#OCR United OCR Team Australia

I am so incredibly honoured and lucky that I got to race as part of the official Australian team, all of my team mates are so incredibly amazing and inspirational.  I loved every moment with these fantastic people, in which I have gained so much from them, as they shared tactics, advice and best practices.  I had the most fantastic and fun trip, and loved how everyone just got together, supported each other, encouraged and cheered each other on.

I don't actually have words to describe the whole team without emphasising how truly blessed I was to be part of it.  It says so much about the OCR community, that everyone and every country is united with little or no animosity between fellow competitors, that each achievement, victory or defeat was felt by all, as you share an understanding of the true nature, tackling your own inner demons, facing your obstacles and fears and to walk away feeling exhilarated and proud.

I have made some amazing life long friends on this epic trip and cannot wait to hear all about everyones OCR journeys.   

Rina R Quistadio
​Founder, Team Manager

Strong, talented, hardworking and vibrant, a person who seriously just gets shit done.  She has been amazing in getting everything organised and getting us all to the OCR World Champs.  If it was not for this women, some of us would not have had the opportunity to be here, she really is full of life and laughter, and is one of the most real and genuine people you could ever have the pleasure of meeting.  I wish I knew how she does it, with little or no sleep, she is the heart and soul of OCR Australia and she puts everything she has into doing this for us, alongside having a full time job and family.  She really is just amazing.

Michael Casey
​Wildcard Elite VIC

Michael is one of the nicest people that we have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and he has so much potential to go really, really far within the OCR world.  Being from VIC we have met Michael a few times at previous events.  Michael was the other person that accompaning me around the Spartan Sprint course in September, after my mental breakdown during The Beast and refusal to go back out there.  He really did provide support and encouragement, but also reminded me why I love OCR, the fact that you don't have to know someone on a daily basis and had only met them a few time before, but they are still willing to provide you with support and encouragement when you have hit the bottom.  Michael really is a genuinely nice person, I cannot wait to see him conquer the OCR worlds next year and really dominate the competition.

Brad Cook
Top Male SA

I don't think there are any really words to describe Brad, apart from his brilliant can do attitude, fun to be around with a wicked sense of humour.  Luckily for me, he spent most of his time in Jeff's car, so I think I got off a little lightly in regards to my driving.   Brad and I had crossed paths at previous OCR events, but I only really got to know him during this trip.  Brad has that natural ability just to fly through the obstacles, and I have no doubts that he will be competing in next years OCR World Champs, however before then, I suspect we will cross paths again soon.

Michael Gleeson & Gemma Rolfe
Top Male NSW/ACT & Wildcard Elite NSW/ACT

Unfortunately I didnt get a chance to spend much time with these two sporting pro's, so unable to say to much about them.  Maybe next time I will get the opportunity to say hi.

Amanda Lamb
Top Female NSW/ACT

Amanda and her husband Kevin are so down to earth that I wished we could have spent a little more time with them, unfortunately for us they were staying closer to the venue.  I cannot wait until we have the opportunity to meet up with them both in the near future.  I hope that I also have the opportunity to train with Amanda, I feel that I can learn so much from this strong, inspiring women, meeting her you can completely understand why she is the top elite female.  

Not only that she also managed to complete every obstacle, keeping hold of her band as well as having a similar finishing time as some of the Aussie guys, putting her right up there.  I hope that I will also have the strength and endurance, so I can at least try and keep up with her at some future OCR Events (thats a try), especially as she has a host of 1st places under her belt. Dave is also truely envious of Kevin's man-cave apparently!!!

Vanessa Letts
​Top Female WA

I had been following Vanessa on Instagram @mudrungirl for some time, so I was quick to spot her at the airport and introduce myself.  Vanessa was staying at a different location, so we didnt get a chance to spend the same amount of time together as with the rest of team.  

Vanessa I would say is probably an OCR fanatic and has pretty much travelled the globe participating in OCR events.  This girl has some serious heart, and just won't give up as she got through the OCR Worlds.  She showed heart and spirit and just sheer determination to cross that finish line and collect her medal.  Unfortunately she did lose her band at the Sternum Checker too, but she also conquered obstacles that she feared such as the Dragons Back, plus many more.  

Click here to read about her round the world OCR ventures...

Jeffrey Malone
Wildcard Elite SA

This man is truly incredible, his journey is amazing and will inspire so many others to follow his lead.  I was lucky enough to meet Jeff at True Grit in Adelaide earlier this year, as we prepared for the 24 hour endurance event, and I don't think for one moment that either of us would have thought that we would be catching up again, competing on the same team across the globe.  I am truly honoured to be part of his team, he is such a dedicated and hard working individual that inspires me every time I see him doing something equally amazing.  At no point would I have ever believed the journey he has come on nor that he was ever unfit, as you look at this man today and you can be really inspired by his growth and strength.

Every time I get the opportunity to meet him, he just gets better and better, and was so happy when he came out of the OCR Worlds with his band in tact.  If you ever get the chance to say hi to Jeff, do so and ask him about his incredible journey.

Click here to be motivated by Jeff.

Lucas McLean
​Invitational Ambassador NSW/ACT

I have been fortunate enough to meet Lucas on a few occasions, usually he is promoting the great range of obstacle racing shoes offered by Icebugs, plus the benefits of SOS rehydrate.  However I never really realised what a contender in the OCR community he is.  Never really having the opportunity to run with him at previous events, he is definitely a silent achiever, with some major skills.

I think Lucas will probably have the most rememberable experience of his life, as during the OCR WC team event, as he ruptured his achilles, whilst running up the warped wall.  As we all stood witness to this unforeseen event, we actually thought he got cramp until he slowly lowered himself to the bottom as he said that he felt a pop.  Cant believe that this happened, and felt for Lucas immensely, however I have no doubt that after some rest that he will be back up and as strong as ever in no time at all.

Matt Murphy
Invitational Ambassador NSW/ACT

This man is a true legend in the OCR World, and to be on his team is the most humbling experience.  There is just so much to learn, and when you listen to his stories, advice and experiences, you realise that you are really only training a minimal amount and there is just so much more to learn and do.  Having won numerous Obstacle Racing events as well as coming 2nd at Spartan Race World Championships in 2013.  If there was ever an opportunity to learn from the best, then this was the time.  Literally soaking up any advice that he was offering, including having more gels during the course to keep your glycogen levels high.

Having watched and followed ESPN's Search4Hurt, it was just amazing to have the opportunity to spend so much time with him.  He is such a generous man with his knowledge, willing to share best practices and answer the 1001 questions that were fired at him during the course of the week. He also had a comment or two on driving in America, particularly mine!!

A truly committed, hard working and family oriented individual and have no doubts that Matt and his team of elite OCR racers will be coming first at the Worlds Toughest Mudder event on the 14th and 15th November 2015.  The weekend before Dave and I undertake Hurt Camp, an all day event that will most definitely test our fitness abilities, and just coming back from the WTM I don't think there will be any sympathy to be had.

If you wanted take your obstacle course racing to the next level or you just wanted to learn from the best, Matt Murphy, Ryan Atkins and Jon Albon are the Worlds elite of the elite in the OCR World.  

​Get training advice, access to the community forum, plus elite training insights, just click here to get more details... 

Laura Newton
​Top Female QLD/NT

Laura and her husband Gary were just awesome, helping build and set up the course, but also providing some great tips since they both competited at the OCR World Champs last year.  Laura just showed us why she is at the top, coming 3rd in her devision.  Spending time with these awesome women, inspired me that I can in fact do so much more than what I think I can, especially reading her write up about her race.   

We have previously crossed paths at True Grit Enduro, but I think with the overwhelming nature of the event it got hard to remember everyone you met on course.  I am however looking forward catching up with both Laura and Gary at the next event.  Laura has encouraged me to keep looking forward, and even though I failed some obstacles this year, there is always next year to improve and get better.

Richard Williams
Top Male Vic/Tas

I am proud to call Richard one of my trainers and friends, over the last few months Richard took me on as part of the Highlander project, to enable me to become a better obstacle racer, so to be on his team was a real honour.  Richard's continued patience, teaching, skill (both as an OCR racer and an stunt man) and generosity has taught me so much about racing and about myself (I am slightly inpatient, who knew!).  His knowledge, enthusiasm, strength and capabilities are paramount.  His drive and commitment to the sport enables him to be a real threat in this sport, and I can only see him getting better and better.

He takes time to show his continued support and encouragement, talking you through each element and breaking it down to a more manageable tasks.  I am sure there will be a few elements we will be working on once we get back to Australia.  

Matt Wisniewski
​Top Male WA

Since Matt is from WA, which for us, is like another country, we had never had a chance to meet with him before, so the first time was on the flight over to the USA.   I found Matt to be one of the kindest, considerate and thoughtful people that we had met, even though he did have somewhat of a crazy, adventurous, adrenalin fuelled side, that at times I thought he wanted to try and kill us whilst driving a bicycle quad bike!

Matt demonstrated why he got to the top with his speed and agility, coming first at numerous obstacle races in WA.  His beautiful nature comes across whenever he is talking about his wife and two wonderful boys.  I can't wait to catch up with him and hopefully will get the chance to meet his beautiful family.  

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It was not just us representing Australia...

Of course the Australian team were not just made up with the above, there were so many other elite Aussie athletes that were also at the OCR Worlds representing their  country.  I have met and spent some time with some, as well as having heard of others.  All of which I find truly amazing people, what they do is just amazingly strong and incredible, each and everyone making me feel so incredibly lucky that I had the opportunity to be part of this amazing country.  The opportunities that we have had since coming to Australia have been so surreal, it does make me wonder what we would have been doing if we were still in the UK.  I can most definitely say that we would not have been here, representing such a welcoming and heart warming country.

I was so incredibly lucky that Dave had secured a place within the journeyman devision, so I could share this journey and experience with him.  He showed as much skill, determination and grit.  He has always been my biggest hero and advocate, believing in me even when I don't believe in myself.  I had no doubt that he would do well, coming 7th in his category.  Dave provided encouragement and support whenever it was needed, and being supportive to me when I needed it most.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without having spent the last 18 years with him.  I am looking forward to continuing on our journey together and watching him grow and develop into a leading OCR contender.

It was during the OCR Worlds that I found myself surrounded by the most incredible, amazing, talented, inspirational and strong women.  I am so honoured that I had a chance to catch up with them, having met some on a few occasions prior and of course already hearing about the legends that they are. 

Deanne Blegg, Amanda Steidle, Sim McDonald and Tiffany Nissen defy what women are capable of, and show that you don't have to be in your twenties to be fit, strong and empowering.  I would love to be capable of doing what these women can achieve during their on-going commitment to health and fitness.  They are so inspiring and make you believe that with hard work and dedication you are capable of anything.

It is so inspiring following their OCR journeys, with both Deanna and Amanda competing in the Worlds Toughest Mudder.  Tiffany another inspirational women and place holder at True Grits enduro 24 completing 85kms, Sim is also an amazing competitor, placing at numerous OCR events.

I wish I had the chance to meet up with everyone that travelled so far from Australia, but we were all there cheering each other on in spirit.  You are probably fed up with my repeating myself with the same words, but that is the world of OCR.

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