Weekly News Report 4-10-2023

Berry Long Run, Vic
Bricks Backyard, NSW
Australian 6 Day Ultra Festival, SA
GBomb Trail Run, NSW
Insider Updates
Upcoming Events

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 any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert our editor via email by contacting Kate Dzienis at kate.dzienis@aura.asn.au

BERRY LONG RUN

The Berry Long Run was held back on August 12 in Blackwood, Vic but we now have gotten a hold of the official results, so let’s go back in time, shall we?!

Ultra runners were offered a 70km trail run from Blackwood where they left town quickly and got a taste of the single track along a gorge before cutting through forest along a mix of trails and dirt road down to Mt Blackwood, then onto the Blackwood Range Track and all the way to the trail head at Swans Road. The return route revisited the Track to Mt Blackwood and continued along the Lerderderg Trail all the way back to Blackwood.

In the Men’s 70km, tops spots were awarded to Jon Strachan (6:53:25), Peter Henry (7:01:13) and Stefan Taranto (7:23:08). For the Women’s 70km, 1^st female went to Holly Moreton (8:42:06), whilst AURA’s very own Jody Daff from Croydon North, Vic took 2^nd Female in an incredible time of 8:48:09. Megan Allen-Creed (8:51:27) took 3^rd.

Congratulations to all our AURA members who ran in the Berry Long Run’s 70km event, including Mal Joseland (7:47:15), Tim Kacprzak (7:55:59), Paola Flury (11:21:52) and Robert Flury (11:21:53).

BRICKS BACKYARD

New to the AURA calendar, Bricks Backyard Ultra was held weekend of 30 September to 3 October in St Ives, NSW. Sydney’s first backyard ultra challenged runners to conquer 6.706km loops on the hour, ever hour in a relentless battle until only was left standing.

Congratulations to Mark Firth who was the race’s last one standing having completed 28 yards and to Mel Simpson who was the last female standing. A massive congrats also to AURA’s Ramiro Lopez Pena, from Manly NSW, who secured the Assist with 27 yards!

Well done to all our AURA members who ran in Bricks Backyard Ultra, including Hayden Pohio (140.826km), Pam Muston (127.414km), Steven Bain (100.590km), Jeremy Rankin (87.178km), Grant Brisbin(73.766km), Heather Hawkins (60.354km), Ben Hirst (60.354km), Doug Richardson (53.648km) and Zed Zlotnick (46.942km).

For the full list of results, click here.

AUSTRALIAN 6 DAY ULTRA MARATHON FESTIVAL

It’s still on! The Australian 6 Day Ultra Marathon Festival kicked off yesterday on 1 October at Thorndon Park in SA, about 20km north east of Adelaide. For a bit of background, it used to be held in Colac, Vic from 1984 but in 2018 was brought to SA and now incorporates 72hr, 48hr and 24hr events.

There’s still a long way to go yet, but we’ll have all the results for the next Weekly Report, but keep watch on the event’s Facebook page for continuous updates on our members!

GBOMB TRAIL RUN

Another new event on the AURA calendar, the GBomb Trail Run (hosted by Coffs Trail Runners) was held on the eastern states’ public holiday Monday, 2 October in the Bom Bom State Forest near Grafton. Runners were given an opportunity to race along a myriad of single track and fire trail on a 10km looped course with the option of 1 Lap (10km), 2 Laps (20km) or 3 Laps (30km).

In the 30km Men’s event, podium finishes were awarded to Dennis Van Mill (2:30:26), Kieran McAndrew (2:35:10) and David Hessey (3:46:39). In the 30km Women’s event, Belinda James secured 1^st Female (3:05:54).

In the Men’s 20km, top spots were awarded to Eli Donoghue (1:37:09), Jake Connolly (1:41:38) and Jason Wade (1:44:23). For the Women’s 20km, it was Angela James 1^st (1:47:09), Michelle Reardon 2^nd (1:55:36) and Jessica O’Leary 3^rd (2:02:25).

Congratulations to AURA’s Chris Bennett from Holt, ACT who ran in the 20km and finished in 2:20:35.

Keep an eye out on the Coffs Trail Runners website for updates on results.

INSIDER UPDATES

Attention Race Directors! Don’t forget that AURA’s race calendar is now open for 2024. By listing early, we can allow runners to plan their year ahead more easily, so head to the link here and register your event.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Hume & Hovell Ultra will be held the weekend of 7-8 October in Tumbarumba, NSW offering up to 100mi, and BRuTUS will be on 8 October in Blue Range Hut, ACT providing ultra runners up to 60km in distance.

The Lonely Mountain Ultra is due to kick off 14 October in Lidster, NSW with distances up to 100km; the kunanyi Trail Series – Cascade Slide will be on 21 October in South Hobart, Tas; the Heysen 105 Ultra in victor Harbour, SA; and Old Mates Backyard Ultra from 27-30 October in Upper Barron, Qld.

Bondi to Manly Ultra will be held on 28 October in Bondi, NSW and the Great North Walk Ultras in Patonga, NSW will be from 28-29 October.

Looking ahead, November will also be a busy month with the Feral Pig Ultra from 4-5 November) in Mundaring, WA; the Great Southern Stage Run from 16-18 November in WA; Hysterical Carnage Backyard Ultra from 17-19 November in Loxton, SA; GSER from 17-19 November in Harrietville, Vic; and the Stromlo Running Festival from 18-19 November in Stromlo, ACT.

Pictured: Getting ready for another lap at the 2023 Bricks Backyard Ultra. Photograph – Supplied/Bricks Backyard Ultra.