Great Wheelbarrow Race has
record-shattering 10th anniversary
THE tenth anniversary Great Wheelbarrow Race which finished on Sunday has raised a jaw-dropping $461,000.10 for charity.
“That is a stunning result and just blows away the previous record of $153,000.” organising committee chairman and TRC deputy mayor Councillor Evan McGrath said.
“We had a record-breaking number of teams enter, we had records set all over the place in the race itself and then, when we totalled up the funds raised, we set this fantastic record.
“And the icing on the cake is that this year’s event was conducted in high spirits by everyone who took part.”
Councillor McGrath said the three-day event, which took competitors from Mareeba to Chillagoe in the footsteps of the district’s pioneers, had set an extremely high benchmark. “Even the weather helped out,” he said.
“While it teemed down at Almaden on Saturday night, that meant on Sunday the runners were not having to chew on any dust.”
The competitive side of the event saw outstanding efforts turned in, with six records broken.
“In the solo category, which surely is the toughest of all, Chris White smashed the existing record, pushing his wheelbarrow across 140 kilometres in just 14 hours, 14 minutes and 37 seconds, taking a massive 1hour, 44 minutes and seven seconds off the previous best time.
“The outright record was broken by The Fit Bucks in a time of 7hrs.15mins.17sec, averaging a cracking 19.17 kilometres per hour.
“The Over 40s record fell to Rotary Team 1 in a time of 9hrs.18mins.46 sec. The Services record fell to Army Razorbacks at 8hrs.2mins.38sec. And the record for duos was broken by Ebony and Ivory who completed the course in 11hrs.1min.33 sec.
“I have to commend all of the competitors, their support teams, event volunteers and the organising committee.
“Much of the preparation goes unseen but this weekend has shown the benefits of all the training, planning and organisation that has consumed so much time in the preceding weeks and months.”
“Dimbulah has a small population but on the Friday night they had more than 1000 people stay there. And then on Saturday night Almaden, with a population measured in two digits, had a similar population explosion,” he said.
“The benchmark has now been set at a very high level for next year’s race but I am sure the region is up to the challenge,” Cr McGrath said.
The Great Wheelbarrow Race is the reigning Queensland Regional Achievement and Community Award winner, in the Events and Tourism category. A DVD of this year’s massive event is in production and will be available for purchase shortly.
Results included:
- Charity fundraisers: IndieStructables $111,924.20 first, 65 Roses $90,037 second and Wheelie Mad Women $48,550 third.
- Best theme: Mums On The Run 1, Muppets TRC2 2, Rotary 1 3.
- Talent Quest: Dad’s Army 1, Amalgamated Pest Control 2, Rotary Albas 3.
- Mixed teams: High Voltage 1, Too Legit To Quit 2, Muppets TRC 2 3.
- Ladies teams: Natural Athletes 1, Wheelie Mad Women 2, Mums On The Run 3.
- Men’s teams: The Fit Bucks (in an Outright Record) 1, Alba Crew 2, The Hung Backs 3.
- Over 40s: Rotary Team1 (New Record) 1, Datum 2, Flying Barrows 3.
- High Schools: Young Guns 1, St Stephens Sugar Rush 2, Useen Us Bolt 3.
- Services: Army Razorbacks (New Record) 1, Hot Fuzz 2, Blue Lightning 3.
- Duo: Ebony and Ivory (New Record) 1, Pinky and the Brain 2, Go No Duo (Donovan family) 3.
- Solo: Chris White (New Record) 1; Sarah Warren (New Record for solo female) 2, Kate Johnston 3.
- Overall winning team: The Fit Bucks.
Great Wheelbarrow Race 2025
Fundraising Amounts
Year Amount
2007 $13,480
2008 $14,200
2009 $44,398
2010 $87,315
2011 $123,000
2012 $153,000
2013 $461,000
2014 $437,000
2015 $243,300
2016 $200,000
2017 $195,289
2018 $110,000
2019 $140,000
2020 COVID-19
2021 COVID-19
2022 $132,230
2023 $189,389
2024 $93,342
Total $2,636,943 which is outstanding for any sporting event.