OBSTACLE AUSTRALIA
October 2026 Newsletter
2026 OCR Community Championships Shine at Ivory’s Rock
In May, Queensland welcomed the global obstacle racing community as the OCR Community Championships took place at Ivory’s Rock, Peak Crossing, from 21–24 May 2026.
Set against the rugged bushland, rolling hills and striking natural beauty of the Scenic Rim, the event brought together athletes, officials, volunteers, supporters and obstacle racing fans for an unforgettable championship experience.
For Australian obstacle racing, hosting a world championship event in Queensland was both exciting and significant. Ivory’s Rock provided a spectacular setting that showcased the best of the local landscape while offering international athletes a uniquely Australian racing experience. With technical obstacles, demanding terrain and the natural toughness of the Queensland environment, competitors were challenged at every stage of the course.
The event was also an important milestone for Australia’s growing role in the international obstacle racing community.
It is especially significant that the OCR Championships will be hosted in Australia across consecutive years, with the 2027 event set to continue the momentum in Tasmania. This rare opportunity places Australia firmly on the global obstacle racing stage and gives athletes, clubs and supporters the chance to build visibility, excitement and national pride for the sport at home.
Following the success of the Queensland championships at Ivory’s Rock, Tasmania will provide another spectacular Australian landscape to share with the world.
The Olympic Obstacle Pathway: Building Towards Brisbane 2032
Alongside the OCR championships, Spartan Australia, Modern Pentathlon Australia and Australian Ninja Games hosted an 80m obstacle event of national and Olympic significance.
Obstacle racing is now part of the Olympic Modern Pentathlon program and will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. This event gave Australian athletes an important opportunity to experience the speed, skill and head-to-head intensity of the discipline as momentum builds towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
The championship program included a range of races designed to challenge athletes across different formats, including the spectator-friendly 80m Championships, 3K Championships, 6K Team Relay Championships and 15K Championships.
The 80m event was more than a championship highlight—it represented an important step in Australia’s Olympic obstacle pathway. Its fast, highly visible short-course format showcased the explosive strength, precision, control and problem-solving demanded by obstacle racing.
Held within the event village, spectators could follow every moment from start to finish. Athletes received two time-trial attempts, with the fastest progressing to head-to-head finals.
As obstacle racing prepares to enter the Olympic Modern Pentathlon program at Los Angeles 2028, opportunities such as this are vital for developing athletes, officials and event capability in Australia ahead of a home Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.
Championship Winners
OCR Community Championships
Female Division
Male Division
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Alec Blokland — Men’s 15K Pro
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Leon Kofoed — Men’s 3K Pro
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Team 44188 — 6K Team Relay Male Pro
Mixed Division
Modern Pentathlon 80m Course Winners
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U15 Female — Milanke Haasbroek
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U15 Male — Harvey Stefanvoski
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U17 Female — Taylah Heit
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U17 Male — Levi Tubailagi
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U19 Female — Peyton Lee
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U19 Male — Oliver Clapham
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Junior Male — Kai Klisanin
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Senior Female — Aleska Van Heekeren
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Senior Male — Tahir Ansari
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Masters Female — Janice De Vries
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Masters Male — Tomas Heikkiinen
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Masters 50+ Female — Emma Teede
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Masters 60+ Male — Michael Ford
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Masters 70+ Male — Ray Balks
Building Skills, Officials and Partnerships
In the lead-up to the championships, Obstacle Australia members were actively involved in preparing for the successful delivery of the event.
Several members completed a UIPM officiating course, strengthening their knowledge and skills so they could contribute confidently to the running of a world-class championship in Queensland.
Obstacle Australia extends a special thank you to Nayibe Statia from UIPM, who delivered the course to our members as we continue to build partnerships with Modern Pentathlon Australia and UIPM to support obstacle racing.
OA Officiating Course Participants
Level 0
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Mark Meyer
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Scott Schackow
Level 1
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Daryl Grenfell
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Emma Andujar
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Glenise Anderson
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Jacopo Chester
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Jas Coombe
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Joanne Rhind
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John Henley-Wilson
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John McMahon
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Levi Wallace
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Michael Ford
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Michael Teede
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Patrea O’Donoghue
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Ray Balks
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Sharon Watene
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Tim Sloan
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Tom Coombe
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Thomas Heikk
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Tony Curtis
Level 2
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Eliza Moore
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Nikki Claxton
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Emma Teede
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Brian Vagg
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Amos Vagg
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Hayley Aitken
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Jim Bullard
Obstacle Australia congratulates everyone involved in bringing the OCR Community Championships to Ivory’s Rock. We thank the athletes, volunteers, officials, event teams, supporters and local community members who helped make the event such a memorable success.
We also acknowledge the valued partnership with Spartan Australia, whose support and collaboration contributed to the successful delivery of this world-class event.
The May championships were a celebration of elite racing, Australian spirit and the bright future of obstacle sport in this country.
Coaches and Referees: Growing Our Community
Obstacle Australia continues to build its coaching and officiating pathways to support athletes, clubs and events across the country.
Developing more qualified coaches and referees helps strengthen our sport, improve event delivery and create opportunities for people to contribute at every level—from community participation through to national and international competition.
Coach Development — OA Levels 1 and 2
Level 1
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Eliza Moore
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Hayley Aitken
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Jayakumar Tharmalingam
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Jim Bullard
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John McMahon
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Nikki Claxton
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Tayla Teede
Level 2
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Amos Vagg
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Brian Vagg
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Emma Teede
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Kobe Teede
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Mick Teede
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Lisa Parks
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Timothy Sloane
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Tomas Hekkinen
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Tony Curtis
Thank you to everyone who continues to invest their time and energy into developing obstacle sport in Australia. Your skills and commitment help create better opportunities for athletes, clubs and event organisers.
Spartan Werribee: Racing Across Disciplines
The Spartan Melbourne event weekend was held at Werribee Racecourse on 9–10 August 2026. The weekend showcased strong obstacle racing performances, alongside Modern Pentathlon Australia’s Australian and Oceania Laser Run Championships, held at Werribee Racecourse on 8 August 2026, and UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour activities across 8–9 August 2026.
Spartan Sprint Winners
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Male — Dylan Pardy, 25:28
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Female — Amelia Baker, 33:51
Spartan Super Winners
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Male — Dylan Pardy, 46:54
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Female — Madeline Hrusza, 53:23
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Leading Elite Female — Amelia Baker, 59:42
Congratulations to all athletes who competed across the weekend.
Spartan Stadion Wollongong — October 2026
The Spartan Wollongong Stadion was held at WIN Stadium on 10 October 2026.
The 5km course featured more than 20 obstacles, thousands of stadium steps, narrow passageways and a sand section beside City Beach, creating a fast and demanding stadium-based obstacle racing challenge.
Competitive Kids Race Results
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First Male and First Overall — Michael Keelan, 16:07
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First Female and Second Overall — Hannah Whitehouse, 17:55
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Third Overall — Beau Cudmore, 19:00
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Fourth Overall — Riley Penning, 19:03
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Second Female — Mika Coombe, 19:35
The Wollongong event celebrated obstacle racing in a distinctive coastal stadium setting and provided competitive and open racing opportunities for adults and children.
Congratulations to all competitors and supporters who made the event a success.
Upcoming Obstacle Australia Events
Obstacle Australia has a busy calendar of events, with opportunities for athletes, families and supporters to get involved in obstacle racing, Spartan events, Tough Mudder, DEKA events and community obstacle challenges across Australia.
October 2026
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17–18 October — True Grit Blackwood River, WA: A weekend obstacle course event at Linga Linga Estate, offering 5km and 10km routes, an elite timed category, on-site camping and a range of built obstacles.
November 2026
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21–22 November — Spartan Race Lakes Entrance, VIC: A full weekend of obstacle racing, including Sprint, Super, Beast, Ultra and Kids events.
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28 November — 5K Foam Fest Melbourne, VIC: A family-friendly 5km obstacle run with foam zones, inflatable slides, mud pits, a kids fun zone and festival-style amenities.
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28 November — True Grit Melbourne, VIC: A Wildwood-based obstacle event with 5km and 10km options, team entries and elite racing opportunities.
December 2026
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5 December — 5K Foam Fest Sydney, NSW: A 5km obstacle-course fun run at Horsley Park, featuring foam zones, mud pits and festival activities.
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12 December — 5K Foam Fest Wodonga, VIC: A 5km foam obstacle run at Gateway Island with 25 obstacles and spectator-friendly event features.
January 2027
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9 January — 5K Foam Fest Perth, WA: A 5km obstacle and foam run in Brigadoon with optional obstacles, festival vendors and family-friendly activities.
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30 January — 5K Foam Fest Central Coast, NSW: A 5km foam run at Glenworth Valley with more than 25 obstacles.
For the latest updates, athletes and supporters are encouraged to check the Obstacle Australia events calendar regularly, as additional events and details may be added throughout the year.
https://www.facebook.com/ObstacleAustralia/events
Obstacle Australia AGM — Have Your Say
Obstacle Australia is preparing for its Annual General Meeting in December 2026, an important opportunity to review the year, discuss the future of our sport and help shape our priorities for 2027.
We encourage members, clubs, coaches, referees, athletes and supporters to get involved.
Register your interest in attending
Please register your interest in attending the AGM and let us know if there are any questions, topics or matters you would like considered for discussion. Submitting topics ahead of time will help the Board prepare and ensure important issues can be addressed.
https://forms.gle/Z1fzPpu5rtDBtesi8
Expressions of Interest — Directors and Volunteer Roles
Obstacle Australia is also seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to contribute to the organisation’s next stage of development.
We particularly welcome interest from people considering a position on the OA Board, as well as those who can contribute skills and experience in areas such as:
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Governance, administration and secretarial support
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Finance, bookkeeping and membership management
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Partnerships, sponsorship and fundraising
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Communications, website and social media
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Athlete, coach and referee development
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Events, schools and community engagement
You do not need to be an experienced board member to express your interest. We welcome people who are passionate about obstacle sport and can bring practical skills, fresh ideas and a willingness to contribute.
If you are interested in a director position or another volunteer role, please complete the Expression of Interest form below.
https://forms.gle/Bc5eVCokvkHLBpgq9
Your involvement can help Obstacle Australia build a stronger, more sustainable organisation and create more opportunities for athletes and clubs across Australia.
Looking Ahead to 2027
From international championships and Olympic pathway opportunities to local events, coaching and officiating development, obstacle sport continues to evolve.
Obstacle Australia thanks everyone who has contributed throughout 2026 and looks forward to working with athletes, clubs, coaches, referees, event organisers and partners to build a strong future for the sport.
Get involved. Build the pathway. Keep obstacle sport moving forward.
Follow Obstacle Australia for updates, opportunities and news from across the Australian obstacle racing community.
https://obstacleaustralia.org/
https://www.facebook.com/ObstacleAustralia
https://www.instagram.com/obstacle_australia/
