Granite Grit Trail Challenge 2026 Results
Official WebsiteGranite Grit Trail Challenge 2026 was held on Saturday, 22 August 2026 at Private property off Eukey Road, Ballandean, Granite Belt, QLD.
About This Event
A brutal 24-hour trail challenge in Queensland's Granite Belt. Run 5km laps every hour on the hour — last one standing wins $1,000. Test your endurance in winter conditions.
Events & entry fees
Saturday 22 August
-
Last One Standing (5km laps)10am$90
Quick Facts
- Date
- Saturday, 22 August 2026
- Terrain
- Trail
- Location
- Ballandean, Queensland
- Entry Fee
- $70
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Start Time
- 10am
- Good for Beginners
- No - this is an advanced endurance event
Event Details
Course Description
The Granite Grit Trail Challenge is a last-one-standing event on a fully marked, rugged 5km trail loop on a private property off Eukey Road, Ballandean, in the Granite Belt high country (750m elevation). Runners complete one 5km lap every hour on the hour, with roughly 180m of climbing per lap over granite outcrops and rocky trail; missing the hourly cutoff means elimination. The field thins lap by lap until only one runner remains able to complete a loop, with a maximum duration of 24 hours.
Getting There
Ballandean is located in the Granite Belt region of Queensland, approximately 3 hours from Brisbane and 2.5 hours from the Gold Coast. The event is held on private property — exact location and access details will be provided to registered entrants closer to the event. Arrive early to allow time for registration and course familiarisation.
Weather & What to Pack
The Granite Belt sits over 750m elevation - the highest wine region in Queensland - and winter nights here are genuinely cold. Expect around 16°C by day, dropping to about 2°C overnight and possibly as low as -5°C in the early hours. Frosts are common. Bring warm layers, a headtorch (mandatory from the 5pm to 7am loops), and plan for sleep-deprivation and cold-weather nutrition alongside the running itself.
Race details last updated 6 Sep 2026
Planning to run Granite Grit Trail Challenge next time?
Official WebsiteFrequently Asked Questions
What is the event schedule?
Gates, setup and check-in open at 6:00am; check-in closes at 9:00am. A compulsory briefing runs at 9:30am, and the first lap starts at 10:00am Saturday.
What equipment is mandatory?
A headtorch is required from the 5pm loop until 7am. Trekking poles and other artificial aids are not permitted.
Is a support crew allowed?
Support crew are not compulsory but recommended. No personal assistance is allowed on course, and pacers are not permitted - only registered competitors may be on the course.
How is the winner decided?
The winner completes one more lap than every other runner. If several runners reach the 24th-hour final lap, that lap becomes a race and the first finisher wins.
Where do I park?
Parking is at Ballandean State School (a donation supports the school P&C) - there is no parking on Eukey Road or in the course precinct. Equipment drop-off opens at 6:00am with a 15-minute unload window.
parkruns near this race
Free, timed 5km every Saturday morning. A good hit-out between races.
- Stanthorpe parkrun Sat 7:00am · 19 km away · Stanthorpe
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