Merino wool a winner on the 231km Larapinta Trail run

Ultrarunner Nick Bamford credits his “awesome Australian Merino thermals” from Merino Country Australia for helping him win a recent 231km trail running race along the rugged Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory.

Ultra-runner Nick Bamford wearing his Merino Country wool thermals.

Ultrarunner Nick Bamford credits his “awesome Australian Merino thermals” from Merino Country Australia for helping him win a recent 231km trail running race along the rugged Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory.

The West Macs Monster is one of the most iconic ultra-running events in Australia. It comprises a series of races on the Larapinta Trail, with the longest and ultimate challenge being the 231km Sonder Monster race all the way along the West Macdonnell Ranges to the finish line at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Not only does the race cover an astounding 231km, but there is an elevation gain of 6,830m (that’s more than ¾ the height of Mt Everest) plus an elevation loss of 6,940m.

Those runners that manage to complete the race usually take more than two long days and nights to do so, with runners enduring stifling heat during the daytime but desperately cold temperatures at night. The type of gear worn by the runners can have a massive impact on their comfort and performance.

The winner of this year’s race, completed in under 47 hours, was Nick Bamford from Brisbane who wore 100% Australian Merino wool thermals from Australian brand Merino Country Australia, which he says kept him warm at night.

“On the second night I was running through the desert where the temperature got down to 5°C and the exhaustion was making it difficult for me to regulate my temperature to the point my whole body was shaking. But when I put on the Merino thermals, it was like a hug from mum,” Nick said.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say I wouldn’t have been able to finish without the Merino thermals.”

But complete the race he did, at a winning pace, with one observer commenting that “Nick finished with 100% battery life on the tracker, it barely even dropped voltage he was that fast”.

Merino Country’s thermals differ from those of most other brands as Merino Country is one of the few companies that make their thermals in a heavy weight, 275gsm, double knit jersey fabric.

“As supplied to the Australian Defence Force and Victoria Police and tested for thermoregulation, our thermals are made for warmth, comfort, performance and durability, exactly what Nick needs for running and why we’re fitting him out with a full Merino wardrobe,” said owner of Merino Country, Kerrie Richards.

The trail running race won by Nick Bamford followed the Larapinta Trail along the West Macdonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. PHOTO: Posnov

Originally from Scotland in the UK, where he represented the University of Oxford at ice hockey (and… tiddlywinks), Nick has now made Brisbane his home. It is here that he trains with a local running group, often wearing a pair of the Merino Country’s wool leggings and long sleeve top.

As well as being a fan of Merino wool, Nick wants to wear apparel that is good quality and made locally, so he is keen to support Merino Country, an Australian family-owned business that has been manufacturing quality Australian Merino fabrics, clothing and underwear in Australia since 1993.

As well as the Merino top being a high-performance garment, Nick also appreciates its style and cut.

“I’ve since been wearing that same top out to dinner and the pub and getting complimented on it, so it is now a regular part of my smart casual wardrobe.”

Nick started training properly for ultra-running trail races about three years ago and has won other races including a 100km race across the Blackall Range on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

As this edition of Beyond the Bale goes to press, Nick is taking part in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a single-stage mountain ultramarathon that follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc through the Alps of France, Italy and Switzerland – again dressed in 100% Australian Merino wool apparel from Merino Country Australia. Good luck Nick!

Merino wool: nature’s performance fibre