In the words of local fitness legend Kay Nyenuh “It didn’t tickle.”
Fresh from running the Gold Coast Marathon the week prior, Kay laced up his shoes along with around 40 other runners to tackle one of the most challenging running and cycling events on the local calendar, the Eungella King and Queen of the Mountain.
The chilly morning saw around 70 competitors rugged up in winter woolies, but once the meandering pace started up the Eungella Range, the layers were quickly discarded. It’s only a distance of 6.4km, but the constant gradient is what makes this challenge iconic.
The cyclists were the first to depart with a 1-minute lead over the runners, but this doesn’t mean all cyclists finished in front of the runners! That’s what makes this race great, some runners can cover the 6.4km faster than some cyclists.
Ethan Weiss was the first cyclist to cross the line in a time of 22.26.27 minutes, only fractions of a second ahead of Brendon Brauer in second place, 22.27.10. Rebecca Baird was the first woman cyclist across the line, in 16th place overall, in a time of 35.42 minutes.
Runners Demi Caldwell and Cristian Smith conquered the mountain once again with Cristian taking the crown for the second year in a row and Demi’s superb performance just eleven seconds outside the female race record of 34.55 minutes set in 1991. Second placed runner Tahnie Malagueno was very pleased with her efforts crossing the line ahead of Glynis Forse and Heli Talinurm. Paul Mackenzie continued his regular podium form by scorching up the summit for second ahead of junior runner, Luke Leven in third and fourth placed Justin Rule.
Lily Leven and Damien Rutland took out the Laura Pettifer/Podiatry Mackay Junior 3.2km King of the Mountain whilst Millie Bishop took home silver. Oliver Rule also took home silver with his younger brother Toby collecting bronze.
Marathon runners Brenda Windsor and Kay Nyenuh both received praise for backing up only a week after completing the Gold Coast Marathon.
Torque Tyre & Trailer Spares Perpetual Trophy winners for the 2022 Eungella King of the Mountain male and female cyclists and runners (left to right) Ethan Weiss, Rebeca Baird, Demi Caldwell and Cristian Smith
Mackay Road Runners Signature Event and Club Championship event, the M-Test Mackay Open female and male winners of the 2022 Eungella King of the Mountain, Demi Caldwell and Cristian Smith
Laura Pettifer Memorial Trophy and Podiatry Mackay Junior 3.2km Eungella King of the Mountain won by (centre) Lily Leven and Damian Rutland with second placed Millie Bishop (left), third placed Toby Rule (right) and second placed Oliver Rule (far right)
Birthday Boy, Arthur Dick (seated) gets a very cool happy birthday at Netherdale’s minimum of 3 degrees at 7am at the start line by Paul Mackenzie, Tahnie Malagueno, Hamish Donnollan, Julie Bishop and Jo Hughes. Photos supplied: Mackay Road Runners
Runners and cyclists embarked on the Eungella King and Queen of the Mountain last weekend. Photo credit: Photos by Nell
