Both runners gave their best on the day in near ideal conditions, with the first to finish Cheryl Symons from Victoria completing her longest ever race in fine style.

Her time of 8 hours 57 minutes 17 seconds gave her the second fastest run by a female on the Grafton to Coffs course and the third fastest in either direction.

She missed the record set by Angie Cottrell (Grattan) by 85 seconds or just over a second per kilometre for the 83 kilometres.

However, she had every right to be extremely pleased with her effort, as did the lone male competitor Graeme Kirkpatrick from Queensland.

Kirkpatrick trailed Symons quite closely for much of the journey before fading a little on the run in from Coramba to Coffs Harbour.

He completed the distance in 9hrs 40mins 09secs.

Although well pleased with the efforts of both runners, race organiser Steel Beveridge has decided to see this year’s event as the last hurrah.

The increasing traffic on the southern section of the Orara Way and increasing numbers of more accessible ultramarathons around the country, which did not require asking competitors to provide ‘seconds’ to take care of their nutritional needs, had seen the event diminish in numbers over the last few years.

Beveridge said he had thoroughly enjoyed his involvement with the event, both as competitor and race organiser, over the past 28 years, but the time had arrived to concentrate on other ventures.