Balmoral Burn
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]
Location
The race is run up Awaba Street, Mosman, Sydney, Australia. Awaba Street is one of Sydney’s steepest streets. The street stretches for 420 metres (1,378 ft)[2] from the Balmoral Beach up to Spit Road in Mosman.
At its steepest the gradient is nearly 30%, and over its length it rises about 70 metres (230 ft).
Participation
The Balmoral Burn is fun family day out with races for elite runners, school children, corporate teams, disabled athletes, parents with prams etc.
In excess of 11,000 people participate in the Burn each year.
Winners
| Year[3] | Male Winner | Country | Time | Female Winner | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Mason Cohen | .svg.png){kind=small} | 1' 21" | Bethany Halmy | | 1' 36" (=record) |
| 2018 | Mason Cohen | | 1' 21" | Bethany Halmy | | 1' 42" |
| 2017 | James Gurr | | 1' 18" (record) | Anneliese Rubie | | 1' 38" |
| 2016 | Mason Cohen | | 1' 24" | Suzy Walsham | | 1' 41" |
| 2015 | James Gurr | | 1' 19" | Alicia Keir | | 1' 42" |
| 2014 | Mason Cohen | | 1' 19" | Anneliese Rubie | | 1' 36" (record) |
| 2013 | Josh Ralph | | 1' 26" | Suzy Walsham | | 1' 45" |
| 2012 | James Gurr | | 1' 23" | Frances Schmiede | | 1' 45" |
| 2011 | James Gurr | | 1' 21" | Frances Schmiede | | 1' 50" |
| 2010 | Lachlan Renshaw | | 1' 22" | Anneleise Rubie | | 1' 44" |
| 2009 | Lachlan Renshaw | | 1' 21" | Lara Nicod | | 1' 46" |
| 2008 | Lachlan Renshaw | | 1' 23" | Sianne Toemoe | | 1' 46" |
| 2007 | Lachlan Renshaw | | 1' 22" | Alicia Watkins | | 1' 45" |
| 2006 | Lachlan Renshaw | | 1' 20" | Suzy Walsham | | 1' 39" |
In the 2012 edition Paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley [4] came first in the Para Burn with a time of five minutes and 26 seconds.
Fund Raising
The event has now become an annual major fundraising event for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, a charity providing children’s health services, mainly buying essential and often life-saving medical equipment for Neonatal Units and Paediatric Wards in hospitals and health service centres across Australia and East Timor.
Over A$3 million was raised from the Burn in 2012 alone.