BRINDABELLA CLASSIC
Australia’s toughest downhill mountain race
Sunday 13 November 1994
Course description: 54k trail run starting at the top of Mt Ginini (1762m) and finishing at the Cotter Reserve (475m). The course is a combination of dirt road, four wheel drive tracks and a little bit of bush for good measure. Runners climb to the top of Mt Franklin, pass through Aggie Gap and over Bulls Head before beginning the descent to the Cotter River. The course joins the ‘Cotter 18′ just before the ‘Cotter 21′ turn-off, and follows it to the finish via Vanity’s Crossing. In 1994 the course was changed for the second time in its history. A new route was necessary at the descent off Bulls Head, adding about one kilometre to the distance but providing a more gentle descent.
Race weather: Thankfully quite calm after the gale force winds experienced the week before. High cloud kept temperatures higher than most years over the first half of the course. The second half was warm to hot as usual, but not as hot as in 1993. The wind speed was low and the sun broke through the thin clouds on occasions.
Race director: Trevor Jacobs
Organising committee: Laurie Wiseman, Peter Haynes, Graham Skelton, Bryan Harper, Ken Eynon, Dave Cundy, Ian Johnson, Rohan Lowry, Annette Sugden.
Special assistance: The Wireless Institute of Australia (communications); Om Shanti College of Tactile Therapies (massage); St Johns Ambulance (first aid); Ginninderra High Jazz Band; and all the volunteer groups at the aid stations, course marshals and finish line personnel.
Race report: The race started a little late due to the adventurous bus trip to the start. The bus drivers stopped several times to remove low overhanging branches. Mt Ginini was abuzz with activity at the start due to the growth in entrant numbers. Sydney Strider Alf Field jumped to the lead at the gun so as to be able to say that he led at some stage! The pace was hot over the first half with records set to tumble. This proved to be the downfall of many individual runners who slowed markedly over the second half.
In contrast the four men and four women relay teams kicked on well to post record times. The men’s relay team almost broke 3:30 while the women’s team was close to the 4 hour barrier. The two-person relay record was smashed by the John Muir/Roger Palazzo combination. They finished only two minutes behind the four man team. The 1993 three person relay team retained its record as the 1994 Levetators were seven minutes slower. The mixed two person relay record was broken by the Newly Weds.
Bronwyn Hanns won the women’s individual category for the second year in a row but in a slower time than in 1993. Her Bronwyn & Da Boyz team was one minute slower than in 1993. Trevor Jacobs won the individual race for the sixth time, also slower than last year. He joined several others who took a tumble during the race. John Muir hotly contested the race until after half waN and then battled bravely to finish third male behind the strong finishing Kelvin Marshall of Sydney_
Five runners completed their fifth Classic and received a commemorative carafe. This included Peter and Barbara Allen who have run together on every occasion. Co-race founder Barry Moore, John Brett and Geoff Stanton were the others.
Four runners – Mike Ward, Brian Colwell, Grahame Kerruish and Ted Lilliss – have completed all eight runs.

1994 NANANGO SOUTH BURNETT PIONEER FOOTRACE
Judging by the steady increase in the number of runners, the Nanango South Burnett Pioneer Footrace has gained in popularity over the three years it has been held.
The event is organised over five days so that each day a predetermined distance ranging from 57.2km to 75km must be covered. Runners nominate their time for each day and start at an appropriate time each morning to get to the finishing line by 4pm. Each evening a T-shirt is awarded to the person who completes the distance in the shortest time, and to the person who finishes closest to his nominated time. At the end of the five days an overall and handicap winner is decided.
The event starts and finishes at Nanango. The course is predominantly on back roads through some really picturesque countryside. It ranges from flat (not a lot) to straight uphill (a couple of mountains actually). Each evening is spent camped out in the bush or on the floor of an RSL hall. Tales of the day’s adventures on the road are exchanged with a couple of “cold ones” to ease stiff muscles.
Thirteen runners lined up at 8am om Monday, September 5 to be sent on their way with the crack of the whip from the patron on the event Nanango mayor Reg McCullum.
Interest was generated in Brisbane runner Greg (the Skull) Barton, a 2:30 marathoner new to the ultra scene, as he completed the 75 km on the first day in 6 hours 14 minutes. Good first day but would he come out of his skull cave and do it again the next day?. He did – in fact he did it every day for the rest of the week. Greg was overall winner, covering the 330 km in a cumulative time of 28 hours 2 minutes. A very impressive display in running aided by a very professinal crew. The organisers had a little concern with pacing on day two. An F-111 was doing some low level passes over part of the course and it was felt that Greg may have had a little assistance.
Not too far behind Greg at all times was Gary Parsons, 1000 mile world record holder who completed the distance in 33 hours 25 minutes. Gary was probably only getting into the rhythm at five days and would have been happier if the event had gone on for another 20 days.
If Peter Gray had not felt the effects of the Queensland weather on day two he would have decreased his time of 35 hours 6 minutes quite considerably and given Gary a few more ulcers. Amazing effort by Peter whose motto must be “never give up”.
Dell Grant’s motto must be “running is no fun” so when she puts on her running shoes she means business. And she did in this event. Fourth overall and first female at 35 hours 42 minutes she wanted to spend as little time as possible on the road. So she got out there and did what had to be done. Her motivation was “two aspirin and a he down” at the end of the day.
Robert Channells was “feeling good and taking it easy” and kept in Dell’s slip stream most of the time at 35 hours 46 minutes. He, and charming wife Dorothy, were on holidays and here to enjoy the scenery.
Ian Cornelius ran a very even and well planned race at 38 hours 21 minutes. Ian said he just wanted to finish the event injury free. As a bonus he came in sixth with all limbs in working order.
Another disciplined run was that of John Timms, well, apart from the 20 km/h downhill dashes that helped get his time down to 38 hours and 37 minutes. His motto must have been “Oh no, here’s Ron again, I must tell him I walked up all the hills”. Probably his best run ever.
John Carrigan’s motto must be “Mmm, 57k today that’s about 24 stubbies”. John made the whole event look like a bush picnic. With food in one hand and a stubby in the other, he could talk, laugh,
eat, drink and run at the same time, and just look like he was off to the bottle shop for another carton. ? 7 Forty hours of gastronomic fun for John, not counting the evenings.

Quiet, determined Cathy Caton ran a great race at 40 hours 45 minutes. Slowed only by John’s constant offers of food and drink. If determination is anything to go by, Cathy will make a name for herself in ultrarunning.
Jan Collins time of 41 hours 44 minutes was well planned. At the finishing line, Jan looked as if she was ready to start over again. Five days seemed to be a bit too short.
Angela Clarke came in at 43 hours 42 minutes her motto being, “confuse the opposition by changing the support crew every two hours”. Angela moved along very nicely over the five days.
Dave Holleran managed 43 hours 52 minutes. His motto was “think I’ll have another chuck just about here”. Dave was not up to his normal form and found it hard going, but with his normal determination finished the event.
Greg Barton broke the previous record which stood at 31 hours and 3 minutes. Dell Grant broke the previous female record of 36 hours and 55 minutes. A great effort, not only from those two but all the runners to have finished the event in such good times. Of special note is that Greg, John C, Cathy, Jan and Angela, were not only new to multi-days but new to the ultra scene. Special thanks to David Barwick who had to pull out after the first day but spent the rest of the week with his ever cheerful wife Pauline helping runners and crews.
Ray Chatterton

NANANGO FIVE DAY RUN
Every one should try this run if they think they are good at ultra-running. It sorts everyone out. A great race and a lot of fun camping out in scrub and experiencing some of Queensland’s tough country. I had no trouble going down hill but the uphill bits slowed me down. I thought Queensland had only flat country! Another surprise. It only cost me $300. Unlike some others that cost thousands, and if you are late, they don’t let you finish. This is real value. Having run against the best in Australia, I would state without question that this year’s winner is the No.I athlete of the future. He gave no one else a look in, and I doubt that with another year up his sleeve, that there is anyone around Australia who would see which way he went. He just cruises along while the rest of us are just floundering in his wake. It was good to watch you run Greg. Remember the name “Greg Barton”. They call him the “Phantom”.
Thanks Nanango for the best organised race I have ever been in. I hope to improve next year. Thanks particularly to Ron and Dell Grant and Ray Chatterton and all who made this a great 5 days. I can’t wait for next year. Also thanks to my helpers from Nanango, Jimmy Mangon. What a great man at 72 years, trying to look after a mug runner like me. We had many a laugh.
Thanks for all the support and drinks during the rest of the race. You don’t get this happening in other races. Also to Ian Cornelius, thanks for some close races. I enjoyed the competition and hope to race you down hill next year.
John Timms.
NANANGO RUN
(Some rather obscure impressions of the event by John Timms.)
They gathered at the crossroad down the end of town to trap the past, tramp the road and live the spirit of the pioneers. The “Nanango” Run was on. Young Barton took the lead and ran off like the phantom, In pursuit was Timsy, thought it rather smart. But alas, he soon got trampled by a Clydesdale Grey. The Grey took off all fired up and chased the Phantom’s dust. A look around, and sure enough, the larrikin had arrived. He shot past poor old Timsy and there’s the Clydesdale Grey. It was an epic battle between the trio at the front. But day by day they cursed and spat the Phantom’s dust. The milkman’s wife was just as rife, stealing jelly beans from a friend. But Jellybean Dell, I’ll have to tell, ate the Phantom’s dust. Next year, I do declare, I’ll wear a mask and curse the Phantom’s dust.