Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race is held on Australia Day in The Rocks, Sydney and is marquee event on the international wheelchair racing calendar, attracting prominent international and Australian athletes.
History
The inaugural race was held in 1990 around Centennial Park in Sydney amongst traffic travelling around the Park.[1] The inaugural race was the brainchild of Peter Trotter and Jeff Wiseman, two prominent wheelchair racers that trained at the Park.[1] Trotter a former 10 km road racing champion had competed in similar events throughout the world.[2] Their philosophy in creating the event was for disabled children to see elite wheelchair athletes in competition.[1] Sixty five athletes including sixteen international and eighteen interstate athletes competed. Australian cricketer Mike Whitney started the race and New South Wales Premier Nick Greiner and record breaking aviator Gaby Kennard presented the winners prizes which included prize money.[2] Over one thousand spectators watched the event.[2]
The race was moved to the Sydney Rocks area in 1991 and consisted of two 5 km laps.[1] Over the years, the organisers have encountered difficulties as major city roads need to be closed.[1] The race in normally held early in the morning to overcome the difficulties of road closures.
The race is supported by the Australia Day Council and Sydney City Council and managed by Wheelchair Sports NSW.[1] It is now an iconic event in Sydney on Australia Day.
Results
Prominent international and Australian athletes have competed in the event and prize money is awarded. At the completion of the 2018 event, Kurt Fearnley had won the race eleven times and Louise Sauvage ten times.[3][4]
Senior Events
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Junior and Masters Events
- 2021 event entries impacted by COVID-19 international and interstate restrictions. [9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Celebrating 25 Years of the Oz Day 10K". Vimeo. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 Hamley, Margaret (March 1990). "The Qantas Oz Day 10K". Pusher's Post.
- 1 2 "Iconic wheelchair road race celebrates '25 years on the road'". Sydney Olympic Park website. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ "Kurt Fearnley Is Sensational In Historic OZ Day 10K Race Win". Huffington Post. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ↑ Wiseman, Carol (March 1992). "The Qantas Oz Day 10K". Pusher's Post: 4–6.
- ↑ "1994 Qantas Oz Day 10K". Pusher's Post: 25–27. March 1994.
- ↑ "Hokinouestuns OZ Day 10k field". Australian Paralympic Committee News, 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ "Summer Down Under Series 2016 Official Results – GIO Oz Day 10K – Sydney, 26 January 2016" (PDF). Wheelchair Sports NSW website. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ↑ "GIO OZ Day 10k (2021) / 10K Wheelchair Race / Overall". Oz Day 10k website. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.