1000km to be run at Australian 6-Day Race

The 18th Australian 6-fay race will be held at Memorial Square, Colac from 16th to 22nd November 03. There is a star studded, international field with 2 runners contemplating going for the elusive 1000km in 6-days.

Australia (PRWEB) November 4, 2003 --The 18th Australian 6-day race will be held from Sunday 16th November 03 to Saturday 23rd November 03. It will once again be held at the picturesque Memorial Square in Colac, Victoria. The race was created as a result of Cliff Young's 1000 mile attmepts in the early 1980's and has outlasted the famous "Westfield" Sydney to Melbourne UltraMarathons that were held from 1983 to 1991. The 6-day race is now regarded as the longest running multi-day track race in the world.

     Due to visa problems in some countries the definite number of runners for the race is not known, but Race President, Bill Sutcliffe is confidant that 16 to 18 runners will line up for the starters gun, with runners from the USA, Czechoslovakia, South Africa and Australia being definitely represented in the field.

     Jaraslov Kourcerek from Czechoslovakia will be a starter in this year's race and is confidant that he can win his forth title this year. He ran 925km in 1999 and feels that he is very close to showing that form once again. He even feels that 1000km could be within his reach, which would make him the 6th person in history to beat 1000km in Six days during a track race. It is hoped that Emil Bablekov from Russia may be a late starter if he can get his Visa problems sorted out. This would be a fantastic match race if this was to eventuate as Bablekov also believes that he can run 1000km in the 6-days.

     The leading Australian runners for this year's event are Graeme Watts, George Audley and John Timms who should fight out the minor places between them. Queenslander, Graeme Watts is this year's Australian 48 hour track champion but will be hard pressed by Audley and Timms who have a wealth of 6-day running experience between them.

     There are two new competitors in the field this year that are making their 6-day race debut. They are Carol Baird from the ACT and David Billett from South Australia. Both have some really excellant performances under their belt at the 24hr level and could surprise some of the more experienced runners in the field. Hopefully they both do well at this year's event and this encourages other ultra runners to step up and try multi-day racing in coming years.

     Race President, Bill Sutlciffe is looking forward to this year's race as the "Enduring Spirit of ultra running is set to continue at Colac". He also revealed that planning is underway to make the 20th running of the Event in 2005 a special commemoration of the last 20 years at Colac and hopes that this hopes to give Colac more ownership of the event.

     For more information about the Event, go to www.colac.ultraoz.com There will be progress results available at this site during the duration of the Event.

Likely starters:

1.     Jaroslav Kourcerek (Czech)
2.     Graeme Watts (Qld)
3.     George Audley (WA)
4.     John Timms (Vic)
5.     Carol Baird (ACT)
6.     Howard Neville (Vic)
7.     Brian Collings (RSA)
8.     Peter Gray (Vic)
9.     David Jones (Vic)
10. Andy Lovy (USA)
11. Willie Erasmus (Vic)
12. David Billett (SA)
13. Stan Miskin (Vic)
14. Julie Schrag (Qld)

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