September 29, 2020

Waterous Trail on Foot, WA
Butter 24 & 48, Qld
More News

Last weekend saw the running of the yearly WTF (Waterous Trail on Foot) held in the regional south west of WA. Participants, which required to have qualifying distances to enter, could choose between a 100mi and a 50mi through stunning trails.

Yet again, there were a number of impressive performances.

In the 100mi division, AURA member Sergio Gustinetti from Tuart Hill secured 1st Male with a time of 23:29:45. Glen Smetherham, AURA member and professional long distance coach from Butler, took 2nd Male after finishing his 100mi in 23:51:47.

3rd Male went to Steven Williams (26:09:31).

For the women, it was Kate Jenour in 1st (26:22:20) whilst AURA’s very own Nicola Walters from Broome secured 2ndFemale not too far behind in 30:12:11. It was another AURA member who took the remaining podium finish, with Trish Hoare from Albany taking the standing after a time of 32:34:10.

Congratulations also to AURA’s Pamela Williams from Esperance who took 4th Female in 34:10:11.

In the 50mi, it was a tie for 1st Male with two amazing runners crossing the finish line together – Nathan Reeves together with AURA member Daniel Chidlow from Rockingham both took the title in 9:05:50.

Giovanni De Vita was next on the podium with 9:49:20 followed by Eddie Cullen (10:20:20).

For the ladies it was Casey Edlington 1st (9:26:50), Martina Tairea 2nd (10:11:10) and Ilza Roux 3rd (10:20:20).

Congratulations to our very own AURA secretary Julia Mackay-Koelen who completed her 50mi in 22:19:50 – as always, with a smile on her face.

Butter 24 & 48

Due to windy weather at the weekend, timing results for the Butter 24 & 48 are still being compiled by race directors and will be available as soon as possible.

AURA members

Stephen Wright from Oxenford, Qld is currently running a six day solo run in his state on a 4km circuit around Damian Leeding Lake, having started 27 Sept and will end 3 Oct. As of 9am WST, he had covered 249.66km at the 48hr mark.

If you’re an AURA member, or know someone who is and they are running an event, please email kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au so their achievements may be included in our weekly news reports.

Coming up

The Brisbane Trail Ultra is being held this weekend on 3-4 October. One of the most scenic events on the AURA calendar, the BTU offers a number of distances for ultra runners including a 100mi, 110km and 60km. For those entered, keep an eye and ear out for announcements and updates about the course from BTU event organisers on their FB page as there will be a Rugby League game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening.

The USWA’s Haunted Pines Ultra, which was meant to be held on 2 Oct in WA, has been cancelled for this year as has the Irrational South 200 Miler in SA.

The River Run 100 is still going ahead on 10-11 October in Auchenflower, Qld but has limited its entrant numbers to 500 due to COVID-19. Volunteers are still needed, with a few roles left including overnight bike marshalling and Saturday evening marshalling at turnaround points.

Distances for ultra runners include a 100km and 50k. Visit their FB page for more information.

Western Coastal Running Festival will go ahead on 11 October with a 60km option for ultra runners, in Semaphore, SA.

Another unfortunate cancellation is Duncan’s Run, which was meant to be held in South Gippsland, Vic the same weekend. Event organisers made the announcement on 21 Sept, the cancellation due to current state restrictions. All those with a 2020 entry can roll over their tickets to either 2021 or 2022. Email then at info@duncansrun.com.au.

Hume & Hovell was officially cancelled on March 26 for their 11 Oct event, however race director Peter FitzPatrick is keen to see everyone on 9-10 October 2021 in Tumbarumba.

Pictured: Sergio Gustinetti secures 1st Male in the Waterous Trail on Foot (WTF). Photograph – Thomas Grober/FB.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater