Veteran triathlete Max Fegan of Townsville won the title for a second time with a time of 39 minutes and 15 seconds, narrowly beating last year's winner, Tim Northy, Ravenshoe, by 18 seconds. Third place went to Tom Gilbert also taking out the first male Flinders Shire resident, followed by Sam Goodwin of Charters Towers.

Tracy Ferris, Mount Isa, was the first lady to cross the finish line in a time of 47 minutes 31 seconds, followed by last years winner Elsie Northy of Ravenshoe in second place, Sonja Schonfeldt-Roy of Townsville, third, and Sasha King of Richmond in fourth place. The first female Flinders Shire resident to cross the finish line was Kaori Waerea.

Junior competitors had a modified course with the under-16s running 4.6km, and this section was won by Ryan Rankine, Prairie, from Sydney Walker of Hughenden. The under-12s ran a 1.4km course with winners being local residents Tayla Hiller and Samuel Piatscheck.

This year's challenge was blessed with perfect weather conditions for the ever changing and challenging course.

The 2009 Porcupine Gorge National Park Challenge was sponsored by Queensland Events, Flinders Shire Council, Wieben Earthmoving, MacDonnells Law, Basalt Electrical, G and C Jones Electrical, FT Foodmart and ANT Helicopters.

ANT Helicopters were again on hand for the challenge and helped to drop supplies and officials to check points and providing scenic flights to the many of the campers and competitors throughout the day.

Organisers had the event running like clockwork and were delighted with the increase in competitor numbers.

Next year they are planning to add a 'Dash for Cash' at Mount Walker on the Sunday morning.

Mount Walker just south of Hughenden will provide a 4.5km run starting at the base of the mountain and finishing at the top and will feature a grueling mountain climb section of over 16 degree gradient.