After weeks of preparation for the gruelling event runners were faced with a late course change at the Blue Mountains race due to rain in the lead up.

It was a big blow in particular to the 50 kilometre course contenders who had just a small stretch of their original trail left on the new track.

One of those runners was Wes Gibson.

The Bathurst competitor and coach had prepared for a hillier challenge but the new course took in the opening half of the 100km trail, making for a completely different experience.

Luckily for the field the weather on race day was sublime.

“The course was completely different than what we had prepared for. I was prepared for more stairs so it probably suited the guys who were faster on the flat,” Gibson said.

“Those changes were a testament to the organisers because a lot of other events probably would have pulled the pin.

“The 50km field was ridiculously strong this year, probably stronger than the 100. I didn’t have the best race but it was far from the worst I’ve had.”

Gibson finished the 50km race in five hours, 17 minutes and 46 seconds for a 37^th placing overall.

Two of Gibson’s members at UP Coaching Bathurst, Steve Paterson and Blair Hurst, took on the blue ribband UTA100 event.

Hurst was short of his personal best with a time of 13:26:42 but, thanks to finishing under 14 hours, was enough to earn a coveted silver buckle.

Paterson finished in 18:08:28 to claim a bronze buckle for going under the 20-hour mark.

Bathurst’s Arthur Sargeant came just shy of claiming a buckle with his time of 20:20:20 while Cath McEwen just missed the four-hour mark (4:00:36) in the 22km event.

Lithgow’s Florentina Caldwallen (6:11:42) was a standout performer from Gibson’s coaching group in the 50km race, finishing inside the top 20 for her age division.

“Steve Paterson did really well. He had a few issues early in his race but he managed to overcome them,” Gibson said.

“My crew in the 50km race did exceptionally well. They had a great day.

“Everyone from my group finished and everyone, with the exception of Blair, scored a personal best.”