WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 30-05-2022

Kate Dzienis • May 30, 2022

Belair Marathon, SA
Upcoming Events
Ultramag

BELAIR MARATHON

The Belair Marathon in SA was held on Saturday, 28 May 2022 in Belair National Park, where participants got an opportunity to traverse through one of the country’s oldest national parks – established in 1891, in case you were interested!

On offer was a marathon (59 starters), half marathon, 10km and 5km and everyone involved deemed it a fantastic success.

In the Women’s Marathon, 1st Female went to Holly Ranson (4:17:33), 2nd was won by Bec Goodair (4:47:22) and 3rdFemale was claimed by Wendy Millar (5:17:35).

In the Men’s Marathon, 1st Male went to Mark Hollingsworth (3:30:03), 2nd went to Fraser Darcy (3:31:59) and 3rd was won by Joshua Castle (3:59:09).

Congratulations to our AURA members who ran in the marathon event, including Ronette Davies (5:59:10) and Dawn Parks (6:46:45).

UPCOMING EVENTS

June sees a fair few ultra events on the AURA calendar, and we’d love to hear who out of our members are entered and ready to race!

The Southern Sydney 24hr Ultra, which is due to take place this weekend (3-5 June 2022) at the Barden Ridge Sporting Complex south of Sydney, is doubling up as the Australian 24hr Championships. This year the event introduces a 48hr option to go with its 24hr, 12hr, 6hr and 3hr events as well as a Marathon.

The highly anticipated Butter 24 is also happening this weekend (4-5 June 2022) on the Gold Coast, Qld at the Griffith University athletics track, with participants racing in a 24hr, 12hr, 6hr and Marathon.

New to the AURA calendar is the Western Branch Ultra, held from 11-12 June 2022 in the the Stanley region of country Qld. Runners will race along remote country backroads and secluded forest tracks in either a 100km distance or 44km. The best part? You’ll be completely off the grid – meaning no mobile phone service, no traffick, no Google Maps listing.

The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon Weekend is one for the bucket list. Due to take place 17-19 June 2022 in Wolgan Valley, NSW this has got to be the most unique running experience ever. Participants do one race, or choose to do the lot across three days and get to go through the amazing Glow Worm Tunnel.

So many people are waiting in anticipation for the Unreasonable E.A.S.T, kicking off 21 June and seeing a cut off on the 26th. The Blue Mountains are calling for everyone entered to finish this 200 miler – who’s on your list to take the crown?

Another new event to the AURA calendar is the Red Dirt (12hr) Backyard Ultra, held in country Karratha, WA on 25 June. It’s the only year it will be limited to 12 hours to give the Pilbara region a taste of the backyard ultra without ‘scaring people away’. The first 6 hours will be on the hour, every hour but to get to the last one standing title, there will be a 5 minute time limitation added each hour after the 6 hour mark, so the course will get faster as the evening goes on.

Last but not the very least, one of Australia’s most technical trail events will be held on 26 June – the Transcend Ultra. With a 65km solo or relay option, this particular race allows entrants to run through private properties which are generally shut off to the public throughout the year (so it’s very hard to recce the whole course).

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 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 Belair Marathon half marathon entrants. Photograph – Mr SNAPs Sports Photos.

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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