Happy 20th Anniversary Kirribilli Runners
Steve Kibble
Greetings KRew
Wow! Wow! Kirribilli Runners is 20 years old. This milestone makes us one of the oldest running clubs in Sydney and possibly the oldest club of our type as the others all collect fees and so forth.
As you all know I have been promoting the 20th Anniversary for a long time now as I think it is quite an achievement and a testament to the ‘X’ factor that KR has. The club exists only because each week for 20 years runners have shown up to run the most iconic course in Australia. I think we can safely say that one of the best parts of the club is the run across the Bridge and around the Opera House to return and then head to the Kirribilli Hotel for a well-earned drink and share time with all our running buddies.
I’ve often been asked how it all started and what is it that keeps it going.
A short-potted history of KR.
Kirribilli Runners was started by David Holmes a local Kirribilli resident and runner who thought it would be good to have a local community of runners in the area as there really wasn’t anything local at that time. To get started Dave put up a bunch of flyers around the place (no social media in those days) and started showing up every Thursday at the steps of the bridge and slowly people started to join him. Post the run, the tradition developed to head to the Kirribilli Hotel. A short while later the pizza shop became part of the weekly KR ritual and the club grew.
The club in those days got to about 20 or so regulars showing up each week to run the bridge. By 2016 Dave has wanted to do other things and handed the club over to me. When I took over, I wanted to put more running into Kirribilli Runners and so we started the Monday night 10k for those looking for a longer run in the week and as a recovery run from the long runs or races on the weekend. The other core of the club was to keep it free, at no time have we ever asked for funds from the members, KR has always been and will continue to be a free club.
Next was get a new shirt, we wanted something that stood out and Repping the Red was born, along with the hashtag that was within keeping of the social aspect of the club #RunDrinkRepeat.
We now regularly get about 80 or more on a Thursday night and 30 to 50 on Monday night, and as we are in Kirribilli, something that happens, is that KRew constantly turnover. Some folks come for a few weeks, or months and some for years, but being in Kirribilli keeps the club fresh, and so even though we are 20 years old, we still feel like we are new club.
We have not only increased the running to two nights in Kirribilli, we also have a speed session each week at Gore Hill, we have a monthly long run, plus we have lots of folks participate in many races, both here in Sydney, around the country and even around the world.
This is not a solo effort and over the years Dave and I have had a few dedicated volunteers who each in their own way have helped mould and shape the club to grow it to be a club that is a vibrant place that runners want to be a part of it.
Finally, thank you to all of you from those first people 20 years ago, to the current awesome KRew, if it wasn’t for you coming along each week to run and socialise with your friends, we wouldn’t have a club at all
Well done Kirribilli Runners, I look forward to seeing a huge turnout tonight to run the KRClassic and head to the KH to raise a glass at the KH to celebrate 20 years and toast the next 20 years!!
20th Anniversary Update
I have now published on the KR FB page the 2026 KR Calendar so that everyone can see what we have planned for the coming year. The calendar has all the regular KR runs as well as the major races that we will be following and promoting. We will add to the races as the year goes on. If you have a favourite race, then let me know and we can add it.
20th Anniversary celebrations, the first event is next week with the 20th Anniversary run at the KRClassic. I have been inviting people from the club who may not have run with us in a while to join us for the celebration.
This Saturday 28th March join us for the celebration picnic and BBQ. And yes we will have cake supplied by our winners of the Christmas cake competition Grace and Karen.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Long Run Sunday. The next long run will be 19 April the weekend after Canberra Running Festival.
Tuesday Speed Sessions. We will be meeting at 6:30pm at the usual spot at Gore Hill Oval. It is open to all and if you want to know more details, please reach out to me.
Upcoming Races
Canberra Times Running Festival 11 and 12 April 2026. This is always a popular event for the KRew, and I know there will be a lot of us heading off to our Nation’s Capital for the weekend. If you are thinking of doing it, then sign up today.
https://solemotive.com/pages/canberra-times-marathon-festival
As a hint check out the new Paramatta Half held in June which should be a good race to head out west for. They’ve just released the new course.
https://www.parramattahalfmarathon.com
For a friendly, low pressure local race series that is very reasonably priced, has various distances on offer and held is some of the most scenic parts of Sydney, check our Sri Chinmoy. https://au.srichinmoyraces.org/sydneyraces
Of course, there are many races throughout the year that the KR will do, such as those out at Sydney Olympic Park and around the foreshore. We will highlight as many we think of, but if you have one to promote you think the KRew will love, let us know!
If you want to find some races for yourself, I highly recommend using The Running Calendar website which lists just about every race in Australia. If you find a race that has a KR Team and needs a code let me know. Or if you are the first KR to sign up for a race, please create a KR team and let me know.
https://www.runningcalendar.com.au/
If you are bringing bags tonight Trevor has promised to bring his car to hold them for you. As always please collect them straight after the photo. Thank you, Trevor, much appreciated.
Regarding the bag drop, to help keep KR running smoothly I have asked Trevor to take on being the coordinator for Monday and Thursday nights to ensure there is a car to enable the bag drop. He has a group chat and would love to add you to it if you are able to help from time to time.
That’s a wrap for this week; remember to take care of yourself, and if you can, others.
Keep running @everyone and happy 20th Anniversary Kirribilli Runners!
Steve
Director
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