Results: 2026
| Category | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Overall winner | Justin Makhlouf | 66 yards · 442.57 km |
| Assist (DNF) | Lee Warren | 65 yards · 435.87 km |
| Women — most yards (DNF) | Kim Lueck | 37 yards · 248.11 km |
631 runners started.
The organizer lists one winner; Warren and Lueck retain their published DNF status, and the results label Lueck the first woman. The official RaceResult list shows 631 runners, all with at least one completed yard. Makhlouf finished his 66th yard at 1:47 AM on September 22 in Sydney (September 21 in Europe).
Source: 180 Cadence — official September 2026 final results. Checked October 20, 2026.
Next edition: April 17, 2027. The race website, the njuko entry page and Big's race page list the next edition for Saturday, April 17, 2027, with the first yard at 8:00 AM AEST at St Ives Showground. On October 20, 2026 the entry page showed A$275 and 299 places remaining. No September 2027 date had been announced.
Event Overview
Twice-yearly backyard ultra at St Ives Showground in Sydney, run by 180 Cadence: a 6.706 km yard every hour until one runner is left, with over 600 runners in each 2026 edition.
| Date | Sep 19-22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | St Ives Showground, Sydney, Australia |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed |
| Region | Oceania |
| Distance / duration | 6.706 km every hour |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | This page covers the September 19, 2026 edition, which started at 8:00 AM AEST and ended early on Tuesday, September 22 after 66 yards. The race runs twice a year, and the next edition is Saturday, April 17, 2027. Capacity and climb differ between sources: the race website gives 750 runners and 34 m per yard, while Big's race page lists 500 runners and 45 ft per loop. |
| Elevation gain | 34 m per yard (race website). Big's race page lists 45 ft per loop. |
| Cutoff | Each 6.706 km yard must be finished within the hour, and runners must be in the starting corral for the next bell, with warnings at 3, 2 and 1 minute and no late starts. There is no set finish or yard cap. The winner is the last runner to complete a yard, and if nobody completes one more than everyone else there is no winner. Head torches are compulsory for night yards, usually from about 5:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Between yards runners rest at their own 3 x 3 m gazebo or in a communal gazebo area beside the corral. |
| Start | 8:00 AM AEST (UTC+10) on Saturday. The April 17, 2027 start is 6:00 PM Friday, April 16 in New York and 11:00 PM Friday in London. |
| Field size | Capacity 750 runners (race website; Big's race page says 500). The official results list 646 runners in April 2026 and 631 in September 2026. |
| Sanctioning | BUA |
| Highlights | Course record: 81 yards (Phil Gore, April 2025), April and September editions at St Ives Showground |
Sydney's Backyard Ultra results by edition
Winner, assist, most yards by a woman and field size at each edition at St Ives Showground. The 2023 race was held as the Bricks Backyard Ultra.
| Edition | Winner | Yards | Assist | Most yards by a woman | Runners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | Justin Makhlouf (AUS) | 66 | Lee Warren, 65 | Kim Lueck, 37 | 631 |
| Apr 2026 | Tim Kacprzak (AUS) | 75 | Jack Hanley, 74 | Sari-Elle Kraemer, 46 | 646 |
| Sep 2025 | Akira Barzaghi (AUS) | 54 | Jon Berry, 53 | Clare Palmer, 34 | 455 |
| Apr 2025 | Phil Gore (AUS) | 81 | Jonathan Ash, 80 | Sari-Elle Kraemer, 41 | 473 |
| Oct 2024 | Ross McLean (AUS) | 55 | Barry Keem, 54 | Melissa Robertson, 38 | 275 |
| Apr 2024 | Jonathan Ash (AUS) | 42 | Ewan Horsburgh, 41 | Lauren Marshall, 30 | 206 |
| Sep 2023 | Mark Firth (GBR) | 28 | Ramiro Lopez Pena, 27 | Melissa Simpson, 24 | 88 |
Winners, assists and yards come from the official RaceResult lists linked by 180 Cadence (October 2024 to September 2026) and from DUV for 2023 and April 2024; the organizer's recaps agree on every winner. Women's totals come from the official results, DUV and Yardlore. Runner counts are runners with at least one completed yard in the official lists, the race director's 473 on the start line for April 2025, and DUV's counts for 2023 and April 2024. DUV and Yardlore list fewer runners for later editions (219, 396, 397 and 590 from October 2024 to April 2026).
Sources: Official September 2026 results (180 Cadence); Official April 2026 results (180 Cadence); Official September 2025 results (180 Cadence); Official April 2025 results (180 Cadence); Official October 2024 results (RaceResult); Race website: April 2025 recap; DUV: Sydney's Backyard Ultra event history; Yardlore: Sydney's Backyard Ultra edition history.
Course & Terrain
Backyard ultra: a 6.706 km (4.167-mile) yard every hour, on the hour, on one marked loop around St Ives Showground that is used day and night.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- One 6.706 km loop for every yard, day and night, starting from the corral at the Jim Watson Arena
- Dirt, grass, road and fire trail with little climbing
- Course visibility lets supporters spot runners well before they re-enter the corral
- In September 2026 there were toilets at six points on the course (1.3, 1.6, 2.2, 4.4, 4.9 and 5.3 km)
The organizer describes the loop as a mixture of dirt, grass, road and fire trail with little elevation, laid out to flow with a large field. Big's and Yardlore list fire trail and grass. The September 2026 course had changes from April to make it more runnable. If a Total Fire Ban is declared in hot weather, the course may be adjusted but stays the same distance.
Yardlore's race-day records show 9°C to 20°C in April 2026, 7°C to 21°C with rain in September 2025, 15°C to 27°C in April 2025 and 13°C to 28°C in October 2024. The organizer recommends rain gear and sun protection, plus warm layers for rest periods at night.
Format & Support (as run)
| Qualification | Open entry for runners aged 18 and over, with no qualifying result needed. Entries are sold through njuko, linked from the race website. On October 20, 2026 the April 2027 entry page showed A$275 and 299 places remaining; the race website lists General A$275.75 and Final A$299.75 price tiers. The October 2024 edition sold out and opened a waitlist. |
|---|---|
| Support model | A communal aid station at the top of the grandstand offers hot water, microwave access and food, with a water trailer beside the grandstand, but the organizer advises runners to bring their own food. The event is cupless. Medical staff are at the race hub for the whole race. Entries include an event shirt, free photos, a medal, live results with timing mats on the course, and a YouTube livestream by 180 Cadence. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews may help only after a runner completes a yard, never during one, and a crew's rule breach can disqualify its runner. Pacers are not permitted at any stage. Children are allowed only at a runner's own aid station, under adult supervision. |
Why This Race Matters
Sydney's Backyard Ultra is a last-one-standing race at St Ives Showground, run by the Sydney events company 180 Cadence (Alex Treglown and David Bennie). It began as the Bricks Backyard Ultra on September 30, 2023, when 88 runners started and Mark Firth won with 28 yards. Under its current name it has run every April and every September or October since April 2024, and the organizer counted September 2026 as its sixth edition. The field grew from 206 runners in April 2024 to 473 on the start line in April 2025 and more than 600 in each 2026 edition, and the organizer now bills it as the world's biggest backyard ultra. Phil Gore set the course record of 81 yards in April 2025. In 2026 Tim Kacprzak won in April with 75 yards and Justin Makhlouf in September with 66. No runner has won it twice.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: 81 yards (543.16 km), Phil Gore (Australia), April 2025. Jonathan Ash was the assist with 80 and Ryan Crawford reached 77. Big's race page lists the 81 as the race record.
- Women's best: 46 yards (308.46 km), Sari-Elle Kraemer, April 2026. She also set the previous best of 41 in April 2025.
- Largest field: 646 runners in the official April 2026 results. DUV and Yardlore list 590 for that edition.
- Kendall Picado Fallas's 50 yards in April 2025 was a Costa Rican national best at the time, according to Yardlore. He has since raised it to 72 elsewhere.
- No runner has won twice. Jonathan Ash has a win (April 2024) and an assist (April 2025).
Preparing for a Race Like Sydney's Backyard Ultra
The backyard ultra race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Backyard ultras explained: Rules, distance math, current records and how a race ends.
- Backyard ultra training plan: A 16-week framework with hourly-loop rehearsals and a printable worksheet.
- Backyard ultra race strategy: Loop pacing, the routine between loops, sleep and knowing when to stop.
- Backyard ultra nutrition: A fueling framework to test for eating and drinking between loops.
Best Fit
- First-time backyard runners who want a large, well-supported field close to Sydney
- Experienced backyard runners looking for a long result in a deep Australian field
- Crews and spectators who want easy access, with parking about 150 m from the corral
Planning Notes
- Practice the exact hourly routine: loop, eat, foot check, bottle refill, and back to the start. The format rewards repeatability.
- The directory marks this as having comparatively simpler logistics. That editorial label is not a safety rating; verify cutoffs, terrain, support, crew access, and withdrawal procedures.
Event FAQs
When is Sydney's Backyard Ultra 2027?
Saturday, April 17, 2027, with the first yard at 8:00 AM AEST at St Ives Showground. The race website, the njuko entry page and Big's race page all give that date. No September 2027 edition had been announced as of October 20, 2026.
What were the Sydney Backyard Ultra 2026 results?
There were two 2026 editions. In April, Tim Kacprzak won with 75 yards (502.92 km), Jack Hanley was the assist with 74, and Sari-Elle Kraemer set the women's best with 46. In September, Justin Makhlouf won with 66 yards (442.57 km), Lee Warren was the assist with 65, and Kim Lueck was the leading woman with 37.
Where is the Sydney backyard ultra held?
At St Ives Showground in Sydney, with the race hub and starting corral at the Jim Watson Arena, the showground's main centre oval. Big's race listing puts it about 30 minutes from the Sydney CBD. Parking is about 150 m from the corral, and runners may camp on site the night before.
How do I enter Sydney's Backyard Ultra?
Register on the njuko entry page linked from the race website. Entry is open to anyone aged 18 or over, with no qualifying result needed. On October 20, 2026 the April 2027 page showed A$275 and 299 places remaining, and the race website gives a capacity of 750. The October 2024 edition sold out and ran a waitlist.
What is the course record at Sydney's Backyard Ultra?
81 yards (543.16 km), set by Phil Gore in April 2025, when Jonathan Ash was the assist with 80. The women's best is 46 yards by Sari-Elle Kraemer in April 2026.
How long is each loop, and is there a night loop?
Each yard is 6.706 km (4.167 miles), run on the same marked loop day and night. The race website gives 34 m of climbing per yard on dirt, grass, road and fire trail. Head torches are compulsory for night yards, usually from about 5:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
Are crews and pacers allowed at Sydney's Backyard Ultra?
Crews can help only between yards, never while a runner is on the course. Pacers are not permitted at any stage.
Does Sydney's Backyard Ultra count toward Big's Backyard Ultra?
It is an affiliated race listed on bigsbackyardultra.com, where its race page shows the category "Bronze" without explaining it. Every runner's yards here count toward Big's At-Large list, which ranks the best results between August 16, 2025 and August 15, 2027.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Browse the 2026 backyard ultra calendar
- Open the Backyard Ultra format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Build a backyard yard and rest-time schedule
- Estimate race calories and plan fueling
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Sydney's Backyard Ultra website — https://sydneysbackyardultra.au/
- Runners Guide 2026 — https://sydneysbackyardultra.au/runners-guide-2026
- FAQs and backyard rules — https://sydneysbackyardultra.au/faqs
- April 2027 entry page (njuko) — https://in.njuko.com/sydneys-backyard-ultra-april-2027
- Official September 2026 results (180 Cadence) — https://180cadence.au/pages/sydneys-backyard-ultra-september-2026-results
- 180 Cadence results archive — https://180cadence.au/pages/results
- Course map on Strava (linked from the race website) — https://www.strava.com/activities/20043019536
- Big's Backyard Ultra race page: Sydney's Backyard Ultra — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/sydneys-backyard-ultra/
- Big's At-Large list — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/at-large-list/
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.