# Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race

Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race is held on Australia Day in The Rocks, Sydney 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 Sydney 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 2025 event, Kurt Fearnley and Madison de Rosario had won the race eleven times and Louise Sauvage ten times.

### Senior Events

| Year | Men's Open Event | Women's Event | Men's T52 Event | Women's T52 Event | Men's T51 Event |
| 1990 | Craig Blanchette United States | Ingrid Lauridsen Denmark | Jan Owe-Mattson Sweden | Not held | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 1991 | Craig Blanchette United States | Jennette Jansen Netherlands | Jeff Worthington United States | Not held | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 1992 | Franz Nietlispach Switzerland | Barbara Maier Germany | Rick Reelie Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 1993 | Jim Knaub United States | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 1994 | Paul Wiggins Australia | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 1995 | Paul Wiggins Australia | Louise Sauvage Australia | Rick Reelie Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 1996 | Paul Wiggins Australia | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 1997 | Jeff Adams Canada | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 1998 | Claude Issorat France | Louise Sauvage Australia | Rick Reelie Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 1999 | Heinz Frei Switzerland | Louise Sauvage Australia | Rick Reelie Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 2000 | Ernst van Dyk South Africa | Wakako Tsuchida Japan | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 2001 | Ernst van Dyk South Africa | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 2002 | Saúl Mendoza Mexico | Louise Sauvage Australia | Rick Reelie Canada | Not held | Fabian Blattman Australia |
| 2003 | Ernst van Dyk South Africa | Louise Sauvage Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Not held | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 2004 | Saúl Mendoza Mexico | Eliza Stankovic Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Lisa Franks Canada | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 2005 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Eliza Stankovic Australia | Santiago Sanz Spain | No competitor | Heinrich Koberle Germany |
| 2006 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Eliza Stankovic Australia | Santiago Sanz Spain | Sybilla Austin Australia | Glenn Bennett Australia |
| 2007 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Chantal Petitclerc Canada | Santiago Sanz Spain | No competitor | Glenn Bennett Australia |
| 2008 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Edith Hunkeler Switzerland | Peter Angel Australia | Michelle Stilwell Canada | No competitor |
| 2009 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Christie Dawes Australia | Clayton Gerein Canada | Michelle Stilwell Canada | No competitor |
| 2010 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Edith Hunkeler Switzerland | Santiago Sanz Spain | Michelle Stilwell Canada | Richard Cordukes Australia |
| 2011 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Sandra Rush United States | Peter Angel Australia | No competitor | No competitor |
| 2012 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Santiago Sanz Spain | Michelle Stilwell Canada | Stephen Osborne United Kingdom |
| 2013 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Naoyuki Matsumoto Japan | Michelle Stilwell Canada | No competitor |
| 2014 | David Weir United Kingdom | Manuela Schar Switzerland | Naoyuki Matsumoto Japan | Michelle Stilwell Canada | Stephen Osborne United Kingdom |
| 2015 | Kota Hokinoue Japan | Manuela Schar Switzerland | Jono Tang Australia | Michelle Stilwell Canada | No competitor |
| 2016 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Manuela Schar Switzerland | Jono Tang Australia | Michelle Stilwell Canada | No competitor |
| 2017 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Naoyuki Matsumoto Japan | - | – |
| 2018 | Tomoki Suzuki Japan | Madison de Rozario Australia | Naoyuki Matsumoto Japan | – | - |
| 2019 | Tomoki Suzuki Japan | Madison de Rozario Australia | Naoyuki Matsumoto Japan | – | - |
| 2020 | Tomoki Suzuki Japan | Madison de Rozario Australia | - | - | - |
| 2021 | Jake Lappin Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Jono Tang Australia | - | - |
| 2022 | Jake Lappin Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Jono Tang Australia | - | - |
| 2023 | Sam Rizzo Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Jono Tang Australia | Sarah Clifton-Bligh Australia | - |
| 2024 | Sho Watanabe Japan | Madison de Rozario Australia | Jono Tang Australia | Sarah Clifton-Bligh Australia | - |
| 2025 | Sam Rizzo Australia | Madison de Rozario Australia | Jono Tang Australia | Sarah Clifton-Bligh Australia | - |

### Junior and Masters Events

| Year | Junior Male U18/9 | Junior Female U18/99 | Masters |
| 1990 | Paul Nunnari Australia | Not held | Mike Nugent Australia |
| 1991 | Eric Neitzel United States | Not held | Mike Nugent Australia |
| 1992 | Eric Neitzel United States | Not held | Paul Bowes Australia |
| 1993 | Eric Neitzel United States | Not held | Paul Bowes Australia |
| 1994 | Shannon Bates Australia | Not held | Mike Nugent Australia |
| 1995 | Shannon Bates Australia | Kerstin Rossek Germany | Jeff Wiseman Australia |
| 1996 | Todd Burmester Australia | Christie Skelton Australia | Steve Ellefson Canada |
| 1997 | Todd Burmester Australia | Christie Skelton Australia | Steve Ellefson Canada |
| 1998 | Todd Burmester Australia | Christie Skelton Australia | Steve Ellefson Canada |
| 1999 | Kurt Fearnley Australia | Holly Ladmore Australia | Steve Ellefson Canada |
| 2000 | Adam Sheppard Australia | Kylie Gauci Australia | Scott Parson United States |
| 2001 | Grant Buckley Australia | Angie Ballard Australia | Scott Parson United States |
| 2002 | Grant Buckley Australia | Jessica Matassa Canada | Scott Parson United States |
| 2003 | Marcel Hug Switzerland | Jessica Matassa Canada | Henri Frei Switzerland |
| 2004 | Marcel Hug Switzerland | Jessica Matassa Canada | Henri Frei Switzerland |
| 2005 | Patrick Baker Australia | Kelly Darragh Australia | Kenny Herriot Scotland |
| 2006 | Patrick Baker Australia | Kelly Darragh Australia | Kenny Herriot Scotland |
| 2007 | Xaxier Elsworthy Australia | Laura South Australia | Brett McArthur Australia |
| 2008 | Matthew Lack New Zealand | Madison de Rozario Australia | Denis Lemeunier France |
| 2009 | Matthew Lack New Zealand | Madison de Rozario Australia | Brett McArthur Australia |
| 2010 | Matthew Lack New Zealand | Madison de Rozario Australia | Scott Parson United States |
| 2011 | Nathan Arkley Australia | No competitor | Heinz Frei Switzerland |
| 2012 | Nathan Arkley Australia | Kristy Pond Australia | Scott Parson United States |
| 2013 | Rheed McCracken Australia | Sara Tait Australia | Pierre Fairbank France |
| 2014 | Rheed McCracken Australia | Sara Tait Australia | Pierre Fairbank France |
| 2015 | Luke Bailey Australia | Julie Charlton Australia | Ernest van Dyck South Africa |
| 2016 | Brad Pemberton Australia | Julie Charlton Australia | Pierre Fairbank France |
| 2017 | Sam Rizzo Australia | Julie Charlton Australia | Kota Hokinoue Japan |
| 2018 | Sam Rizzo Australia | No competitor | Kota Hokinoue Japan |
| 2019 | Nathan Donaldson Australia | Victoria Simpson Australia | Kota Hokinoue Japan |
| 2020 | Cory Crombie Australia | Victoria Simpson Australia | Pierre Fairbank France |
| 2021 | Cormac Ryan Australia | Sarah Clifton Bligh Australia | Paul Nunnari Australia |
| 2022 | Cormac Ryan Australia | No competitor | Paul Nunnari Australia |
| 2023 | Cormac Ryan Australia | No competitor | Jun Hiromichi Japan |
| 2024 | Cormac Ryan Australia | Coco Espie Australia | Paul Nunnari Australia |
| 2025 | Lachlan Reid Australia | Coco Espie Australia | Paul Nunnari Australia |
* 2021 event entries impacted by COVID-19 international and interstate restrictions.