WEEKLY RACE REPORT 27-07-2020

Kate Dzienis • July 27, 2020

Australian 24hr Track Invitational, ACT

After months of unfortunate cancellations and postponements of races across the country due to COVID-19, the new 2020 ultra racing season kicked off with a weekend of stellar performances at the inaugural Australian 24hr Track Invitational.

Hosted by AURA’s very own vice president Matthew Eckford, the event was originally created with quality over quantity in mind, and it sure did deliver.

Despite the sun fading away and some rain falling on the track of the AIS Track & Field Facility in Canberra, the contingent of ultra runners remained strong – a combination of runners on the track itself and those in Victoria racing virtually due to border restrictions.

It was a massive effort by AURA member Joe Ward from Fairlight, NSW who secured a distance of 239.529kms to take 1st Male, and said he was shocked yet ecstatic to take the win.

AURA’s very own John Yoon from Kensington, Vic took 2nd Male following a finish of 237.378kms while member Luca Turrini from Little Bay, NSW held on for a 3rd Male title after an impressive 200.867kms.

In the women’s event, international entrant Joasia Zakrzewski (Scotland) took 1st Female after finishing on the track with 236.561kms.

AURA member Nikki Wynd from Lysterfield, Vic claimed 2nd Female following a final distance of 208.826kms while AURA treasurer Simone Hayes, hailing from Gymea Bay, NSW held on to claim 3rd Female with 106.800kms.

With 9 participants in all, 8 of whom were AURA members, congratulations also goes to Matt Griggs (200.400kms), Matthew Eckford (180.000kms) and Stephen Redfern (140.000kms) who all put in phenomenal efforts across the weekend.

*Race results are provisional at time of race report publication.

COMING SOON

AURA president Ewan Horsburgh will be making an exciting announcement this Wednesday, July 29 at 7pm EST via Livestream on Facebook, so be sure to stay on the screen at that time in our group page.

ON THE CALENDAR

Due to government restrictions across the country constantly changing and being updated, some races are unable to still go ahead despite many states seeing their own restrictions lifted.

The Five Peaks Ultramarathon and SA Trail Running Festival in Adelaide, SA was due to go ahead on August 2 however it has been cancelled. The event’s committee was cautiously optimistic about being able to proceed as planned, and since March had been monitoring the COVID-19 situation and all government regulations. Last month, the committee met again and decided that due to the ever changing nature of restrictions and other reasons, the event would be cancelled. The Five Peaks Ultramarathon and SA Trail Running Festival is now scheduled for a return next year, for 28 March, 2021.

The next official event on the AURA calendar is Birdy’s Backyard Ultra in Moodiarrup, WA which will be held on the weekend of 7 August. This new format of racing is proving quite popular amongst the ultra community, where participants repeat a 6.7kms trail loop on the hour, every hour, until there is a last person standing.

The Hero Run, a new event on the AURA-listed calendar of events, will be held from 8-9 August at the Laratinga Wetlands, Mount Barker, SA. This will feature a 50km on the Sunday, where participants will do four loops of an out-and-back course.

CONTRIBUTIONS

We are always looking for members to contribute their race reports and stories for future editions of our digital magazine Ultramag because without you, there would not be an Ultramag! Please send your contributions to ultramag@aura.asn.au along with any high resolution horizontal images, as attachments.

Pictured: AURA member Joe Ward, 1st Male at the weekend’s Australian 24hr Track Invitational in the ACT, with AURA Vice President and event organiser Matthew Eckford. Photograph – Supplied/Facebook.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.asn.au with the following information: Word document, single spaced Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great) Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way! As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report No PDFs please And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President