Weekly News - 17/11/17

Kate Dzienis • Nov 17, 2017

Feral Pig Ultra, WA

The Feral Pig Ultra was held across the weekend on both Saturday and Sunday (November 11 and 12) in what could be described as some of the toughest conditions in the state. Dry, hot temperatures reached 38 degrees on the first day of the race, only to be followed by 33-degree weather on Sunday.

Despite the sun beating down on everyone throughout the weekend, runners were thrilled to have a rare opportunity and officially race along the historic Bibbulmun Track, in its entirety a bush trail stretching 1,000kms from the outskirts of Perth to the great south coast of WA.

The event provided five distances across the board – the Feral Pig 100 Miler, Boar 50 Miler, Sow 50kms, Pork Chop 23kms and a children’s ‘Porkrun’ of 5kms.

Twenty-three runners hit the start line for the 100 Miler with a colossal line-up of West Aussie talent – 10 AURA members taking on the course. From North Bannister heading north to Mundaring Weir, the horn blew just after midnight on Saturday morning, but in no time at all by sunrise the heat blared all its fury down to earth.

It was a technically challenging course with most competitors experienced on trails, but before the day could even be done, a barrage of DNFs started to take effect, and in the end out of 23 starters, only 8 crossed the finish line in the early hours of Sunday.

AURA members Nick O’Neill (23:39:42), Paul Hopwood (27:47:29) and Glenn Monaghan (33:34:56) were just three of those to do so.

Special mention of the hard efforts by fellow members Margaret Hadley, Harmony Waite, Richard Avery, Nathan Fawkes, Andrew Poli, Glen Smetherham and Nick Swallow.

The 50 Milers started their race near Mount Cook around 6am, but with 30 starters they too felt the heat throughout the day and only 21 finished.

AURA’s own Jutta Kober secured third place in a time of 13:44:16; he was followed by Alex Pattinson (13:25:43) and Jake Stride (17:28:25).

Special mention to all those who gave it their all in extremely trying conditions, including Chris Lark and Carl Vance.

The Sow 50kms entrants started at midday – right smack bam in the hottest part of the day from Helena National Park. Forty-two started, sadly 8 DNF’d.

AURA barefoot runner Dale-Lyn Russell completed the distance in 8:14:25, landing her second place for the women, while Eloise Simons (9:49:06) and Shirley Treasure (11:26:50) also crossed the finished line.

AURA’s very own president Rob Donkersloot was first in the AURA men to complete the distance in a time of 9:59:40, with Peter Barry doing his 50kms in 12:22:18.

Congratulations also go to James Coffey, Gemma Hamilton and Beck Hefferon who gave it their all.

Four AURA members also took to a field of 54 in the Pork Chop 23kms, which was run from Kalamunda west through to Mundaring Weir in the east, and took in the most technical trails of the entire course.

Kelly-Lyn Fleming completed her race in a time of 3:59:00, and was followed by AURA marketing officer/Ultramag editor Kate Dzienis (5:39:28) and Veronica Noonan (5:39:28) who crossed the finish line together.

The comradery shown at Feral Pig Ultra was second to none, especially given the heat was a massive DNF factor; some runners gave up almost two hours of their race time to help a fellow participant in need of aid, many gave up their own supplies to those dehydrated, volunteers set up ad hoc aid stations at any accessible points, while others still handed their resources equipment to others in need of trail assistance.

A big congratulations to all our AURA members who battled the heat. Whether you crossed the finish line or not, Feral Pig was played out in trying conditions, and all participants should take pride.