The rain poured & the mud flowed at True Grit QLD 2025
In tough and rainy conditions, the True Grit team built a standout course for our Queensland 2025 event. The full 10km course included 31 obstacles for the thousands that visited The Kooralbyn Valley on the 26th & 27th of July.
On Saturday afternoon, the rain thundered down and made an already wet and muddy track even more fun for our Gritters. The mud on Saturday and Sunday was thick, the water was cold, but the vibes remained high.
Our Gritters are a varied bunch, but one stand out was Joy. Joy travelled with her team from Grafton to take on the full 10km course at the age of 75!! Not only did she complete the course, she smashed it. Joy is awesome, and is a perfect reminder of what True Grit is all about, overcoming obstacles and having a really good time and a laugh with your friends.
Another group of legends are our wonderful volunteers. Our volunteers really make the event the massive success it is. In the rain and the mud, they increased the encouragement, they increased the positive vibes, and they are a massive reason why the event was such a success.
Epic Performances in the Elite Races
The rainy conditions earlier in the week ensured that our Elite wave runners would be slowed down and that the record 52min, set in 2024, would not be broken. However, the True Grit team and spectators would be stunned to see scorching times set and one of the greatest finishes in True Grit history, when Kye Duesbury snatched victory from the hands of Byron Smith on the very last obstacle, with only 3 seconds separating them in the end.
Women’s Elite Winners:
🥇 Haylee Aitkin – 1h 12m 34s
🥈 Holly Bone – 1h 16m 19s
🥉 Katie Barrow – 1h 16m 45s
Men’s Elite Winners:
🥇 Clayton O’Brien – 1h 2m 13s
🥈 Brodie Merchant – 1h 5m 14s
🥉 Kevin Fanning – 1h 7m 23s
Our podium finishers were awarded with prize packs donated by our amazing sponsors and partners.
Kooralbyn brings the beauty and the Mud!
Queensland’s Scenic Rim is a place of natural abundance, genuine smiles, and pride for simple things, done well. In the Scenic Rim, there’s the space and stillness to slow down and breathe a little deeper … except of course, when True Grit comes to town, then it becomes a place of high energy, mud and fun!! Kooralbyn has been a wonderful home for True Grit in Queensland because of the unwavering support of the local community and the amazing assistance from the Scenic Rim Regional Council. We were incredibly lucky to have Councillor Jennifer Sanders come and welcome our Gritters to the region and wish them the best of luck for the event.
Huge Thanks to Our Partners
True Grit wouldn’t be possible without the support of some amazing partners and locals who helped bring it all together:
- Staminade, Undo This Mess, Black Hops, True Protein, LSKD, and Scenic Rim Regional Council.
It was amazing to have our friends at Black Hops join us to give our Gritters a sneak peek at their brilliant new East Coast Local – Zero Carb Lager. Those ice cold beauties went down a treat – Zero carbs, easy drinking, and minimal guilt with plenty of personality, flavour and full refreshment, no compromise.
—
The True Grit 2025 train is rumbling down the track, with Western Australia next on our list. WA is looking to be another huge event for us in October, with VIC finishing up our program in November.
Are you ready to take the muddy plunge and see what you are made of at a True Grit in 2025?
Head to our event page and see you at the start line! 💪
