People travelled from all over the state to participate in the iconic event which consists of multiple river crossings, jumping and running over rocky crevices and a one kilometre hill climb at the end of the race. 

Brothers Mark and Chris Thinee and Claire Lehmann lined up along with the other 160 competitors near the pyramid at the bottom of the gorge.

Once the juniors had left it was a mass start for the senior competitors and admiration for the sandstone cliffs and rock pools quickly disappeared as the front runners set out at a cracking pace, jumping up and down the sometimes waist high rock walls in the cold of the early morning.

Fellow club member, Michael Palmer, said Mark Thinee stuck to race plan and kept the front markers in sight and closed the gap until the halfway turn around point where he took the lead.

“Further back in the field Claire Lehmann and Chris Thinee were side by side in the race, neither wanting to give out as they had a wager on which one of them would come in first,” Palmer said

“Mark Thinee continued in the lead with last years winner Tim McGrath right on his heels till the start of the hill climb which is the ultimate test in the race.

“Mark knew it was make or break from here and put the hammer down till he chanced a look behind himself a third of the way up with McGrath nowhere in sight.

“He held onto the lead till the finish crossing the line in 40min 19secs, the first Mount Isan to ever win the challenge race.”

Behind him Claire Lehmann and Chris Thinee continued their battle with Lehmann prevailing as she got in touch with her inner mongrel and hammered up the hill to take out third place for open ladies in a time of 57.03min.

Chris got the consolation prize of trophy bearer for younger brother Mark, which he nearly carried to the car before dropping and breaking it on the 30 step journey to the vehicle.

Porcupine Gorge Challenge is an annual event and all three Isans are eager to do it again next year.