Cliff Young

Hall of Fame Article

Cliff Young Photos 

Sixty one year old Cliff Young became a household name in 1983 when he beat all of the starters and won the first Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon. He wasn’t known before the race - but was certainly know after that. Apart from winning the inaugural Westfield Run, Cliff also achieved many other brilliant performances in his ultra career which included several Ultra age records. He was also the “Boy from the Bush” with a larrikin wit and a heart of gold. This endeared him to many people over the years

Australian Ultra Running Legend, Cliff Young passed away at 5.20pm this afternoon(2nd November 03) after a long illness. He was 81.

Instead of flowers for the Funeral Service it is asked that people send a cheque or money order to Waterbird Rescue c/o The Powers Twins P O Box 372 Golden Beach QLD 4551. The Twins and Cliff have been working for Waterbird Rescue for a number of years on a voluntary basis and this would be a great way to remember Cliff.

There was a Service held at Caloundra this Wednesday 5th Nov at 1030am for Cliff. Spoke with Helen this evening (5th Nov). Apparently the Service was beautiful. There were about 80 people there, 4 people spoke, there were some songs and tea,coffee and biscuits afterwards. As we all know Cliff wouldn’t have liked a fuss.

There was a Memorial Service held for Cliff on 12 Nov 03 at the Colac Bowling Club in Colac. There were close to 400 people in attendance that included family and Cliff’s friends from Colac and the ultra running community. It was a wonderful occasion with all aspects of Cliff’s life being remembered. This included Cliff the runner, Cliff the Bushman and Environmentalist and Cliff the Family Man. There were a number of speakers who spoke on different aspects of Cliff’s life. A highlight for me was listening to Cliff’s brother, Syd singing a solo part of “I am a Small part of the World” as part of the Lavers Hill Choir. I don’t think Colac, his family or Ultrarunning will let the world forget about the spirit of Cliff in a hurry. His spirit will live on.

I would also like to personally thank 3AK Radio station in Melbourne for providing a copy of Cliff’s song that was played at the Service. They had it couriered from Sydney on the day of the Service. That was nice.

President of the Australian 6-day race, Bill Sutcliffe announced last night that Memorial Square at Colac will be renamed the “Cliff Young Running Track” for the duration of the 6-day race from the 16th to 22nd Nov 03. For further details go to www.colac.ultraoz.com. He also announced that the 6-day race committee is commencing a push to get the race renamed the “Cliff Young Australian 6-day Race”. This I’m absolutely wrapped about.

Links to further information on Cliff Young:

http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2003/11/07/1068013395051.htm

http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=649877

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/03/1067708115813.html

http://www.ultramarathonworld.com/news_2003/n02no03d.htm

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7751335%255E1702,00.html

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/news/1997n026.shtml

http://www.dinkumaussies.com/MISCELLANY%2FCliff%20Young.htm

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/02/1051382094097.html

http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm/alpt/alpt0297.htm

http://www.corporatetrends.com.au/mitchell11.html

SOME TRIBUTES AT THE TIME OF CLIFF’S DEATH

Dear Phil,

The sad news from Cliff Young death created very sorry feelings in my soul because another of the greatest Australian ultra-runners (after George Perdon and Brian Smith)is not with us any more. His name will remain immortal as Cliff was an Australian hero and a great figure of modern Australian history, because he inspired millions of people around the world with his acheivements. Please pass my deap sympathy to his relatives and tothe ultra-running community in general. I feel twice sorry, because this loss finds me to run a 3-day charity run in Cyprus and I will be unable to be present at his funeral. Lets wish and pray that his soul will rest in PEACE

sincerely

Yiannis Kouros

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Young, this AM. I had never met the man, but was always inspired by his reputation “Down Under” and world wide. To have accomplished what he did certainly did qualify him as a legend and even more so as he did it at a time in life when many have either retired, or have lost their ability to compete at the top level, and he did that. His life and running are truly an inspiration to anyone who looks at a total life, and not at a single achievement.
I am especially honored and saddened, since it does appear that I won the last Colac Cliff Young award while he was still alive. The award, in perpetuity, should continue to serve as a beacon of for those who “give it their best” and each presentation and each person so honored will have on his or her mantle piece a bit of history to honor his life.
Andrew Lovy, D.O.

Very sad to hear the news of Cliff (only heard it this morning), i was only thinking of him when driving back through Colac yesterday. Certainly a true Aussie Ultra legend and a great bloke too, remember talking with him a little doing the old “10 K ?? Banana Run” over the Westgate Bridge from Newport to Goschs Paddock, back in the late 80’s. If i remember correctly it was around 1990 or so Cliff did the presentations at the Traralgon Marathon after finishing the race.
All the best,
Kelvin
Several weeks ago my kids did a study unit on the story of “The Pumpkin Runner,” for whom Mr. Young was the inspiration. We’ve been meaning to seek out information on Mr. Young via the Internet and didn’t do so till today. Well, it seems we just missed him.

Nevertheless, his life reminds us that no image bearer of God is ordinary. Tonight, in fact, our pastor spoke about Genesis 50:20 where Joseph forgives his brothers in recognition of God’s sovereign purposes: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Our pastor used Joseph’s story, in part, to remind us how God’s plan and purpose is marvelously complex and cosmic in scale. When we simply seek God’s purpose for our lives and remain faithful to Him, we can not only live our lives well, but also serve God’s purpose for others.

I know nothing about Mr. Young’s faith, but in learning of his story-from the other side of our world-we’re reminded of our pastor’s words, Joseph’s words, and God’s words.

Thanks “Cliffy.” Our “gumboots off” to you.

Jim Heethuis,

Even though it has been expected for quite some time the passing of our great friend CLIFF has (for want of a better word) left me quite devastated. he was such a gentle man, gentleman too, he was always a help to me & it was through lap counting & helping look after Cliff & a few others that got me into the Ultra scene, he was an inspiration & will remain so, he was loved by many (including me) he will be sadly missed by many & forgotten by none, it is I think an end to an era.

I can still see you Cliff coming through Doncaster in the early hours, what a great night that was, what an achievement!!

May you rest in peace CLIFF my friend.

Sandy Kerr

I was grieved to hear of the death of Cliff Young,a great bloke and Aussie legend for so many years.Most know of him as a great ultra runner,but Cliff could knock out a pretty fast half marathon when inclined.I have fond memories of that day,18th Sept. 1983,when he graced the Cooranbong(NSW) half marathon with his presence.He raced in his famous long trousers and won his M60 age category in a time of 1.26.59. and then proceeded to assist in prize giving,multiple conversations,photo shoots etc with other younger runners and generally making it a great day for all present.A wonderful bloke who will be sadly missed.
Jim Beisty

As Records Officer for the Australian Ultra Runners Association a position I took up two years ago i did not realise then what a great athlete our cliffy was after looking through nearly twenty years of Ultra Magazines not only did I realise what a great Athlete he was, but a great Charcter,he was generous with his time to other Ultra Athletes but apart from his Westfield run his time when he won the Australian 24 Hour Championship at Adelaide in the 1980s to my mind was one of his great runs,rest in peace Cliffy you have deserved it,we on earth are glad that you passed our way.

Fred Brooks

Cliff Young is not more now with us. It is like going away the Great Grand of Ultrarunners. The biggest tree is fallen but the seeds sprouted from it all over the world, only his physical body is not with us but he will always remain with us.
I first encountered with him some 6-7 years ago in a very simple book on Running having a last brief chapter on Ultrarunning. There I found two greatest (yes to me they were and are greatest) legends Cliff & Yiannis. I was stunned by Cliffy’s running ability. I know his impact on me and a share in becoming me an ultrarunner (only ultrarunner in India) is also goes to him.
Wish his soul remain in Peace.
- Arun Kumar Bhardwaj

Phil
I learnt of Cliffy death from the TV & during the tribute to the great man a clip of him was shown completing a Westfield run. The person beside him raising Ciffy’s arm in victory was Bryan Smith.
As my wife Betty said - Two great gentle in all facets, now can keep each other company running forever.
May they both rest in peace yet watch over us running nuts for when I look into the skies complaining of my hardships struggling through the kilometres I am sure the feel of the wind at my back will not be the wind but you giving me a slight push. RIP
Geoff Williams

Cliffy

To all the special times we shared in the early hours of the morning when there was just the two of us either trackside or in the massage tent. No one can ever know what passed between us or share in the jokes or hear the laughing.

You were the first one to believe that my approach to care of the ultra athlete was the right one to take, and your encouragement down through the years since we first met at the Colac six day run when I was a massage student to research on better ways to keep the athlete going has paid off.

Your letters always had that positive message, and they always came at a time when I was ready to give up on everything. I still have the vision when I was doing the lap counting early in the morning at the ‘Cliffies Dream’ and you were disappearing into the darkness for another lap of the rough track.

There was just the two of us out there, I watched the lonely figure out there, and could see what made you a what you were. I had an insight into what it would be like to be like you. To quote another ultra runner Kevin Mansell

“I finally found my hero in life and it was me”

Thanks to you on that night I found that outWhile not being an Ultra competitor, I am proud to say I am an Ultra person,as much a part of the Ultra family as the athletes are.It is as part of the ultra family I grieve at your passing, and at the same time feel proud I was part of the same family as you.

Michael Gillan Ultra Masseur

Date Event Location Placing Result
1981 Colac 1000 Colac Finished

26-Jun-82
Box Hill 50 mile
Box Hill, Vic

6:31:26

1983
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melb
1st
5d 15h 4m

9-Sep-84
Coburg 100km
Coburg

8:53:04

1984
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melb
Finished

3-Feb-85
Vic 24hr
Box Hill, Vic

216.095km

1985
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melb
Withdrew

3/11/1985
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide
1st
235.411km

1986
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melb
Withdrew

16-Feb-86
VVACI 24hr Track Race
Box Hill, Vic
6th
203.2km

28-Jun-86
VMC 50 mile track Race
Box Hill, Vic
13th
6h 51m 39s

24-Aug-86
CHASE 50 mile Road Race
Ballarat, Vic
8th
6h 33m 46s

9-Nov-86
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide

153.187km

1-Mar-87
VVACI 24hr Track race
Box Hill, Vic
8th
197.115km

26-Mar-87
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melb
16th
9d 13h 17m

31-May-87
Sydney Striders 24hr Track race
Hensley, NSW
4th
196.867km

16-Sep-87
QMRRC 24hr Track race
Queensland University
6th
185.811km

3-Oct-87
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide
34th
100.182km

16-Nov-87
Australian 6 Day
Colac
12th
632km

13-Feb-88
VVACI 24hr Track run
Coburg
12th
179.081km

28-May-88
Sydney Striders 24hr Track race
Hensley, NSW
4th
196.281km

14-Nov-88
Australian 6-Day Race
Colac
14th
670.400km

Nov-88
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track Race
Adelaide
9th
175.33km

11-Dec-88
CHASE 50 mile Road race
Ballarat, vic
22nd
8.43.54s

25-Feb-89
VVACI 24hr track run
Coburg
26th
157.875km

May-89
Westfield Run
Sydney to Melbourne
withdrew
451km

19-Aug-89
HiTec 24hr Track race
Melbourne
15th
173.768km

Oct-89
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide
8th
175.834km

DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
PLACING
RESULT

Nov-89
Australian 6-Day Race
Colac
11th
664km

3-Feb-90
International 24hr Championship
Milton Keynes, UK
29th
167.136km

10-Mar-90
VVACI 24hr Track Race
Coburg
17th
164.509km

8-Apr-90
Toto’s 100km track race
Melbourne
11th
10.12.07

4-Aug-90
Toto’s 24 hr track race
Melbourne
11th
108.400km

27-Oct-90
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track Race
Adelaide
7th
148.427km

1-Sep-90
Sydney Striders 24hr track race
Hensley
8th
178.76km

18-Nov-90
Campbelltown 6 Day Track race
NSW
10th
648.503km

26-Jan-91
Wyong 24hr track race
NSW
13th
134.545km

23-Feb-91
VVACI 24hr track race
Coburg
12th
165.231km

3-Nov-91
Australian 6 day race
Colac
10th
590.00km

1-Sep-91
Caboolture 24hr Track race
Queensland
5th
154.269km

28-Sep-91
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track Race
Adelaide
13th
157.100km

22-Feb-92
VVACI 24hr track run
Coburg
14th
153.85km

24-May-92
Queensland 24hr Track Race
Brisbane
2nd
158.617km

Sep-92
Nanango-Sth Burnett 330km Footrace
Queensland
5th
44.11.28s

21-Sep-92
24hr Race
Caboolture
6th
140.800km

15-Oct-92
Geraldton-Perth 434km
WA
DNF
367km

Nov-92
Australian 6-day race
Colac
7th
653.600km

23-Jan-93
Toukley 12hr Race
Toukley
8th
91.334km

27-Feb-93
VVACI 24hr Track run
Coburg
3rd
171.650km

13-Mar-93
Tamworth 24hr track run
Tamworth, NSW
7th
155.258km

5-Jun-93
Queensland 24hr Track Race
Queensland
8th
130.452km

Sep-93
Sth Burnett 330km footrace
Queensland
9th
48.10.52s

DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
PLACING
RESULT

16-Oct-93
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track Race
Adelaide
8th
148.47km

Nov-93
Australian 6-day race
Colac
7th
609.6km

22-Jan-94
Toukley 12hr race
Toukley
14th
88.429km

29-Jan-94
Liverpool City 24hr
Liverpool, NSW
6th
147.00km

26-Mar-94
Vita Health South coast 24hr
Wollongong, NSW or Tamworth?
11th
145.74km

17-Apr-94
VVACI 24hr Track Race
Coburg
5th
153.055km

3-Jun-94
Queensland 24hr Track race
Brisbane
6th
135.47km

2-Oct-94
Liverpool City 24hr
Liverpool, NSW

150.54

25-Oct-94
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide

150.764

15-Oct-95
Liverpool City 24hr
Liverpool, NSW

146.65

27-Oct-96
Sri Chinmoy 24hr Track race
Adelaide

146.817

9-May-99
Coburg 24hr
Coburg

147.487

Some of Cliff’s records

100km Track Adelaide.SA 71 14:08:54 17/10/1993 Aus.Rec 70-74
200km Track Colac,Vic 73 1D:18:11:47 21/11/1995 Aus.Rec 70-74
500km Track Colac,Vic 73 6D:00:00:00 21/11/1995 Aus.Rec 70-74
100 Mile Track Colac,Vic 73 1D:06:49:10 21/11/1995 Aus.Rec 70-74
12 Hours Track Sydney,NSW 60 129.525km 4/06/1905 Aus.Rec 60-64
12 Hours Track Olympic Pk.Vic 68 104.800km 5/08/1990 Aus.Rec 65-69
48 Hours Colac,Vic 73 233.435km 20/11/1995 Aus.Rec 70-74
6 Days Colac,Vic 73 653.600km 20/11/1995 Aus.Rec 70-74

A POEM ABOUT CLIFF

At a place called Parramatta to the south of Sydney town

Endurance runners gathered, some of world renown

A mighty crowd was there that day, the press and TV too

and many words were spoken before the day was through

eleven runners toed the line, eleven hearts beat strong

For we all knew what lay ahead and where we could go wrong.

A gun was fired, away we went, each runner to his pace

The back-up crews were on the move, their runners for the race.

The road was thick with traffic, they were their in all their makes

And above the toots and cheering came the squeal of hard pressed brakes.

Through the shouts , the yells and bedlam, the police all acted fine

But all the way to Melbourne our lives were on the line.

The pace was hot through Goulburn then it was on to Yass

Some runners’ feet were blistered and others had the rash

But still we kept on moving, for we could only try

To run one hundred miles a day when we would rather die.

Our back-up crews did all they could to keep us running strong

And they all suffered with us, when the day was hard and long.

With Gundagi behind us, there was Holbrook way ahead

How could we keep on running when we were almost dead?

There were hills all shapes and sized, some short, some long and steep

and each man had to beat them or fall into a heap.

We ran all day and half the night to Albury and Wodonga

Though cheering crowds sure eased the pain, we could not stay there longer.

We had to keep on running, through the heat, the wind and rain

When the day was long and weary and the night was filled with pain.

When we passed through Wangaratta, Benalla was a cinch

Though our legs were tired and weary, we made it inch by inch.

Then came the Kelly country and when we hit Euroa

Some of us were almost gone, but the race was still a goer.

Then onward, ever onward through a day of wind and rain

We stopped at Violet Town a while, then it was on again.

It wasn’t far past Seymour when the rain came pelting down.

The wind was blowing strongly and our faces was one big frown.

But still we kept on running, up a road that seemed like sand

And we would keep on running while we had the strength to stand.

The people got behind us in a way we knew they would

It was good to hear them cheering in the rain without a hood.

Though they were drenched, they cheered us with emotion running high

And those teardrops rolling down their cheeks were also in our eyes.

They were there in countless numbers, the women, men and kids

And on this page we thank them all, to them we dip our lids.

The crowds were huge through Melbourne, the cheering loud and strong

And still we kept on running though we’d nearly had the gong.

And as we breathed the poison fumes from cars of every make

Oh God, is there a limit to what flesh and blood can take?

Up hills, round bends, up hills once more. Oh God where will it end?

Our heads were spinning badly and we can’t pick foe from friend.

At last the race has ended, with it’s noise and cheers

Now is the time to put things straight and wipe away the tears.

We know the race to Melbourne, was worth it every stride

It has given us renewed hope and filled us up with pride.

We know full well our point was proved although we may be nuts

And though we may be short on brains we made top marks in guts.

Cliff Young Running Around Australia at Age 75
2 March 1997
Cliff Young, the potato farmer who became a household name after winning the 1983 Sydney to Melbourne race, has just set off on another jaunt.

At 75 - his birthday was February 9 - he plans to become the oldest person to run more than 16,000 km around Australia. In 1983, Ron Grant ran 13,383 km around Australia, minus Tasmania, in 217 days. (Nobby Young, a letter carrier who is not related, walked around Australia in 1993 and 1994 and has recently begun a walk around the world.)

Cliff Young says he’s fit enough and age has never been an issue : “I’m pain free you could say. I can get back from a 20km and I stand on my head. I’ve got a lot of energy you know.”

He also has a crew to match his enthusiasm. He started from Adelaide with Helen and John Powers of Wollongong, their twin daughters Paula and Bridgette and Trixi, the Chihuahua, and they will all share a motor home for eight or nine months.

Young’s reason for running around Australia is to raise money for street kids. Sponsors fund the trip but money raised when the group puts out buckets in towns will go to City Missions in each State (Rotary in the Northern Territory).

Cliffy, as he is affectionately known, aims to run 65km to 75km a day, heading clockwise. His nickname became the title of his biography, Cliffy’s Book, published in 1995.