Balmoral Burn

The Balmoral Burn is an annual foot race in Sydney, Australia.

History

Created by former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns, the first Burn was run in 2001, and now an annual event run in May/June each year.[1] Kearns started the race after his son's treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital, it has become a fundraising event for children's health services in Australia and East Timor.[2]

Location

The race is run up Awaba Street, Mosman, Sydney, Australia. Awaba Street is one of Sydney’s steepest streets. The course stretches for 420 metres (1,378 ft)[2] from the Balmoral Beach up to Moruben Road in Mosman.

At its steepest the gradient is nearly 30%,[3] and over its length it rises about 70 metres (230 ft).[4]

According to the Sunday Telegraph, the street has a slope of 20º.[5]

Participation

The Balmoral Burn is fun family day out with races for elite runners, school children, corporate teams, disabled athletes, parents with prams, pets and their owners, and others.[1]

In excess of 1,000 people participate in the Burn each year.

Winners

Year[6] Male Winner Country Time Female Winner Country Time
2024 Luke Boyes  Australia 1' 19" Bethany Halmy  Australia 1' 39"
2023 Luke Boyes  Australia 1' 21" Sarah Carli  Australia 1' 40"
2022 Lachlan Raper  Australia 1' 25" Bethany Halmy  Australia 1' 40"
2021 Event not held due to COVID-19 restrictions
2020
2019 Mason Cohen  Australia 1' 21" Bethany Halmy  Australia 1' 36" (=record)
2018 Mason Cohen  Australia 1' 21" Bethany Halmy  Australia 1' 42"
2017 James Gurr  Australia 1' 18" (record) Anneliese Rubie  Australia 1' 38"
2016 Mason Cohen  Australia 1' 24" Suzy Walsham  Australia 1' 41"
2015 James Gurr  Australia 1' 19" Alicia Keir  Australia 1' 42"
2014 Mason Cohen  Australia 1' 19" Anneliese Rubie  Australia 1' 36" (record)
2013 Josh Ralph  Australia 1' 26" Suzy Walsham  Australia 1' 45"
2012 James Gurr  Australia 1' 23" Frances Schmiede  Australia 1' 45"
2011 James Gurr  Australia 1' 21" Frances Schmiede  Australia 1' 50"
2010 Lachlan Renshaw  Australia 1' 22" Anneleise Rubie  Australia 1' 44"
2009 Lachlan Renshaw  Australia 1' 21" Lara Nicod  Australia 1' 46"
2008 Lachlan Renshaw  Australia 1' 23" Sianne Toemoe  Australia 1' 46"
2007 Lachlan Renshaw  Australia 1' 22" Alicia Watkins  Australia 1' 45"
2006 Lachlan Renshaw  Australia 1' 20" Suzy Walsham  Australia 1' 39"

In the 2012 edition Paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley[7] came first in the Para Burn with a time of five minutes and 26 seconds.[2]

Fund Raising

The event has become an annual fundraising event for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, a charity providing children’s health services, which buys essential medical equipment for Neonatal Units and Paediatric Wards in hospitals and health service centres across Australia and East Timor.[7]

The money was initially used for basic equipment such as stethoscopes and infant beds, but the program has expanded to buy ambulances and more specialized equipment. Over A$3 million was raised from the Burn in 2012 alone.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn in Sydney, NSW". Running Calendar Australia. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  2. ^ a b c d Gardiner, Stephanie (2012-05-27). "Runners feel the burn after steep race for charity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  3. ^ Daley, Ian (2017-07-13). "Awaba Street is still there!". RAN Clearance Divers Association. Archived from the original on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  4. ^ Jagielski, Jenifer (8 August 2015). "Discover the secrets of Balmoral". dailytelegraph. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  5. ^ Speranza, Laura (16 December 2012). "Life's uphill on Sydney's steepest street: Putting out the wheelie bin can be a challenge. And whether to walk to the shops can depend on just which way the wind is blowing". The Sunday Telegraph. news.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Race Results | Humpty Dumpty Foundation". Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  7. ^ a b Besford, Lee (27 May 2012). "The Balmoral Burn - 2012". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-27.