WEEKLY NEWS REPORT 7-06-2021

CLELAND 50

The Cleland 50 Festival of Run was held on 29 May, 2021 in Crafers, SA and was hosted by Ultra Series SA. It was the third event under the Ultra Series SA banner (Heysen 2020 and Belair Marathon 2021) but the first for race director Shaun Kaesler who was there in person. He said he was extremely humbled by the SA running community and looked forward to creating more events in the state.

“I’m so incredibly privileged to put on these ultra marathons and witness you all put your cards on the table and just give it your all to get to that finish line,” he said.

“This course was tough, nuts even and yet every runner came in under cut off and no one pulled out – you all have my utmost respect.

“One massive attraction to the way of life in SA is how chilled everyone is in everyday life – the rest of the country could learn from this.

“Thank you for making me emotional, thank you for embracing me and my passions and beliefs with open arms, and thank you for all those incredible heartfelt and stinky finish line hugs.”

Onto the winners of the 50km event!

In the women’s event 1st Female was won by Sonja Jansen (5:51:01) whilst 2nd Female was taken by AURA member Amanda Meggison from South Melbourne, Vic with a time of 5:53:01. Third Female went to Nancy Williams (6:20:51).

For the men 1st Male went to David Bailey (4:36:00), 2nd went to Jarrad Allen (4:58:51) and 3rd went to Scott Cameron (5:08:42).

Congratulations also goes to AURA’s very own Vicki Shaw who completed the 50km in a great time of 7:19:59.

The Cleland Festival of Run also held a 30km event, which saw AURA’s Geoffrey Langhans from Happy Valley, SA take home 3rd Male after crossing the finish line in 3:09:35. Other distances runners participated in included a 22km, 11km and 8km.

SOUTHERN SYDNEY 24 HOUR ULTRA

So many eyes were on the inaugural Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra at the weekend, from 5-6 June. It featured a mass-load of events including the 24hr, 12hr, 6hr and 3hr as well as distances of 100km and 42.2km, and race director Stephen Redfern said everything went off without a hitch.

“We had some absolutely amazing results on the weekend for our first event, I was just so humbled at all the amazing runners out there,” he said.

“I’m so proud with how the whole weekend turned out, it was just flawless.”

Firstly onto the results in the 24 hour, and it was an AURA podium finish for all three top spots with Joe Ward from Fairlight, NSW taking 1st Male with a total distance of 242.627km, Dan Symonds from Taringa, Qld walking away with 2nd Male and 237.006km, and Adam Keighran from Helensburgh, NSW taking 3rd and a total distance of 203.706km.

Not only did the men’s podium finish with an AURA trifecta, but the women’s podium also saw AURA members take over the platforms, with Jenny Morris from Cammeray, NSW claiming 1st Female after completing 186.974km, Sabina Hamaty from Cambewarra, NSW taking 2nd Female and 175.441km, and Vice Hazdovac from Newcastle, NSW winning 3rd with 165.074km.

Congratulations to all of AURA’s 24 hour runners who hit the track and accomplished incredible numbers, including Marcus Cockshutt (168.41km), Colin Wiley (162.763km), Niboddhri Christie (152.621km), Peter Colagiuri (151.737km), Kevin Muller (140km), Heather Christison (132.535km), Paul Gay (129.767km), Andrew Meagher (128.028km), Paul Mahoney (122.689km), Rodney Foster (109.600km), George Ziogas (108.597km), David Chiew (104.400km), Scott Marden (100km), Cassie Smith (92.097km), Ben Berriman (70.400km) and Steve Fryirs (53.600km).

Onto the 12 hour men’s podium finishes, and it was AURA member Dominic Bullock from Linley Point, NSW who took the honours of 1st Male with a total distance of 146.277km. Second Male went to Scott Connolly with 126.171km and 3rd was claimed by Damon Lynch with 116.278km.

In the women’s 12 hour distance, top spot was won by Leigh Hawkes (97.995km) whilst 2nd and 3rd Female placings went to AURA members Leah Weeden from Dubbo, NSW with 91.617km and Lyndal Maloney from Winmalee, NSW with 86.283km respectively.

Well done to all AURA members who ran and finished in the 12 hour including Chris Warren (103.498km), Steve Robertson (88.867km) and Richard Crane (68.729km).

In the women’s 6 hour division, AURA’s Tia Jones from Springfield Lakes, Qld secured 168 laps of the track to win 1stFemale with a total distance of 69.774km, whilst AURA Treasurer Simone Hayes from Gymea Bay, NSW took 2ndFemale after a successful race with 66.188km. It was an all-round AURA podium finish with AURA’s Dianne Sheedy from Caringbah South, NSW landing 3rd Female with 58.216km.

In the men’s 6 hour race, Baiqi Cheng took the win with 69.517km. AURA vice president Matthew Eckford from Wights Mountain, Qld claimed 2nd Male after 159 laps, making it 66.03km whilst Glenn Gielissen took 3rd (63.429km).

Congratulations to all AURA members who ran in the 6 hour including Masanori Chiba (63.053km) and Greg Wilson(60.213km).

We are still awaiting results for the 3 hour event. 

There was also a 100km distance event, won by Soonchul Shin in 9:45:27, followed by Rene Collins (11:52:48) and Taehyuk Lim (12:19:10).

In the 42.2, winners were Ian Richard (3:13:07), Andrew Tillman (3:43:37) and Rick Patzold (3:49:11) for the men and for the women podium finishes went to Karin Tapppouras (4:34:35), Tracie Scarlett-Arundell (4:38:15) and AURA’s Jane Trumper from Dee Why, NSW who completed the medal tally with a time of 4:54:55. Well done to AURA members Brad Boyle (5:18:33), Bob Fickel (5:53:52) and Ganesh Vengadasalam (6:14:29) who finished their marathon event.

As well as a 42.2 run, there was also a 42.2 walk event. Congratulations to AURA member Kevin Heaton from Pennant Hills, NSW who took 1st Male with a time of 5:31:57 after completing 99 laps of the track. 

It’s worth noting a few things that happened at the weekend of the Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra too.

• The 24 hour Male winner, AURA’s Joe Ward, achieved an A qualifying distance
• The 24 hour Female winner, AURA’s Jenny Morris, said it was her first time racing in a track race
• The 12 hour Male winner, AURA’s Dominic Bullock, achieved a new Australian Age Group record at the event, having never run more than 5 hours before and with the Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra his first ever track race; the new Australian Age Group record for 12hr M25 is 146.277km by Bullock.
• The 6 hour Female winner, AURA’s Tia Jones, secured 2 new Australian Age Group records for W55 with 69.774km (6 hour) and 4:15:56 (50km).

For a full list of results visit here.

LEFEVRE COASTAL RUNNING FESTIVAL

The LeFevre Coastal Running Festival was held on Sunday, 6 June in Semaphore, SA, the event supporting both the Australian Cancer Research Foundatino and Bravehearts. It offered a variety of distances, including a 64km that saw 4 finishers – an even split of 2 men and 2 women.

In the men’s 64km, David Billett took 1st Male with 5:59:34 whilst AURA’s very own Colin Brooks from Semaphore Park, SA claimed 2nd male with 7:29:55.

In the women’s 64km, Gabby Tyler took 1st Female after finishing in 7:14:07 and Mihoko Kukuchi took 2nd (7:38:31).

There was also a 42.2km distance on offer, with 3 competitors (all male). First Male was Timothy Horton (5:26:39) whilst AURA member Chris Glacken from Port Adelaide, SA took on the race and held on for 2nd Male with a finish time of 6:30:11. Harley Harrer took 3rd Male (6:35:37).

AURA AGM OUTCOMES

The AURA AGM was held on Monday, 31 May via an online meeting service. The following committee positions have been elected:

• President       Ewan Horsburgh
• Vice Pres.    Matthew Eckford
• Secretary        Stephen Redfern
• Treasurer        Simone Hayes

The following members have stepped up for the roles as state representatives:

• Qld        Dan Symonds, John Pearson
• SA                  Chris Glacken, Beck Butler
• ACT               Allicia Heron, Martin Fryer, Matt Griggs
• NSW              Jane Trumper, Ben Berriman, Kevin Heaton
• Vic                 Donna Urquhart, John Yoon, Nikki Wynd, Isobel Ross, George Mihalakellis
• WA                Julia Mackay
• Tas        Amy Lamprecht

Congratulations to everyone returning to a committee or state representative role, and to everyone new coming into their positions.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The long awaited Irrational S.O.U.T.H 200 Miler starts this Wednesday, 9 June and concludes Sunday, 13 June from the historic river port city of Murray Bridge to the vineyards of the Clare Valley in SA. Hosted by Ultra Series WA and Ultra Series SA’s Shaun Kaesler and supported by Ultra Runners SA, this is the sister event to the Delirious W.E.S.T.

The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon Weekend from 19-20 June is new to the AURA calendar, and how spectacular does it look! The course takes runners on an amazing journey that takes in the best sights of Newnes and the Wolgan Valley, with participants running across creek crossings, sections of long single trail, old mine cuttings, ruins and some long forgotten railway easements. The event offers a marathon distance, half marathon, 6km and a ‘Mountain Mile’.

GoodRunning’s River Run will be held at Onkaparinga River Recreational Park in SA on 20 June and will offer participants a 5km looped course for 60km, 50km, 42.2km, 30km, 21.1km, 15km, 10km, 7.5km, 5km, 2.5km and 1km.

Another new event on the AURA calendar is the hotly anticipated Transcend Ultra to be held in WA’s Swan Valley at Walyunga National Park and finishing near the historic town of Toodyay. The 60km distance is offered for solo runners or teams of 2-4.

The Wild Goose Chase Running Festival kicks off on 25 June and runs through to 27 June, with the weekend offering distances for all abilities from the 5km to the 100 miler.

Pictured: Jenny Morris (2405), Carmen Austin (2413), Marcus Cockshutt (2438) and Kevin Muller (2404) at the 2021 Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra. Photograph – Martin Cansell.