Recent rainfall in the Rockhampton region forced organisers to make the call

More than 150 teams were set to take on Australia’s longest hill sprint on the Mount Morgan Range this weekend. Clerk of the course Craig Jervis tells us what the event has been postponed here.

Recent rain has forced organisers to postpone the fourth edition of the CQ Crane Hire Gold Rush Hill Sprint, which was to be run this weekend.

Clerk of the course Craig Jervis said he was “deeply saddened” to make the call but it was necessary after the Rockhampton region received more than 100mm of rain since Saturday.

More than 150 teams from across the country were set to take part in the fourth edition of Australia’s longest hill sprint.

Dylan Cothill driving his Nissan R35 GTR to victory at the 2021 CQ Crane Hire Gold Rush Hill Sprint. Photo: Clint Janson

It is held on the Mount Morgan Range and hosted by the Central Queensland Motor Sporting Club.

Jervis said a meeting would be held this week to discuss a new date for the 2022 hill sprint.

“Over the last week, the huge rain event that has hit Queensland and New South Wales has caused not only flooding but events like ours to be cancelled,” he said.

“All the private land we use to house race teams, campers and car parking are soaked.

Clerk of the course Craig Jervis is hoping the CQ Crane Hire Gold Rush Hill Sprint can be rescheduled this year.

“If we place any vehicle on the land, we are doing damage to all the assets plus drag mud and debris onto the road.

“This makes the track very dangerous for the teams, plus we have to clean up before we hand the road back to Transport and Main Roads.”

Jervis said all sponsors and teams were notified before the decision was made.

“We are going to regroup and have a meeting to discuss our new date, which we will post shortly. Thanks to all concerned - we will be back soon.”