Rail Trail Run Will Change Date

20151004 R&R Rail Trail Experience — Participant numbers in the R&R Rail Trail Experience increased by 50 per cent this year, despite swooping magpies (Photo: G’onya Adventures)

October 12, 2015

The annual Blackbutt to Linville R&R Rail Trail Experience will move from the October long weekend to May next year because of magpies.

Organisers said the two-year-old event will be shifting its date in 2016 because of issues with swooping magpies along some sections of the trail in springtime.

Even so, participant numbers were up by 50 per cent this year and the group’s love for the Rail Trail is undiminished.

“The reason we decided to bring this event here was to highlight this beautiful section of the Rail Trail and bring some tourism to this part of the South Burnett,” G’onya Adventures director Meredith Tucker said.

“Most competitors didn’t realise how beautiful it was out here, and say they will be back.”

The R&R Rail Trail Experience is a running and cycling competition held along the Nukku-Linville section of the Rail Trail by the Gold Coast-based adventure tourism company.

This year’s Rail Trail Experience was run on Sunday, October 4 as part of the South Burnett and Cherbourg On Show long weekend festival.

Most participants came from outside the South Burnett, but a few local teams also competed this year and some came away with prizes for their efforts.

Participants had a choice of three different courses:

A 30km Rail Trail run followed by a 30km trail bike ride (Long course)

A 4km Rail Trail run followed by an 18km ride, then another 1km run (Du course)

An 8km Fun Run

All events started and finished at the Blackbutt Showgrounds, and travelled along different courses around Nukku, Benarkin, Linville and Moore.

“As the Race Director, one of my favourite things about the events is they all start to the sound of a train whistle, not a starter’s gun,” Meredith said.

“I don’t know if this happens anywhere else, but I just love it!”