Published on Thursday, 12 November 2026 at 2:31:04 PM

Wild Gravel 2026 – A Celebration of Sport, Culture and Community in the Stirling Range

Wild Gravel returned to the Stirling Range on Saturday 24 October 2026, attracting around 600 registrations and bringing together participants, volunteers, local businesses and community organisations for another successful year of cycling, running, walking and community connection.

Now in its third year, Wild Gravel continues to grow as both a regional sporting event and a community development initiative, creating opportunities for physical activity, regional tourism, local business participation, volunteer development and cultural engagement.

Participation at the Heart of Wild Gravel

One of the most encouraging outcomes was the popularity of the 5 km Walk/Run, which attracted more than 150 entrants and became the event's largest individual category.

With strong participation from local residents, the 5 km event highlighted the importance of offering accessible opportunities for people of different ages and abilities to get involved.

At the other end of the endurance scale, 20 riders tackled the 420 km Ultra, departing Mt Trio Bush Camp and Caravan Park on Friday afternoon and travelling through Ongerup, Gnowangerup, Katanning and Mt Barker before returning through the Stirling Range, finishing in event village after a mammoth night riding. 

Following a freezing night and more than 400 km in the saddle, riders faced one of the toughest sections of the course in their final push towards Event Village. Several jokingly thanked Race Director Rory Murray for saving the best until last.

The riders were welcomed back by supporters and event crew, celebrating an extraordinary endurance achievement.

View the 420 km Ultra tracking and results

New Untamed Trail Runs Prove Popular

The introduction of the 11 km and 21 km Untamed Trail Runs was another highlight of 2026.

The courses provided access to spectacular sections of the Stirling Range National Park, offering runners a different experience from the established Wild Gravel running events.

Following an inspection of the 21 km loop with Laurie from SEA, the organising team recognised an opportunity to share the landscape with more participants, leading to the addition of an 11 km out-and-back option.

The Shire thanks the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for supporting access to these trails.

Strengthening Connection to Country

A significant focus for Wild Gravel 2026 was strengthening the cultural connection to the Stirling Range and recognising the importance of Country.

Early in the planning process, the organising team met with Robbie Miniter and Peter Twigg to learn more about connection to Country in the Stirling Range. These conversations helped shape the team's ambition to give cultural engagement a greater presence throughout the event.

The Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) played an important role in bringing this vision to life, generously assisting with planning, logistics, volunteering and Event Village displays.

The involvement of the Ngowanjerindj Rangers provided an opportunity for visitors to learn more about local Aboriginal organisations and their work.

GAC also connected the organising team with the Kalyagul Cultural Group, whose performance became one of the most memorable moments of the day.

The performance was a powerful and memorable addition to the event, and the Shire sincerely thanks everyone involved.

Building on these relationships and creating further opportunities for cultural engagement will remain an important focus for Wild Gravel 2027.

Watch the cultural performance and event coverage

Race Results

The Roast 150 km Race and The Brew 100 km Race were proudly sponsored by local business Roast & Brew Café.

The Roast – 150 km Race

Place	Men's Race	Women's Race
1st	Elar Kalda	Serene Lee
2nd	Aaron De Vos	Deborah Latouf
3rd	Ricky Andrews	Sabine Bird

The Brew – 100 km Race

Place	Men's Race	Women's Race
1st	Tobias Strunk	Sue Parora
2nd	Brett Giblett	Susan Hodgins
3rd	Alessandro Tinivella	Sally Martin

Congratulations to all placegetters and every participant who challenged themselves throughout the day.

View full Wild Gravel 2026 results

More Than 100 Volunteers Behind the Scenes

More than 100 volunteers contributed to Wild Gravel 2026, supporting pit stops, registration, event set-up, on-course driving, start and finish line operations, course marshalling and the extensive pack-down process.

Local SES and St John Ambulance crews provided important support, alongside Albany Veterans Assist, who travelled to marshal the Kendenup end of the course.

A special acknowledgement goes to Yardup, whose generous contribution covered the cost of emergency services for the event. Please take some time to learn more about St John Ambulance Gnowangerup through this video.

St John - Gnowangerup

Volunteers are fundamental to Wild Gravel's success, and their involvement provides opportunities to develop skills in event operations, communication, safety and teamwork.

The Shire extends its appreciation to everyone who contributed, particularly those who remained after the event to help return equipment and infrastructure to town.

Event Village – Supporting Local Businesses and Community Organisations

Event Village was once again a central gathering place for participants, spectators, sponsors and supporters.

Despite challenging weather conditions, food vendors provided fantastic service throughout the day.

Nick from Shaka's Dumplings, Bec and the team from Smoove Açai, and Bluff Knoll Café kept visitors fed and caffeinated, with the Shire grateful for their flexibility and commitment.

A wide range of businesses, sponsors and community organisations also contributed to the Event Village atmosphere.

Matt and the team from headline sponsor AFGRI Equipment, Graeme and the team from Tyrepower Ongerup, and Grant and Renee from Gnowangerup Auto were among those with a presence at the event. Gnowangerup Auto also generously provided spotlights for a giveaway.

Auspan supported the recovery zone, while Livingston Medical, Roslyn Clarke Massage and Impulse Cycles provided services for participants and visitors.

Pop-up businesses included The Little Hive, Gourmet Bee, Society, Red Dirt Soap and Foreshore, providing opportunities for visitors to discover and support regional businesses.

Maka from SportWest also travelled to Wild Gravel, contributing additional activities and engagement within Event Village.

Dune Brewery, Sheppard's Hut Wines and Woodlands Distillery provided welcome refreshments for participants and spectators.

The Shire encourages everyone to continue supporting these businesses beyond the event.

Bringing the Course to the Big Screen

One of the major additions to Event Village was a large live screen provided by Dartfish.

John and his team delivered live footage from the course, allowing spectators to follow the action and connect with participants throughout the day.

The coverage added a new dimension to the Event Village experience, particularly for families and supporters waiting for participants to return.

Watch the Wild Gravel 2026 live coverage

The Shire also thanks Nutrien for providing the truck used as the Event Village stage, with special appreciation to Zach for his assistance transporting equipment to and from the site.

Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Early feedback has been positive, with Wild Gravel 2026 currently receiving an average overall rating of 4.6 out of 5.

The organising team is reviewing feedback and considering opportunities to improve the experience for participants, spectators and volunteers.

Suggestions received include strengthening cultural engagement, improving signage around Event Village and start lines, and ensuring drinking water is more readily accessible at the finish line.

Some changes, including road grading immediately before the event or converting certain out-and-back courses into loops, are subject to practical, operational and environmental limitations. However, the team continues to investigate improvements where feasible.

Participant and community feedback will help inform planning for 2027.

Building Skills, Partnerships and Community Capacity

Wild Gravel is delivered by the Shire of Gnowangerup's Community Development Team.

Community and Economic Development Manager Stuart Drummond provides overall project oversight, while Race Director Rory Murray contributes technical expertise in gravel cycling, course design and event operations.

Projects Officer Neah Stewart coordinates volunteer recruitment and management, sponsorship and registrations. Communications and Events Coordinator Penny Wells manages financial administration, procurement and purchasing, marketing, merchandise and Event Village coordination.

The event provides opportunities for staff and volunteers to develop practical experience in large-scale event delivery, emergency and risk management, logistics, communications, community engagement and partnership development.

Importantly, these skills and relationships extend beyond Wild Gravel and contribute to the community's ability to deliver future initiatives.

The event also strengthens collaboration with local emergency services, Aboriginal organisations, businesses, government agencies and volunteers.

Wild Gravel's broader outcomes include encouraging healthy lifestyles, supporting regional visitation, showcasing the Stirling Range, creating local economic opportunities and bringing people together through a shared community experience.

The Community Development Team acknowledges the Shire CEO, Shire President and Councillors for their continued confidence and support in delivering and developing the event.

Thank You to the Funding Partners and Sponsors

Wild Gravel 2026 was made possible through the generous support of government funding partners, sponsors, businesses and community organisations.

Government and grant funding

Wild Gravel is supported by the WA Government through Tourism WA, Royalties for Regions and WA Events funding.

Additional funding was provided through the Great Southern Development Commission, Southern Ports Community Investment Program and CSBP Community Grants.

Headline Sponsor

AFGRI Equipment

Major Sponsor

Roast & Brew Café

Emergency Services Supporter

Yardup – generously funding emergency services for the event.

Minor Sponsor

Moore Australia

Supporting Sponsors

Delta Ag, Lincolns, Gnowangerup Hardware, Barfeeds, Tyrepower Ongerup, O'Keeffe Farming and Gnowangerup Auto.

Community Partners

Auspan and Nutrien Ag.

The Shire sincerely thanks every organisation for its contribution to Wild Gravel 2026. This support is instrumental in making the event possible and creating lasting benefits for the wider community.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Planning for Wild Gravel 2027 is already underway.

The organising team is reviewing community feedback and considering the broader gravel cycling calendar, other regional events and the availability of key personnel and volunteers before confirming next year's date.

The announcement is expected shortly.

Wild Gravel continues to demonstrate that a regional sporting event can achieve much more than a day of competition. Through participation, volunteering, cultural engagement, business support and community collaboration, it creates opportunities that benefit the region well beyond the finish line.

The Shire of Gnowangerup thanks everyone who contributed to Wild Gravel 2026 and looks forward to welcoming participants and supporters back to the Stirling Range in 2027.

wildgravel.com.au

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