Below is a list of summarised results and race summaries from the period where we could find them
2023
2023 marked IB’s return to the mountains with Endpoint at Humes Crossing Campground , with B&G winning overall and having the following division winners more details can be found on the 2023 summary page or by reliving the race on IB Live
2022
2022 marked IB’s resilient return after having to face a rescheduling due to flooding of the course and 2 years of being cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. B&G continued to win the event overall despite this with the division results as below more details can be found either by reading the summary here or by refollowing along with the 2022 IB Live blog.
2019
2019’s IB course was sprawling with drops to the north, west, east, and south of its Endpoint at Woolcara. It featured numerous navigational challenges for each division, ranging from difficulties with private property, bush bashes, deep river crossings, and many many hills. It marked the first appearance of Wright and Wamburun in the event (as both had just been constructed). B&G won overall with division results listed below as well as a more detailed summary being found on the 2019 page. Race tracking information can be found here.
2018
Described by Jackson Bursill as the ‘Greatest Hits of IB’, 2018 had it all. The race consolidated all the vast changes that have been seen in the last 2 years, whilst also introducing the very well received concept of Division X. Race Directors Tom and Chloe had teams navving through Wyora and Pierces Creek pine forests, they had teams come up over ‘The Gaps’ (Murrays and Leura) from Long Plain Road and Bluewater Holes, they had Div 2 way up in the far western corner of Bondo State Forest all the way to the teams back down on Smiths Road on the Eastern side of the Clear Range. B&G won the event overall with the division results as below, a detailed summary of what happened in each division can be found on the 2018 page and yellow-brick tracking data can be followed here if you want to engage in some historic dot watching.
2017
Race Directors: Dan Azzopardi and Brad Vallette
End Point: Denison Campground
The 2017 course was arguably the most picturesque course any of us will ever get to experience. Some say the Kosciusko National Park was made to hold IBs and 2017 certainly cashed in on it. Although a couple of extra jumpers were needed throughout the night as temperatures dropped well below 0 up on the Cabramurra Airstrip for Div 7 and as the fog settled in along the Long Plain valley for Div 3 at about 4 in the morning, the day was absolutely stunning.
Div’s 1 and 2 had the unfortunate pleasure of working out where they were pretty quickly with relatively straightforward drops. However, it was a bittersweet comfort knowing how close they were to Canberra and how far south they had to venture to Dension Campground. Seeing the best (and just about the full length) of the Northern end of Kozi National Park, the tops Divs were treated to some truly spectacular scenery. Tantangara Dam on dawn with fog settling on the lake, the vast open grass plains of Crows Yards and the truly spectacular cliffs of Kennedys Road were some of the highlights.
The Course Setters had envisaged two ideal routes for Div 1, believing the winning Div would take one of the two. Well Griffin Div 1 decided to mix things up, being very familiar with the Australian Alps Walking Trail, and took a very alternate route. Although looking like they had cooked it – having to head West from drop for a very very long time before turning south – they absolutely gassed it once turning for home, putting in one of the greatest running performances of recent years. It was always going to take a big effort to knock the B&G Div 1 team off their 4-year winning stretch and they absolutely flew past them under the infamous powerlines 2-3kms from End Point.
Divs 3, 4, 5 and 6 were thrown into the thick of it in the heart of Kozi National Park. From Div 3 up at Goobagandra Powerline Rd, down to Yarrongabilly for Div 4 and across to Bluewaterholes, these Div’s had the task of running south. The notable navigational snare that caught many teams was the Australian Alps Walking track between Port Phillip FT and Hains Hut Trail, which is marked as a walking track on every map yet in reality disappears into a wide, never ending plane of native grass. Some shrewd nav’ing was required through here.
Div 7 were the anomaly of 2017, being the only Div dropped south of End Point down in the frost crusted -3 degree grass of Cabramurra airstrip. Up and over Mount Tantangara and down south Table Top Mountain Trail, both choices provided routes of knee deep snow. Ultimately, Ursies Div 7 was the only Div to approach the End Point chute from the South, being forced onto the Course Map Extension after their route choice disappeared shortly after Selwyn Snowfields thanks to the late ski season.
Although Burgmann really took it up to B&G in 2017 the Redbacks were again too good, taking out the highly coveted IB Compass once again. The division results are listed below:
2016
Date: 14-15 October
End Point: Dalmeny’s Beach
Race Director: Jackson Bursill
The results of the divisions for 2016 can be found below, YB tracker data is also available here
Anyone who knows Jackson Bursill knows he doesn’t stick with tradition for the sake of tradition, if there was a new radical idea that could’ve improved the race Jackson was always going to find it!
2016 broke the mould of IB. That’s not to say that the previous manner in which the race was run was bad, but 2016 added a whole lot of glam to the event and opened endless doors of possibility for the future! For the first time, each team was given maps created by the race organisers, meaning that the event could be moved beyond the 1:50000 maps. Breaking down the barriers constricting the area over which the race can be conducted has broadened everyone’s imagination significantly; however, this concept was unbeknownst to everyone participating and spectating in 2016.
With IB being pushed back from Autumn to Spring there was a year and a half wait between ‘15 and ’16 – plenty of time for the IB rumour mill to get into full swing. There were whispers of a seaside End Point, but to believe mere rumours that were going against 54 years of convention seemed foolish at the time. Oh how everyone was in for a surprise! The absolute buzz for spectators back at college finding out they were headed to Dalmeny Beach for a day of perfect sunshine and cheering on dear mates was incredible. This was only rivalled as runners got out of the bus and were handed maps with a significantly larger area of water on them than what they were used to, and the rumours were confirmed when the End Point co-ordinates checked out as Dalmeny Caravan Park looking over Dalmeny Beach. The sprint to the ocean was on!
The race itself was truly something else. The chance for runners to explore the new terrain was exciting but being in a new area meant that no team was advantaged from continually training there. Leaving drop points, there was a real sense that anyone as a chance to win their Div!
Div 1 and Div 2 were dropped up on top of the range, just east of Badja Road, and had an absolute shocking task of heading down Falcon Road, dropping 900m’s. There were a lot of sore knees early on, with a good 80 odd km’s to go! Div 1 was very tricky this year, with only B&G and Burgmann running the right way from drop. However, Ursies put in a phenomenal running effort to run themselves into 2nd place, with many believing that had the race been 10km’s longer they would’ve pipped B&G! Johns Div 2 claimed victory by a significant time margin with some powerful running and a clever nav.
Div 3 had a trek up from Yowrie, with B&G pulling off a sensational bush bash to top off a dominant performance! Burgmann and Griffin had a dramatic 1.5km sprint finish in full view of everyone along the beach, with only 45 seconds separating the two teams! The morning sun peeking through the gums to light up Reedy Creek Farm was truly spectacular!
Divs 4 and 5, being dropped up north, had comparatively pretty hard runs to get themselves down to End Point! On top of the distance, the route choice component of the 2016 course was highlighted here, as many choices were available. Div 5 was dropped on top of Hanging Mountain and Div 4 was just south of Moruya.
Div 6 and 7 were quite similar runs and were very intense, as is quickly becoming the way with these lower divs. Burgmann took off from the Div 7 drop (with Bruce hot on their tail!) and led for the majority of the run, yet Johns Div 7 flew past them both to take out first place. Div 6 was all ADFA’s race as they led the entire race from drop! 2016 also saw ANU Staff enter a team, with the Maths Department putting in a very impressive performance to finish 4th place from their inaugural entry!
2015
Date: 27-28 March
End Point: Kindervale
Race Director: Geoff Sykes
The results of the divisions for 2015 can be found below with Burgmann winning overall, YB tracker data is also available here.
2015 was a race that really lifted the standard of IB. With tough climbs, long distances and even tricker Nav, 2015 took runners through some of the prettiest scenery on offer. End Point was no slouch either: nestled on top of a cleared hill at Kindervale, it provided views across terrain the runners were coming from. The views from End Point 2015 are yet to be rivalled.
Running up from the eastern edges of Monga NP, the climb ahead of the higher divs was significant. Some Div 1 teams took routes with in excess of 2500m vert gained. Div 1 was dropped very close to the ocean (about 10kms due west) with some scouts allegedly coming back claiming to have seen a light house on their scout! The Div 1 drop was also not without controversy, being dropped just within the boundaries of what was ‘the old course’ yet in an area where very few colleges (if not none) had the appropriate 1:25,000 map. Many Div 1 teams were forced to nav the first hour or two through thick rainforest, with poorly labelled trails, on a 1:250,000 scaled map. Needless to say, this was as tricky as it gets!
The final hurdle for most Divs dropped in the east was the unmarked pine forest. Requiring teams that were absolutely exhausted to continually be nav’ing, continually have the maps out navigating the final hill up to end point. Due to the pine forrest not being marked on the map, nav’ing had to be done via shape of the roads and lay of the land, with a handy creek being found that could be followed for a stretch. The never ending, constant physical and navigational challenges is what made 2015 so great and so memorable.
This year saw quite a number of pick ups, but it also saw some absolutely heroic efforts driven by sheer determination to get to end point. Burgmann Div 6 (after running 80km’s), Johns Div 2, Fenner Div 3 after 7pm! Ursies and Burgmann Div 1 (having had the demoralising moment of turning their head torches back on after 100 odd kms) both got in after 8pm!
A huge mention must go to Johns Div 1. After having difficulty nav’ing their way out of the drop area (running back from through drop site for the third time on sunrise!) the Johns Div 1 team ran a total of 120km’s, still going at 8.30pm adamant they would run to End Point, before being forced by the Race Committee to be picked up. These massive efforts which pushed people to their absolute limits is what the event is all about. Spectators were in literal tears of joy seeing their friends get in to End Point this year after such colossal efforts.
A notable point for 2015 was the fact Divs were coming from the North, East and South, providing plenty of entertainment for spectators not knowing where the next Div will arrive from.
2014
Date: 28-29 March
End Point: Cotter Dam
Race Director: Em Cheyne
The results of the divisions for 2014 can be found below with B&G winning overall, YB tracker data is also available here.
With a new lease on life, the Race decided to take the course to an area which had not been explored for quite some time: up north to Wee Jasper. With the previous year’s race being directly below the 2014 course it was a brilliant folly to catch inquisitive runners who were adamant the race was to return to the east. All who have ventured up to Wee Jasper know that whether the vegetation be pine, bushland or blackberries, it is always thick and borders on impenetrable. Whilst this factor aided shrewd Navs, it also caused the downfall for quite a few Divs.
Heavy rain in the lead up to the event had both the Race Committee and participants alike petty nervous – but IB’s good weather run continued and a near perfect day of weather was realised once again!
Divs 1 and 2 – dropped way north west of Wee Jasper in significant pine forest – were presented with one of the great route choices. Once working out where they were (which not all teams managed), the natural decision would have been to run south to Cotter Dam, South East of the drop point. However, to run south would mean entering the maze of Bondo pine forest, where trails twist and turn with no reliability and are known to just end suddenly with no warning. The shrewd thing to do was of course to run North-East, which to many was in complete contradiction to instinct, and take a small walking track (the Hume and Hovell Walk Track) up to Wee Jasper and then down Doctor’s Flat Rd into Cotter. Notable efforts were B&G’s Div 1 and Burgmann’s Div 2.
Divs 3 and 4 were dropped in farmland East – North East of the town ship of Wee Jasper. The lower Divs were dropped up on South of End Point – but due to a logistical error from the committee the wrong exclusion zone maps were handed out to some Div 5 teams. Some Div 5 teams then unknowingly ran along the excluded Paddy’s River Rd and thus the whole Div 5 was forced to be scrapped, with no points awarded.
The final stretch into the End Point was, as always, another challenging bit of Nav just to frustrate runners through the entire race. Having entered Pierces Creek Forest and being seemingly so close to finishing, the runners were excluded from running the nice, bitumened, cruisey Brindabella Rd into End Point. Instead, they had to trek back into the pine forest and loop around at Vanity’s Crossing. Being already quite fatigued having knocked over the bulk of their race, each team was put on the back foot with this manoeuvre and there were certainly some odd decisions made during this part of the race!
2014 was another great Race with a truly spectacular course that hadn’t been explored for a while! We were lucky to have such a great committee that pulled of another awesome year of IB!
2013
End Point: Corin Forest
Race Director: Keith Connelly
The results for 2013 were as follows, with B&G winning overall:
2013 was a re-calibration of IB. After some testing times in 2012, the event was brought back to basics and was based around the traditional fundamentals that had made IB the event it was. As Race Director Keith Connelly put, it was a race to “bring the love back to IB”.
Nestled up in the Namadgi’s, End Point was situated at Smokers Gap on Corin Road. Blessed with fantastic weather, Race Day 2013 was a tough but rewarding day for all involved.
Divs 1 and 2 were dropped way out west along Long Plain Road and up west beyond the valley. The trek across the range from Bluewater Holes and Pocket Saddle, through ‘the Gaps’ (Leura and Murray’s Gaps) was very similar to the back half of the Div 1 and 2 routes for 2018.
Div 4 found themselves up at the southern end of the Bondo Pine on the quite noticeable bend in Boundary Road. An experienced B&G team performed very well here.
The lower Divs were littered through the Namadgi’s and eastern edges of Brindabella Park.
The credit afforded to the 2013 race should not be understated. Following the alarm caused by the previous year’s problems, the extra time and effort that the organising committee put in to bring the Uni back on side was huge. The efforts of 2013 stand as a significant reason as to why IB still runs today and why we are all still so lucky to experience such a unique and incredible event.