Canberra Marathon

Annual race in Australia held since 1976

Canberra Marathon

Start line in 2006

Date| Mid-April
Location| Canberra, Australia
Event type| Road
Distance| Marathon, Half marathon, 10K run, 5K run, Ultramarathon
Primary sponsor| Canberra Times
Established| 1976 (49 years ago) (1976)
Course records| Men's: 2:15:02 (1995)
John Andrews
Women's: 2:32:57 (1994)
Sue Hobson
Official site| Canberra Times Marathon Festival
Participants| 1,600 (2021)

The Canberra Times Marathon Festival is an annual marathon held in the city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The marathon was established in 1976 and is the oldest city marathon in Australia.[1] The marathon was initially held on November before being moved to April in 1979.[2]

## History

[edit]

The marathon was first held in November 1976 and had 30 people start.[3][2] It was founded by John Harding, who also was the race director and inaugural winner, with a finish time of 2:36:39. The whole purpose of the event was to allow John Harding to get a qualifying time in order to enter the Australian Marathon.[4] In total 17 people completed the course of which 14 finished in under 3 hours.[4][3]

In November 1977, the race was known as the "Pre-Pacific Conference Games Marathon"[2][5][6] with a total of 85 finishers.[6] The 1978 race had 260 participants and was known as the "Canberra International Marathon" after which it was decided to run the marathon in April to avoid clashing with other races with the 1979 race restricted to 300 runners.[2] The number of runners peaked in 1984 with almost 2,400 starters but dropped in the late 1980s to around 500 runners each year.[7]

The event was sponsored by Nike from 1979 to 1989 before sponsorship was taken over by the ACT Academy of Sport for the 1990 race with a $7,000 sponsorship package.[8][9] Sponsorship for the race was then provided by Mobil starting in 1991.[7]

The 1995 race was the Australian trial for the IAAF World Marathon Cup after being nominated by Athletics Australia.[10]

From 2003 a memorandum of understanding was undertaken with ACT Cross Country Club to give Cundy Sports Marketing responsibility to manage the event.[11]

In 2010 a dispute between the two groups both claiming to own the event (Cundy Sports Marketing and ACT Cross Country Club) went to court to resolve. As a result of this, government approvals for the event were not granted and the race was not held.[12][13] As a result of this the ACT Cross Country Club disbanded. The 2011 event was organised by Fairfax Events as part of the Australian Running Festival.[14]

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021 and all registrants given the option of also running the race virtually and receiving a medal for free.[15][16][17] The 2021 race attracted 1,600 entries.[18]

## Course

[edit]

In 2014 the race course moved from being a 3-lap race starting and finishing at Telopea Park School in Manuka to a new, single lap, route starting and finishing at Old Parliament House after passing landmarks such as the National Zoo & Aquarium, Government House and Telstra Tower.[19]

The marathon starts at Telopea Park School in the suburb of Manuka, within sight of Parliament House. The route starts with a 10 km (6.2 mi) lap around the old and new Parliament buildings and other major government buildings. This is followed by a double lap crossing Lake Burley Griffin (over the Kings Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue bridges) and along Parkes Way out towards the Glenloch interchange near the Telstra Tower landmark.[20]

## Other awards

[edit]

Runners who complete ten Canberra marathons are given the honorary title of 'Griffin', after Walter Burley Griffin, the designer of the city of Canberra. 20 or more finishes receives the title of 'Burley Griffin' and 30 or more finishes the title of 'Walter Burley Griffin'.[21]

## Other races

[edit]

The event has five races: 5 km race on a Saturday, and the 10 km, half marathon, marathon and ultramarathon on the following day.[22]

The ultramarathon allows those registered for the marathon to "go beyond the marathon" and compete in a 50 km (31 mi) event. At the time, once participants completed the marathon, they were recorded as marathon finishers and were eligible to run a few extra kilometres to also complete the 50 km race.[22] The ultramarathon and marathon were later split into separate races with separate start times.[23][24]

## Community impact

[edit]

Under the Australian Running Festival, the event worked to fundraise approximately $200,000 for over 250 charities in 2018. Individuals or teams may participate in the event and work towards fundraising money for their charity of choice; with some teams, such as 'Team Beyond Blue' raising $25,099.[25] Individuals or teams that are participating in the event contribute a donation as part of their entry and may also work towards accumulating sponsors.[26]

## Winners

[edit]

Key:    Course record

Ed.  | Year  | Men's winner  | Time[a] | Women's winner  | Time[a] | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 1976  |  John Harding (AUS) | 2:36:39  | —  | —  | [3][27]
2  | 1977  |  Chris Wardlaw (AUS) | 2:27:42  | —  | —  | [27]
3  | 1978  |  Geoffrey Moore (AUS) | 2:26:58  |  Susan Hill (AUS) | 2:59:28  | [27][28]
4  | 1979  |  John Stanley (AUS) | 2:18:45  |  Mary Murison (AUS) | 3:10:00  | [27]
5  | 1980  |  Chris Pilone (NZL) | 2:17:51  |  Susan Hill (AUS) | 2:55:17  | [27][29]
6  | 1981  |  Graeme Kennedy (AUS) | 2:15:16  |  Judith Hine (NZL) | 2:44:08  | [27][29]
7  | 1982  |  Derek Froude (NZL) | 2:17:45  |  Shane Barrett (AUS) | 2:45:12  | [27][29]
8  | 1983  |  Colin Neave (AUS) | 2:16:57  |  Ngaire Drake (NZL) | 2:44:11  | [27][29]
9  | 1984  |  Grenville Wood (AUS) | 2:15:50  |  Lisa Martin (AUS) | 2:35:05  | [27][29]
10  | 1985  |  Colin Neave (AUS) | 2:21:27  |  Iris Cook (AUS) | 2:54:45  | [27]
11  | 1986  |  Graham Macky (NZL) | 2:21:21  |  Rhonda Mallinder (AUS) | 2:46:29  | [29]
12  | 1987  |  Garrick Hand (AUS) | 2:19:00  |  Annette McNeil (AUS) | 2:49:43  | [27][30]
13  | 1988  |  Gerard Barrett (AUS) | 2:15:07  |  Annette McNeil (AUS) | 2:48:18
14  | 1989  |  Gerard Ryan (AUS) | 2:26:55  |  Trudy Fenton (AUS) | 2:41:39
15  | 1990  |  Derek Froude (NZL) | 2:22:24  |  Mary Silver (AUS) | 2:58:00  | [31]
16  | 1991  |  Colin Neave (AUS) | 2:23:23  |  Joanne Cowan (AUS) | 2:46:18  | [32]
17  | 1992  |  Gerard Barrett (AUS) | 2:19:46  |  Joanne Cowan (AUS) | 2:42:31  | [33]
18  | 1993  |  Gerard Barrett (AUS) | 2:22:20  |  Joanne Cowan (AUS) | 2:42:00  | [34]
19  | 1994  |  Allan Carman (AUS) | 2:19:39  |  Sue Hobson (AUS) | 2:32:57 | [35]
20  | 1995  |  John Andrews (AUS) | 2:15:02 |  Joanne Cowan (AUS) | 2:41:48  | [36]
21  | 1996  |  Vin McCarthy (AUS) | 2:25:39  |  Birgit Schuckmann (GER) | 2:42:43
22  | 1997  |  Edward Nabunone (INA) | 2:23:38  |  Gabrielle O'Rourke (NZL) | 2:42:45
23  | 1998  |  Paul Wilson (AUS) | 2:23:25  |  Robin Roocke (AUS) | 2:51:05
24  | 1999  |  Raymond Boyd (AUS) | 2:18:01  |  Melissa Bulloch (AUS) | 2:47:30
—  | 2000  | not held due to Host City Marathon in Sydney | [37][38]
25  | 2001  |  Gemechu Woyecha (QAT) | 2:16:23  |  Susan Michelsson (AUS) | 2:41:59
26  | 2002  |  Gemechu Woyecha (QAT) | 2:20:20  |  Elizabeth Miller (AUS) | 2:49:09
27  | 2003  |  Gemechu Woyecha (AUS) | 2:22:35  |  Nyla Carroll (NZL) | 2:38:56  | [39]
28  | 2004  |  Martin Dent (AUS) | 2:15:12  |  Shireen Crumpton (NZL) | 2:43:21
29  | 2005  |  Magnus Michelsson (AUS) | 2:21:01  |  Belinda Schipp (AUS) | 2:43:52
30  | 2006  |  Barry Keem (AUS) | 2:24:10  |  Shireen Crumpton (NZL) | 2:42:55
31  | 2007  |  Magnus Michelsson (AUS) | 2:20:55  |  Magdaliní Karímali (GRE) | 2:43:40  | [40][41]
32  | 2008  |  Mark Tucker (AUS) | 2:24:13  |  Jackie Fairweather (AUS) | 2:46:01  | [42]
33  | 2009  |  David Criniti (AUS) | 2:26:09  |  Magdaliní Karímali (GRE) | 2:43:19
—  | 2010  | cancelled due to ownership dispute | [12]
34  | 2011  |  Rowan Walker (AUS) | 2:24:14  |  Magdaliní Karímali (GRE) | 2:50:49  | [43]
35  | 2012  |  Anthony Farrugia (AUS) | 2:28:23  |  Magdaliní Karímali (GRE) | 2:47:45  | [1][44]
36  | 2013  |  Rowan Walker (AUS) | 2:24:23  |  Magdaliní Karímali (GRE) | 2:52:46  | [45][46]
37  | 2014  |  Samuel Woldeamanuel (ETH) | 2:21:38  |  Kirsten Molloy (AUS) | 2:49:57  | [47]
38  | 2015  |  Rowan Walker (AUS) | 2:26:27  |  Fleur Flanery (AUS) | 2:53:54  | [48]
39  | 2016  |  Rowan Walker (AUS) | 2:28:43  |  Ruth Wilson (AUS) | 2:46:55
40  | 2017  |  Matthew Cox (AUS) | 2:21:38  |  Leah Fitzgerald (AUS) | 2:58:41  | [49]
41  | 2018  |  Dion Finocchiaro (AUS) | 2:25:38  |  Kirsten Molloy (AUS) | 3:00:57
42  | 2019  |  Nick Earl (GBR) | 2:20:25  |  Stephanie Auston (AUS) | 2:43:33  | [50][51]
| 2020 | not held due to coronavirus pandemic | [18][15]
43  | 2021  |  Myles Gough (AUS) | 2:25:18  |  Riine Ringi (AUS) | 2:42:29  | [52][53]
44  | 2022  |  Jamie Lacey (AUS) | 2:31:28  |  Marnie Ponton (AUS) | 2:43:28  | [54][55]
45  | 2023  |  Harry Smithers (AUS) | 2:28:24  |  Cassie Little (AUS) | 2:45:00  | [56]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b h:m:s

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Sydney runners clinch Canberra marathon". ABC News. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
2. ^ a b c d "Nike marathon now the drawcard". Canberra Times. 25 February 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
3. ^ a b c "Marathon to Harding". Canberra Times. 22 November 1976. p. 11. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
4. ^ a b "Canberra Marathon 1976". 20 November 1976.
5. ^ "Canberra Marathon".
6. ^ a b "Pre-Pacific Conference Games Marathon 1977". 2 December 1977.
7. ^ a b "Marathon by Mobil". Canberra Times. 24 February 1991. p. 11. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Trove.
8. ^ "Veterans aim for 1978 marathon form". Canberra Times. 21 March 1990. p. 42. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
9. ^ "Modified course, new sponsor for marathon". Canberra Times. 2 March 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
10. ^ "Mobil marathon receives a boost to status, fields". Canberra Times. 17 September 1994. p. 60. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
11. ^ "ACT CROSS COUNTRY CLUB INFORMATION". members.pcug.org.au.
12. ^ a b "Hopes fade for 2010 Canberra Marathon". 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
13. ^ "Marathon stoush over event rights". ABC News. 1 September 2009.
14. ^ Brown, Loose (23 December 2010). "Canberra Marathon to form part of new running festival in April 2011". Riotact.
15. ^ a b "FAQs | the Canberra Times Marathon Festival". events.solemotive.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
16. ^ "The Canberra Times Marathon Festival | Virtual". events.solemotive.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
17. ^ "Marathon festival bows to restrictions". Canberra Times. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
18. ^ a b Guthrie, Bree (5 March 2021). "Runners' mojo returns just in time for marathon". Canberra Times. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
19. ^ Westcott, Ben (27 November 2013). "Canberra Marathon gets redesign next year". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
20. ^ "activity.me". activity.me. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
21. ^ Lansdowne, Heather. "When one Canberra Marathon isn't nearly enough!". Riotact. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
22. ^ a b "Ultra Marathon". Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
23. ^ "Marathon — Running Festival". runningfestival.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
24. ^ "Ultra Marathon — Running Festival". runningfestival.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
25. ^ "Raising Money — Running Festival". runningfestival.com.au. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
26. ^ Connery, Georgina (15 November 2016). "Preparation the key for 2017 Canberra Running Festival". Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Winners of Canberra marathons". Canberra Times. 8 April 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
28. ^ "Moore wins Canberra marathon". Canberra Times. 6 November 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
29. ^ a b c d e f "Top 10 Nike times". Canberra Times. 8 April 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
30. ^ Hourigan, John (13 April 1987). "Marathon dream a reality". Canberra Times. p. 24. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
31. ^ Rollins, Barry (9 April 1990). "Froude wins marathon again". Canberra Times. p. 22, 21. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
32. ^ Hourigan, John (15 April 1991). "Expert hands ease the pain of victory". Canberra Times. p. 25. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Trove.
33. ^ Hourigan, John (13 April 1992). "Canberra runners in bid for selection". Canberra Times. p. 23. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
34. ^ Hourigan, John (19 April 1993). "Marathoners stamp Mobil as their own". Canberra Times. p. 28, 25. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Trove.
35. ^ Hourigan, John (11 April 1994). "Canberra marathon winner wants to run for country". Canberra Times. p. 21. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
36. ^ Lilley, John (10 April 1995). "Marathon record for Andrews". Canberra Times. p. 30. Retrieved 9 January 2023 – via Trove.
37. ^ "Canberra". canberramarathon.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 December 2001. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
38. ^ "Selection trial highlights the Host City Marathon | World Athletics".
39. ^ "Woyecha wins Canberra Marathon". ABC News. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
40. ^ Sherwood, Merryn (16 April 2007). "Magnus and Magda master marathon magic". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
41. ^ "Victorian Michelsson wins Canberra marathon". ABC News. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
42. ^ "Tucker, Fairweather star in Canberra Marathon". ABC News. 13 April 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
43. ^ "Canberra Times Marathon 2011 results". Retrieved 9 January 2023.
44. ^ Page, Fleta (15 April 2012). "Farrugia beats pain to take out Canberra Marathon". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
45. ^ "Walker wins run". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
46. ^ "Good turnout for running festival". ABC News. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
47. ^ Kelly, Emma (10 April 2015). "Marathon challenge for champions at Canberra's Australian Running Festival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
48. ^ "Locals take out the Canberra Marathon". ABC News. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
49. ^ "Thousands turn out for Canberra marathon on a wet morning". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
50. ^ Back, Alexandra (14 April 2019). "Canberra marathoners smash last year's champion times". Canberra Times. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
51. ^ "Nick EARL | World Athletics".
52. ^ "Myles GOUGH | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
53. ^ "Riine RINGI | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
54. ^ "Jamie LACEY | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
55. ^ "Canberra marathon winners celebrate as running festival draws huge crowd". Canberra Times. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
56. ^ "Canberra Times Marathon Results". Sole Motive. Retrieved 9 January 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Australian Running Festival homepage
* Marathon Info

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*[AUS]: Australia
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