The Racing Pulse - April

14th April 2023

Convict 100

Saturday, 6th May 2023
St Albans, NSW

In just under a month the mountain biking community will descend on a small, sleepy, historical village in the Hawkesbury for the 17th running of the Convict 100, a mountain bike race with a history and atmosphere that is unparalleled.

With so many events on everyone’s calendar each year what is it that keeps riders returning, year after year, to once again take on the rough-hewed tracks and epic journey that is the Convict?

Maybe it is the spectacular views on offer along all the courses, mountains and ridges as far as the eye can see, pretty farming valleys dotted with farmsteads with the glint of the river running through the centre. Maybe it is the challenge of the course, this is mountain biking at it’s purest, man and machine against nature but still so much fun. Maybe it is the atmosphere as a small town is tripled in size by mountain bikers for one weekend, as row upon row of tents appear with everyone buzzing with excitement. Maybe it is the throw back to a simpler time, no bells and whistles, just a group of friends together, sharing in the journey and love of mountain biking, no mobile phones buzzing, just camaraderie at it’s finest as they all gear up for the adventure ahead.

Maybe it is all of those elements that make the Convict 100 a favourite for so many people. If you haven’t made it out to St Albans for a few years, why not relive the fun again this year. If you have never made the trip before but enjoy hitting the trails on your bike you will not be disappointed.

With entries still open in the full 100km course, the fast and furious 68km course and the more relaxed (for most riders) 44km course there is a course distance to suit everyone.

No time to waste…

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 10th February 2024
Max Adventure Race Series
Cams Wharf, Lake Macquarie, NSW

Saturday 18th May 2024
The Great Adventure Challenge
Within 3 hours of Sydney, NSW

VIEW CALENDAR

Max Adventure Race

Saturday, 3rd June 2023
Royal National Park, NSW

Keen to try an adventure race this year?

Here’s the perfect opportunity to test the waters, kayaking, trail running and mountain biking in a team of two, at the next event in the 2023 Max Adventure Race Series.

The race is a real adventure as you navigate your way through the Royal National Park’s rich bushland and kayak the winding Hacking River. Whether you’re new to the sport of adventure racing and try the novice course or an experienced racer and take on the classic course, you are guaranteed to have a fun-filled day.

The course is a top favourite of the Max Adventure Race Series. The teams set off from Reids Flat into the National Park running past ancient eucalypts and lush forest, paddling down the Hacking River, and mountain biking through speedy single tracks that loop and bend and are great fun to ride. Competitors navigate (not necessarily in the above-mentioned order) to the finish line back at Reids Flat. Phew! What good fun!

We look forward to hosting an epic day.

Check out this video to whet your appetite!

Entries are now open for the Royal National Park Adventure Race on the button below. Grab a teammate and sign up now!

Enter Now

Event Wrap Up

Jabulani Challenge
Saturday 1st April, 2023
Bobbin Head, NSW

Well that was fun! Sunshine… tick, rain… tick, lush green trails… tick, friends, family & fellow trail run nuts… tick, tick, tick. The Jabulani Challenge brought it all!

The energy was high at Bobbin Head for the early 06:30am registration. We had plenty of new and familiar faces in the start chute with more than half of the 850 participants repeat customers. As the mist rolled off the waters of the marina, runners set off to sunny conditions and into the depths of the spectacular Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. There’s no denying this is a TOUGH course with technical terrain and mean elevation gains, runners needed to bring it all (and a little bit extra) to get through the kms and back through the yellow arch.

Congratulations to all runners! We hope you enjoyed your day and the sense of achievement from finishing a challenging race. On the podiums the 45 km win was secured by Josef Mcgrath for the males and Kate Cush was first across the line for the females. The 22 km course saw Paddy Trihey take first place for males and Caitlin Fowlds securing the first for females. The 12 km was a quick race with Matt Lillas powering through the finish line as first male and Jasmine Kerry first female only 20 seconds ahead of Liani Strauss. View all the official race times and positions here.

The team at Outer Image Collective got some amazing photos on the day, they are now available to purchase here.

Thanks to our red volunteer team, who were spread all over the park, marshalling, stocking aid stations and cheering participants home, we couldn’t run the event without them.

And a big shout out to our event sponsors Tailwind Nutrition Australia who fueled our aid stations on course. And thanks to Tarkine, the all new sustainable Aussie running shoes, which we’ve been testing and love – grab yours now.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year; bring on Jabulani Challenge 2024!

Results

Photos