Bridge to Brisbane is an annual long-distance fun run over a distance of 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) or 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) held in Brisbane, Australia in August.

Bridge to Brisbane
Date25 August
LocationBrisbane
Event typeroad
DistanceMini Marathon
(also 10 km, 5 km, Wheelchair 10 km)
Established1997
Course records29:32 (M; 2009, Michael Shelley. 2014, Harry Summers); 33:54 (F; 2010, Cassandra Fien)
Official sitehttp://www.bridgetobrisbane.com.au/

The first race occurred in 1997 with fewer than 5000 entrants and each year the event raises funds for charity. 2007 saw 24,350 runners participate.[1] In 2007 the Bridge to Brisbane attracted a field of up to 30,000 runners, while 2008 saw more than 36,000 people join the race and in 2009 more than 45,000 people took part.[2]

Route

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Until 2015, the race began at the southern side of the Eastern Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge in Lytton and finished at the Ekka showgrounds in Bowen Hills. The route travels along Kingsford Smith Drive and the Inner City Bypass, towards the city via the suburbs of Hamilton and Bowen Hills. In 2016 the course was moved to Brisbane City. The start line is in Spring Hill and participants cross three bridges before finishing in South Bank Parklands in South Brisbane. Since 2021, the race has used its original course again.

A recent addition has been the incorporation of a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) race (from Breakfast Creek) starting later than the full 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) race, with some runners competing in both.

Originally the race was called the 'Bridge to Bay' and instead of heading from the Gateway Bridge towards Brisbane, it headed towards the coast line finishing at Manly. The end of the race was then moved to New Farm Park. In 2007 the roads in the suburbs of Fortitude Valley and New Farm became gridlocked.[3] This traffic congestion prompted another change of moving the finish to the RNA Showgrounds.

Participation

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Year Distances Race registrants Race finishers
2014 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 28,418 23,821
2013 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 41,504 34,262
2012 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km, Wheelie 5 km 39,881 33,263
2011 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 42,546 34,147
2010 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 37,743 31,983
2009 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 45,247 37,282
2008 10 km, 5 km, Wheelie 10 km 35,842 30,314
2007 12 km, 4.5 km, Wheelie 12 km 28,272 23,791
2006 12 km, 4.5 km, Wheelie 12 km 23,514 21,072

Results

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Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s) Major beneficiaries
2016 Jack Curran 30:14 Tara Gorman 35:22
2015 Jackson Elliot 31:07 Cassie Fien 33:39
2014 Harry Summers 29:32 Emma Jackson 34:13
2013 Stephen Dinneen 30:40 Clare Geraghty 35:56
2012 Benjamin Ashkettle 30:10 Clare Geraghty 34:57
2011 Reuben Kosgei 29:37 Cassandra Fien 34:12 Legacy Australia
2010 Michael Shelley 29:35 Cassandra Fien 33:54 Autism Queensland
2009 Michael Shelley 29:32 Lisa Flint 35:18 Heart Foundation
2008 Scott Westcott 30:45 Rowan Baird 34:16 Youngcare[4]
2007 Dickson Marwa 34:46 Rina Hill 40:55 Surf Life Saving Australia
2006 Dickson Marwa 35:31 Felicity Abram 41:19 Hear and Say Centre, Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland,
Lions Club of Macgregor, Rotary Club of the Port of Brisbane and the SES [1]
2005 Patrick Nyangelo -
2004 Patrick Nyangelo -
2003 Patrick Nyangelo -
2002 Andrew Wilson -
2001 Darren Wilson 33.44

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Kate Patterson (29 October 2006). "Fun run cheque". The Courier Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  2. ^ David Earley (30 August 2009). "Record Bridge to Brisbane field". Courier Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  3. ^ "Fun run aftermath: Fortitude Valley gridlock". Brisbane Times. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  4. ^ Torny Jensen (8 September 2009). "Not a bridge too far for Bridge to Brisbane fun run". The Courier Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
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