RECAP OF THE INAUGURAL BRISBANE TRAIL ULTRA

Podium finishers were also presented with Le Bent Thermal Base Layer tops and bottoms, Squirrel’s Nut Butter anti chafing cream, a Bottle of Champagne Laurenti, Fractel running cap, and vouchers for T8 Typhoon wear and Tail Runner.

The BTU dared to be different and ran the race into an urban inner city finish. The trail running festival finish line was set in the stunning backdrop that is Southbank, Brisbane City. The beautiful night lights offered amazing views and streamlined transport logistics for the international and interstate travellers which was reflected by the fact that over 30% of entrants came from outside of Queensland or abroad.

More than 530 runners and pacers entered the Brisbane Trail Ultra. Solo race entrants were as follows:

• BTU 100 mile 30
• BTU 110km80
• BTU 60km130
• BTU 30km202
• Red Bull Climb 457 (includes team entrants)
• Pacers 82

Thirty people in relay teams in the 30km (two-person relay), 60km (three-person relay), 110km (five-person relays).

Our relay teams were well received. The SF Super Series partnered with the BTU to raise over $20,000 for the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation. The BTU was also a fundraiser for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and raised funds for the local rural fire service’s chosen cause. $10 of every paid entrant ticket was donated to the Children’s Foundation on behalf of the Rural Fire Services; a total of $5714 was donated from entrant fees and online donations.

We are super-excited to say that it looks like those awesome Rural Fire Services heroes will be back in 2020 to support our event and make sure our athletes make it through the tough section of our course safely.

The Brisbane trail running community went into overdrive with their kind support of our event. Our fabulous local running groups Brisbane Trail Runners kitted out CP7 with the help of Red Bull Australia and created a pumping trail running party with killer bacon soup. The Bunya Belles and Bunyaville Trail Runners dressed up in tutus to bring a smile to the faces of runners at the top of McAfee’s lookout. The Springfield Runners’ Group dressed up in black tie and formally welcomed runners into Gold Creek Reservoir by serving the best pumpkin soup going around. White Rock Warriors decorated the rainforest in rainbow colours and warmed our runners with hot potatoes. AAA Racing and Coaching provided a buffet for our entrants at Dundas Bush Camp and Mount Nebo SS CP saviours was all pretty in pink with warm smiles and service.

The potatoes at the CP were a hit and we’ll have to double our orders for every athlete next year! The Gap Health & Racquet Club formed a cheer squad along the urban sections to lift the spirits of our runners in the last 8km of the BTU. We also have to give a huge shout out to all the volunteers who stood in the cold, the rain and the wind to help guide runners and cheer them on. Without volunteers, there is no BTU.

Brisbane Trail Runners kindly provided volunteer pacers who guided our runners into the city at night. I was blown away with our running groups and how strong the trail running community is up here is Queensland. The groups really did get behind the BTU to help make it a special world class event.

BTU 60km

The inaugural running of the BTU 60km was nothing short of challenging. This course features some of the most beautiful and technical single trails on the course, with transitions into every trail terrain imaginable. The wet weather made for some muddy and slippery sections of track for our runners.

It was run with a split start (10am wave and 12pm wave). After an introduction and formal opening of the BTU by Minister for Tourism Queensland Kate Jones, the race was on. 

The run up to check point 1 was quick. Sam Burridge and Steph Auston were out on a mission, having covered the 15.6km and 737m of vertical gain in 75min and 78min respectively. Anthony Gordon and Tom Brazier stayed closely behind, as did Carol Robertson and Kazu Kuwata. 

The second sector from McAfee’s Lookout to check point 2 Gold Creek Reservoir was going to be tough. Runners travel down the infamously named Hell Hole Break before jumping onto the technical single trail sections of the course. Burridge and Auston used their experience to pull ahead of their competition to make quick work of this section and reached Gold Creek in just over two hours. The ladies race positions were maintained with Robertson behind Auston, and Kuwata sitting uncomfortably in 3rd position with Jodie Oborne very closely behind.

The men’s race appeared to be Burridge’s, but the remaining podium positions were anyone’s game with less than 10min separating the next six runners. Reece Evans, Brad Walker, Anthony Gordon, Richard Young, David Longo and Andrew McDonald were all vying for a trophy.

Burridge and Auston both extended their lead from the rest of the pack as they travelled along undulating terrain towards check point 7 JC Slaughter Falls; it was evident now that they were racing each other for the outright win. It is phenomenal that here, with 44km on her legs, Auston pulled out a 2nd place in the Red Bull Climb section behind BTU 30km winner Cardelli! Wow!

The last leg of the race was more of a challenge than expected. With course markings missing within the urban sector of the race, navigation skills had to take over. Burridge found himself off course and Auston had also taken a wrong turn before both powering into the Queensland Maritime Museum finishing line for the win.

I have included the overall results for this report as it is very inspiring to see two women in outright second and third!

Overall positions
1 Sam Burridge      05:58:02 Open (26-39)
2 Stephanie Auston  06:04:58 Open (26-39) 
3 Carol Robertson    07:03:27 Veteran (40-49)

Women
1 Sam Burridge      05:58:02   Open (26-39)
2 David Longo       07:03:35  Open (26-39)
3 Reece Evans       07:11:38  Open (26-39)

Women:
1 Stephanie Auston  06:04:58   Open (26-39)   
2 Carol Robertson    07:03:27   Veteran (40-49)
3 Kazu Kuwata      08:00:00   Veteran (40-49)

BTU 110km

From the get-go, the BTU 110km race was one to watch and could almost be considered a State of Origin Trail series contest. Our local trail favourites Ben Duffus and Jess Schluter were flying the flag for Queensland and interstate trail stars Vlad Shatrov and Kellie Emmerson representing NSW, the battle of the states started here.

The 5am competitors shared the start line with their 100 mile compatriots; the signal was given and the race started. The 6am wave followed not long after and here begins the BTU 110km race.

The first sector towards checkpoint 1 McAfee’s Lookout was a fast one. Vlad Shatrov lead the way creating a 5min gap between himself and Ben Duffus. Kellie Emmerson was on their tail though, and she was followed closely by Garry Marwood and Daniel Lucas. Hannah McRae and Jess Schluter were not far behind. 

Local trail knowledge gave Duffus a huge advantage in the next leg of the run. On exiting Mt Nebo Rd and onto the fast flat sections of the Thylogale Trail, he had not only caught up to Shatrov, he had overtaken him and was now 2min ahead at check point 2. Emmerson had extended her lead on McRae and Schluter to sit comfortably in behind Duffus, Shatrov and Marwood. Lucas had dropped back and Miles Brown was now in front of him. 

The next leg took the competitors through some of the most technical parts of the course – a steep descent into Township Break, and it was made much more difficult with the continuing rain. The shale and clay combination together made for a slippery downhill and a sludgy climb out; comparably this could almost be considered an OCR segment of the BTU 110km.

The gradual climb towards Gold Creek Reservoir followed firm fire trail before descending into the forested single track and finally into checkpoint 6. Duffus arrived here 30 minutes ahead of his closest rival and was all set to make quick work of the last two legs of the race, but unfortunately retired from the race. Shatrov was now in the lead again with Marwood and Emmerson not far behind. Lucas was promoted to 3rd in the men’s race. In the meantime, Schluter had quietly snuck up on McRae and was now only 30sec behind. 

Even with nasty blisters, Shatrov fought hard and reached checkpoint 7 JC Slaughter Falls in no time. Marwood was now 30 min behind with Lucas further back. Emmerson had made great ground and sat in 3rd place overall. Schluter had pulled in front of McRae, putting in a 10min buffer between them.

With 94.8km on her legs, Emmerson managed a 7th place in the women’s Red Bull Climb challenge with a time of 00:15:21.

Shatrov powered through the urban sector to finish in 11:18:27 for the outright win and first completion time logged for the BTU 110km. The last stretch saw Emmerson chase down Marwood to take overall 2nd and 1st female in a time of 11:57:37.

Women
1 Kellie Emmerson 11:57:37    Open (26-39)
2 Jessica Schluter  14:15:43    Open (26-39)
3 Hannah Mcrae   14:59:19    Open (26-39)

Men
1 Vlad Shatrov        11:18:27    Veteran (40-49)
2 Garry Marwood  12:10:13    Open (26-39)
3 Daniel Lucas         13:16:59   Open (26-39)

Overall 
1 Vlad Shatrov     11:18:27   Veteran (40-49)
2 Kellie Emmerson 11:57:37   Open (26-39) 
3 Garry Marwood  12:10:13   Open (26-39)

BTU 100mile

I had the pleasure of following these amazing athletes around the 100mi course and it was nothing short of pure guts and determination.

The morning started early, with athletes weighing in and on their final preparations. As the clock ticked closer to 5am, final pre-race niceties were exchanged with support crew and competitors and then it was all business.

It was clear runners were pacing themselves for the long haul as lights moved steadily through Enoggera Reservoir. Ewan Horsburgh was the first to reach checkpoint 1 McAfee’s Lookout and was closely followed by Vivian Johnston, Matthew Crehan and Kieran O’Brien. Nikki Burke was leading the women’s pack with Jenny Morris, Sam McNulty, Lisa Hurring and Erika Brann not far behind. 

The terrain consisted of short climbs and descents before hitting some flat sections of single trail. In this leg, the lead runners stayed within minutes of each other with Crehan taking the lead. The ladies were a little further apart now with Hurring out in front. 

Constant rain meant very slippery and muddy descents, Mount Glorious received over 50mm of rain when the forecast suggested it was to only receive 8mm. The conditions were brutal as runners headed into the rainforest. The slow gradual climb up Mt Glorious and into the fog and mist meant O’Brien had now snuck into the top three alongside Crehan and Horsburgh. Hurring extended her lead on the women. 

Horsburgh and Crehan were on each other’s heels towards checkpoint 4 Dundas Bush Camp.

To add to the difficulty of the infamous Township Break, night fell and so did the rain, about 50mm through that section of the course. The loose rocks, shale, clay and mud means rainwater can be seen trickling down the trails. Medics and the rural fire and emergency services were stationed at the top of the climb. Now back on track and following the same course as the 110km competitors, runners jumped back onto some wide fire trail featuring gradual rises and falls towards checkpoint 6 Gold Creek Reservoir. 

Crehan was first to arrive at Gold Creek Reservoir. Horsburgh and O’Brien were minutes behind. At this point unfortunately only two women were left in the race – Hurring in the lead and Morris a few hours behind.

The undulating terrain towards checkpoint 7 JC Slaughter Falls are short but sharp. It was through this section that Horsburgh regained the lead with O’Brien within arm’s reach of him. Crehan was now in 3rd place. It is not often we see a race to the finish for a 100mi, but this is exactly what this appeared to be. O’Brien powered through to the finishing line only 8min in front of Horsburgh to take the inaugural 100 mile event. Crehan closed out the podium finishes in the men’s race.

For the women, Hurring finished ahead of Morris. 

What a challenge. The attrition rate was high. Of the 30 competitors signed for the BTU 100mi, four did not start, eight did not finish.

Men
1 Kieran O’Brien    20:49:43   Open (26-39)   
2 Ewan Horsburgh  20:57:48   Veteran (40-49)
3 Matthew Crehan  21:44:39   Open (26-39)

Women
1 Lisa Hurring      27:45:31   Veteran (40-49)
2 Jenny Morris      29:50:11   Veteran (40-49)

Our finish line was a huge success with AllSports Physiotherapy giving our runners a post-race rub down at night. On the Sunday, the Red Bull party truck arrived and the Westin Brisbane also hosted the Westin 5km and the Westin 1km Kids Run kicked off with race director Shona Stephenson leading the way and doing a headcount for the kids making sure they weren’t going to get lost on their loop to the kids playground, around the South Bank Pools and back to the BTU presentations. Along with the kid’s fun run, the Westin also brought their massage therapist and provided complimentary massages to well-deserving participants.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all our supporters:

Red Bull Australia
Allsports Physiotherapy
My Foot Dr
Hammer Nutrition Australia
Squirrels Nut Butter
Fractel Caps
Le bent – Base Layers
The 9 Dragons Ultra 50/50
Hakuba International Trails
T8 Typhoon Wear
Tail Runner

Our volunteers were amazing with so many of them standing out in the rain for seven hour shifts making sure our entrants were safe. We have to give a massive shout out to them as the event could not have gone ahead without them. The local senior community came out to La Trobe Terrace to help support our event and are keen to come back in 2020. The course ran past many restaurants on La Trobe Terrace and the community loved seeing the entrants race past, little knowing that some of them would have covered 152km by the time they reached the city. The BTU is in its infancy, but we know this is an event that Queensland and Brisbane can be really proud of.

Featured Image – Kellie Emmerson crossing the finish line at the 2019 BTU. Photograph – Courtesy BTU/Kenn Santos.