Weekly News Report 30-10-2023

We are always on the hunt for your stories and reports, so with us getting started on the next edition of Ultramag, send in your incredible tales to ultramag@aura.asn.au And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AURA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AURA member for the 2023 year.

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 reach out to Kate Dzienis via email at kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au

If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert Kate via email.

SMURF’S BACKYARD ULTRA

Smurf’s Backyard Ultra was held from 27-29 October in tropical Cairns, Far North Queensland and utilised the format of Last One Standing on a 6.7km looped track on the Smithfield Mountain Bike Trail.

Unfortunately, the last two runners – Adam Fox and Rhys Williams – both decided to DNF after completing Lap 34, meaning there was no LOS winner.

The Last Female Standing for the second year in a row was Peta Travers-Jones with 22 laps (a BYU PB of 5 laps).

Congratulations to our AURA members Gary Venz from Port Douglas, Qld who completed a total of 14 laps and David Von Senden from Kuranda, Qld with 7 laps.

Race Director Joshua Duff said it was amazing seeing the community come together in the region for a backyarder.

“It was great to see so many people of all ages and from many different backgrounds come together and achieve big things,” he said.

“Around 90% of the field ran distance PBs and that’s what backyard ultras are ultimately all about. Distance and lap records are great, but a BYU is about people being able enabled to push their own boundaries and do things they never thought possible.”

BONDI TO MANLY

The Bondi To Manly Ultra was held on Saturday, 28 October and offered an 80km solo and team relay event for long distance athletes. Runners descended on Sydney Harbour in an urban ultra like no other, starting at Bondi Pavilion and following the Bondi to Manly walking track, runners ran along spectacular cliff tops to Watsons Bay then through national parks, around iconic Aussie landmarks and cultural sites, until crossing the finish line at Manly Beach.

In the Women’s 80km, AURA’s Steph Auston from Cooranbong, NSW took out the top spot of 1^st Female in a brilliant time of 7:12:16. Lucy Homan secured 2^nd Female (7:22:40) and Cheryl Greenway took 3^rd (7:34:48).

In the Men’s 80km, 1^st Male was won by Josef McGrath (6:18:32) whilst 2^nd Male was taken by AURA’s very own Dominic Bullock from Linley Point, NSW who crossed the finish line right on McGrath’s toes, with a total time of 6:20:57. Martin Jansen held on for 3^rd Male (6:24:55).

Big congratulations goes out to our AURA members who ran in the 80km solo, including Emma Grey from Mandurama, NSW (7:38:20), Michael Molloy from Seaforth, NSW (7:39:09), Monika Ludriks from Terrigal, NSW (7:53:46) and Chloe Skewes-Weir from Annangrove, NSW (7:56:47).

There was also a relay category in the 80km event. Top 3 Men’s Relay Teams were Runners In The Dark – A Team (5:32:25), RITD B (5:50:04) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (5:53:38). Top 3 Women’s Relay Teamswere Joov Gals (6:13:42), TRT Girls Gone Wild (6:40:28) and Endurance Queens (6:41:15). Top 3 Mixed Relay Teams were FMRC (6:14:58), Elma Thunder (6:26:36) and ZEWM (6:27:28). 

For the full list of results, click here.

GREAT NORTH WALK ULTRAS

The Great North Walk Ultras (GNW Ultras) was held the weekend of 28-29 October, allowing participants to immerse themselves in an event that runs between Sydney and Newcastle. On offer was a 10km and 30km along with ultra distances of 50km (61 finishers), 50mi (23 finishers), 100km (15 finishers), and 100mi (11 finishers).

In the Men’s 100mi, winners were declared Michael Lough (23:24:06), Matthew Lewis (27:16:12) and Paul Doyle (28:24:41), whilst in the Women’s 100mi there were two competitors – Sarah Harvey took 1^st Female (32:06:56) and Rosemary Catton took 2^nd (34:42:33).

Congratulations to our members who finished the 100mi, including Greg Thomson from Avoca Beach, NSW (31:25:19), Damian Smith from Nowra, NSW (32:18:56) and Akira Suzuki from Chatswood, NSW (28:57:00).

In the Women’s 100km, top spots went to Nicole Paton (13:45:52), Alessandra Martines (17:01:26) and Charlie Richardson (18:23:48). In the Men’s 100km, winners were named Jay Cherry (14:06:56), Tom Joss (14:35:10) and Zach Manley (15:30:10).

In the Men’s 50mi, AURA’s very own Warren Rolfe from Narrabeen, NSW took out the top podium spot with a brilliant finish time of 8:30:36, an amazing performance. Second and 3^rd were won by Jason Tafford (8:46:31) and Elliot Temple (9:08:43).

In the Women’s 50mi, winners were named Claire Mcnamara (12:42:22), Lauren Harris (15:39:45) and Amanda Wolthers (15:39:45).

Congratulations to our members who raced in the 50mi, including Aaron Dower from Bangalow, NSW (9:14:51, 4^th Male), Geoffrey Langhans from Happy Valley, SA (12:44:41) and Ben Moffatt from Thirroul, NSW (15:38:48).

In the Men’s 50km, winners were named Nic Hoskin (5:28:55), Benn Coubrough (5:37:01) and Dean Pollitt (5:48:59). For the Women’s 50km, it was Ela Heiniger (6:02:41), Maddi Fleetwood (6:25:59) and Charlie Potter (6:39:31).

For the full list of results, click here.

MEMBER UPDATES

A big congratulations to new AURA member Dylan Kissane who resides in France for running in the Lyon Marathon on Saturday, 22 October. He snuck in under the 3hr mark with a total time of 2:57:37.

Dylan’s A Race is the Lyon SaintéLyon, a 156km trail and road ultra that is due to kick off on 2 December. We can’t wait to hear how he goes!