Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race

Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race is held on Australia Day in The Rocks 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. The inaugural race was the brainchild of Peter Trotter and Jeff Wiseman, two prominent wheelchair racers that trained at the Park. Trotter a former 10 km road racing champion had competed in similar events throughout the world. Their philosophy in creating the event was for disabled children to see elite wheelchair athletes in competition. 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. Over one thousand spectators watched the event.

The race was moved to The Rocks area in 1991 and consisted of two 5 km laps. Over the years, the organisers have encountered difficulties as major city roads need to be closed. 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. 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 2026 event, Madison de Rosario had won the race twelve times, Kurt Fearnley eleven times and Louise Sauvage ten times.

Senior Events YearMen's Open EventWomen's EventMen's T51-53 EventWomen's T51-53 EventMen's T51 Event1990Craig Blanchette Ingrid Lauridsen Jan Owe-Mattson Not held Heinrich Koberle 1991Craig Blanchette Jennette Jansen Jeff Worthington Not heldHeinrich Koberle 1992Franz Nietlispach Barbara Maier Rick Reelie Not heldFabian Blattman 1993Jim Knaub Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not heldHeinrich Koberle 1994Paul Wiggins Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not heldHeinrich Koberle 1995Paul Wiggins Louise Sauvage Rick Reelie Not heldFabian Blattman 1996Paul Wiggins Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not heldFabian Blattman 1997Jeff Adams Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not heldFabian Blattman 1998Claude Issorat Louise Sauvage Rick Reelie Not heldFabian Blattman 1999Heinz Frei Louise Sauvage Rick Reelie Not heldFabian Blattman 2000Ernst van Dyk Wakako Tsuchida Clayton Gerein Not heldFabian Blattman 2001Ernst van Dyk Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not heldFabian Blattman 2002Saúl Mendoza Louise Sauvage Rick Reelie Not heldFabian Blattman 2003Ernst van Dyk Louise Sauvage Clayton Gerein Not held Heinrich Koberle 2004Saúl Mendoza Eliza Stankovic Clayton Gerein Lisa Franks Heinrich Koberle 2005Kurt Fearnley Eliza Stankovic Santiago Sanz No competitorHeinrich Koberle 2006Kurt Fearnley Eliza Stankovic Santiago Sanz Sybilla Austin Glenn Bennett 2007Kurt Fearnley Chantal Petitclerc Santiago Sanz No competitorGlenn Bennett 2008Kurt Fearnley Edith Hunkeler Peter Angel Michelle Stilwell No competitor2009Kurt Fearnley Christie Dawes Clayton Gerein Michelle Stilwell No competitor2010Kurt Fearnley Edith Hunkeler Santiago Sanz Michelle Stilwell Richard Cordukes 2011Kurt Fearnley Sandra Rush Peter Angel No competitor No competitor2012Kurt Fearnley Madison de Rozario Santiago Sanz Michelle Stilwell Stephen Osborne 2013Kurt Fearnley Madison de Rozario Naoyuki Matsumoto Michelle Stilwell No competitor2014David Weir Manuela Schar Naoyuki Matsumoto Michelle Stilwell Stephen Osborne 2015Kota Hokinoue Manuela Schar Jono Tang Michelle Stilwell No competitor2016Kurt Fearnley Manuela Schar Jono Tang Michelle Stilwell No competitor2017Kurt Fearnley Madison de Rozario Naoyuki Matsumoto - –2018Tomoki Suzuki Madison de Rozario Naoyuki Matsumoto – -2019Tomoki Suzuki Madison de Rozario Naoyuki Matsumoto – -2020Tomoki Suzuki Madison de Rozario ---2021Jake Lappin Madison de Rozario Jono Tang --2022Jake Lappin Madison de Rozario Jono Tang--2023Sam Rizzo Madison de Rozario Jono Tang Sarah Clifton-Bligh-2024Sho Watanabe Madison de Rozario Jono Tang Sarah Clifton-Bligh-2025Sam Rizzo Madison de Rozario Jono Tang Sarah Clifton-Bligh-2026Sam Rizzo Madison de Rozario Cristian Eduardo Torres Ortiz Sarah Clifton-BlighNo longer held

- Men's T52, Women's T52 and Men's T51 events held until 2025. From 2026, T52 / T51 replaced by T51-53 events for men and women.

Junior and Masters Events YearJunior Male U18/9Junior Female U18/99Masters1990Paul Nunnari Not heldMike Nugent 1991Eric Neitzel Not heldMike Nugent 1992Eric Neitzel Not heldPaul Bowes 1993Eric Neitzel Not heldPaul Bowes 1994Shannon Bates Not heldMike Nugent 1995Shannon Bates Kerstin Rossek Jeff Wiseman 1996Todd Burmester Christie Skelton Steve Ellefson 1997Todd Burmester Christie Skelton Steve Ellefson 1998Todd Burmester Christie Skelton Steve Ellefson 1999Kurt Fearnley Holly Ladmore Steve Ellefson 2000Adam Sheppard Kylie Gauci Scott Parson 2001Grant Buckley Angie Ballard Scott Parson 2002Grant Buckley Jessica Matassa Scott Parson 2003Marcel Hug Jessica Matassa Henri Frei 2004Marcel Hug Jessica Matassa Henri Frei 2005Patrick Baker Kelly Darragh Kenny Herriot 2006Patrick Baker Kelly Darragh Kenny Herriot 2007Xaxier Elsworthy Laura South Brett McArthur 2008Matthew Lack Madison de Rozario Denis Lemeunier 2009Matthew Lack Madison de Rozario Brett McArthur 2010Matthew Lack Madison de Rozario Scott Parson 2011Nathan Arkley No competitorHeinz Frei 2012Nathan Arkley Kristy Pond Scott Parson 2013Rheed McCracken Sara Tait Pierre Fairbank 2014Rheed McCracken Sara Tait Pierre Fairbank 2015Luke Bailey Julie Charlton Ernest van Dyck 2016Brad Pemberton Julie Charlton Pierre Fairbank 2017Sam Rizzo Julie Charlton Kota Hokinoue 2018Sam Rizzo No competitorKota Hokinoue 2019Nathan Donaldson Victoria Simpson Kota Hokinoue 2020Cory Crombie Victoria Simpson Pierre Fairbank 2021Cormac Ryan Sarah Clifton Bligh Paul Nunnari 2022Cormac Ryan No competitorPaul Nunnari 2023Cormac Ryan No competitorJun Hiromichi 2024Cormac Ryan Coco Espie Paul Nunnari 2025Lachlan Reid Coco Espie Paul Nunnari 2026Lachlan Reid Coco Espie Hitoshi Matsunaga

2021 event entries impacted by COVID-19 international and interstate restrictions.

References

External links Oz Day Race Results – Wheelchair Sports NSW Celebrating 25 Years of the Oz Day 10K – Video