Weekly News Report 7-02-2022

Kate Dzienis • February 7, 2022

Sandman 50, WA
Cradle Mountain Run, Tas
City Run, SA
Dorrigo Rainforest Run, NSW
Upcoming Events

Sandman 50, WA

The Sandman 50 was held on Saturday, 29 January, providing a 50km race from Old Dunsborough boat ramp to the Busselton Jetty and back in WA. The course is on the beach, with the nominal race line being within 3 metres of the water’s edge, and it was a glorious day for a run – with runners beating the 43 degree heat that hit Perth in the middle of the day.

In the men’s 50km solo, Stuart Caulfield took 1^st with 3:50:03, Chris Martin took 2^nd with 3:56:48 and Clint Brimsom took 3^rd with 3:56:59. It was the first time in Sandman 50 history that the first three male runners finished in under 4:00:00.

In the women’s 50km solo, 1^st female Alice Hall set a new course record with 4:16:38. Katie Lovis took 2^nd with 4:37:14 and Nancy Shaw took 3^rd with 4:54:29.

In the 50km team event the first team to cross the finish line was the Zaxon Pigs (Mike O’Sullivan and Byron Renfrey) with 4:04:51. The 50 Kays To Leave Your Lover was team number 2 (Paul Laver and Simon Shearing) with 4:08:15 and team 3 was Team Big Kim (Kimberley Thuijs and Matthew Moore) with 4:08:47. It was the first in Sandman 50 history that the first 3 teams came in under 4:10:00.

Congratulations to all our AURA members who raced in the Sandman 50, including Giovanni Da Vita (4:28:35), Geoff Quinton (5:53:21) and Frank Chauveau (6:56:17).

Cradle Mountain Run, Tas

The Cradle Mountain Run is a one day traverse of Tasmania’s famous Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair Overland Track, with the altitude of the track in several areas greater than 1000 metres. The race is 80km and runners are given between 8 and 15.5 hours to complete.

This year, it was held on Saturday, 5 February.

In the men’s event, Scott Bennett finished 1^st Male with 7:56 whilst Gareth Hinds took 2^nd Male with 8:49. AURA’s Nigel Hill from Bullengarook, Vic took out 3^rd Male following a finish time of 9:04 at Cynthia Bay.

In the women’s division, Amy Lamprecht won 1^st Female with 10:07, both Joanna Sinclair and Jasmine Vollmer took 2^ndFemales with 11:15, and Debra Lennard took 3^rd Female with 12:02.

Well done to all our AURA members who ran in the beautiful Cradle Mountain Run, including Ingo Ernst who finished his race in 10:38.

The City Run, SA

Hosted by GoodRunnings, the City Run is the second event in a 2-event summer series called The Sizzlin’ Series, and was held yesterday on Sunday, 6 February along the Linear Path directly in the city, using the Weir Loop. It offered 60km and 50km ultra distances to long distance runners.

We are still awaiting official results, and will have those reported on shortly.

Dorrigo Rainforest Run, NSW

New to the AURA calendar of events, the Dorrigo Rainforest Run was held yesterday on Sunday, 6 February and was hosted by Coffs Trail Runners. A 24.5km* race through the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest of Dorrigo National Park, it provided participants a run along stunning single tracks and waterfalls at Never Picnic Area.

In the men’s 24.5km event, top podium spots went to Daniel Stein (1:40:05), Troy Lonergan (1:44:08) and Bruin Hutchings (1:46:08). In the women’s 24.5km, it was Annabelle Swainston (2:23:46) followed by Alice Fraser (2:36:58) and Georgina Davis (2:42:58).

Congratulations to our AURA members who ran in the event, including Matt Newhouse who completed his race in 3:03:05.

Upcoming Events

With the current pandemic as well as weather conditions (flooding and bushfires) still hitting states all across the country, it’s advised to keep an eye on events’ FB pages or websites if you have entered a race; alternatively, race directors will always communicate with their participants and volunteers on the next course of action.

The Delirious W.E.S.T is scheduled to kick off this Wednesday, 9 February. Hosted by Ultra Series WA, the Delirious W.E.S.T is a 200 miler that sees runners race 350.7km between Northcliffe and Albany in Western Australia’s very southern region.

To round off the month of February, Ultra Perth is a new event to the AURA-calendar of events, seeing participants run 50km along the Swan River in Perth, WA and finishing on the South Perth foreshore. Again, hosted by Ultra Series WA, this event is not to be missed.

In March, there is an abundance of events ready for all our members to register and race in! The Belair Marathon in Belair, SA offering a marathon distance on 5 March; the Lark Hill Dusk to Dawn Ultra in Port Kennedy, WA from 5-6 March with 25km, 50km and 100km distances on offer along the 3km loop course – and new to 2022 is a 100mi event; the Stromlo Running Festival in Canberra, ACT from 5-6 March with a 50km option; the Six Foot Track Marathon on 12 March in Katoomba, NSW with a 45km; the last one standing formatted Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra in Herdsman Lake, WA from 18-20 March; Duncan’s Run in Balook, Vic from 19-20 March with a 50km and 100km, and a new course due to storm damage in the past year. This will also be the event’s last time in operation; the Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival is due to be held from 25-27 March in Canberra, ACT and will also be doubling up as the Australian 48hr Championships; the last event for March will be the Washpool World Heritage Trails in Gibraltar Range, NSW with a 50km event on 27 March.

We love seeing our AURA members’ names on the results sheets, so head to our Events Page where all the information for each event is available and sign up to a race!

Send all your stories, articles and photos for inclusion in our next Ultramag digital magazine to ultramag@aura.asn.au because without your contributions, there would be no Ultramag.

Pictured: Participants at this year’s Dorrigo Rainforest Run. Photograph – Coffs Trail Runners/Supplied via Website

*Although no ultra distance was on offer at the Dorrigo Rainforest Run, the event is partnered with AURA to encourage participants to get on the trails and be involved in an all-inclusive race where there is a potential of ultra distances being on offer in the future; also, if a race director of the said event has other events listed with AURA, they are welcome to list and partner with us.

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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