A record field of more than two hundred runners will be heading for the hills this weekend for the Whitsunday Running Club’s annual trail event.
The Anaconda Whitsunday Trail Festival takes place on Sunday, 14 September, with entries coming from across Australia and the United States. The race precinct will be based on the Airlie Beach Foreshore near the movie screen.
Fifty runners have signed up for the WTF58 Accom Whitsunday Ultra (58km), which starts on the foreshore, travels over the ranges to Brandy Creek Road, and returns to finish at the race precinct. Defending champions Demi Caldwell (Andergrove) and Cristian Smith (Mackay) are back to chase another title.
The leading runner is expected to cross the line in about 5 hours 15 minutes at 10:15am, with the final competitors finishing close to 2:30pm.
One hundred competitors will take on the one-way WTF28 Anaconda Whitsunday Trail (28km) from Brandy Creek Road to the foreshore.
Last year’s winners, Liv Compton (Whitsunday Running Club) and veteran Tony Liron (Trinity Beach), will line up again. The winner is expected to finish around 9:45am.
The Honeyeater Shokz Challenge (11km) has drawn over fifty runners who will ascend to the famous lookout before returning. Winners are tipped to finish just before 10:00am.
The two Bendigo Community Bank Kids Beach Bash events for ages four and up will kick off at 10:30am, following the Mascot Race. The Kids Beach Run (approx. 1,400m) is open to children aged 8 and over, while the Junior Kids Beach Run (approx. 700m) caters for those aged 4 and over.
This year’s Mascot Race has attracted its biggest field yet, with Bungaroo (Cannonvale State School), Cruiser (Cruise Whitsunday), Blazer (Queensland Fire Department), Piggy (Bendigo Community Bank), Hogster (Hog’s Breath Café) and Frog (BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort) all set to battle it out at 10:20am.
Event Manager Andrea Farley said “It will be a great day of racing, and for those wanting to enjoy the festive atmosphere at the race precinct, the best time to be there is from 9:30am until presentations at 12 noon. There are still a few spots left, so head to our website and register at www.runwhitsundays.com.au.”
Contributed with thanks to Tim McQuoid-Mason
Photo credit: Phil Copp Photography
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