Motatapu makes a successful return
Aotearoa's largest off-road sporting event made a welcome comeback in Wānaka and Arrowtown yesterday, with close to 4000 mountain bikers, runners and walkers lining up to take part in the Motatapu.
It is the first time in three years that the iconic event has been held, with Covid-19 forcing cancellations in 2021 and 2022.
Race Director and co-owner Gemma Peskett says she and her team are absolutely delighted to have the event back on the calendar and to be able to welcome competitors back to the Southern Lakes.
The event provides a unique opportunity to access the stunning high country terrain of the Motatapu valley as competitors traverse the privately-owned Motatapu, Mt Soho and Glencoe Stations which are only accessible to the public one weekend a year, specifically for the Motatapu event.
Motatapu has grown since its inaugural race in 2005 and now includes six events. The ultra runners were the first athletes on course with an early 6am start for the challenging 52.5km run which traverses the ridges and valleys of the Harris Mountain Range.
“Brutal but awesome, I’m pretty chuffed” is how competitor Christian Mawson described his day. Weston Hill was the first man home in an impressive time of 06:04:05.
The UDC Finance Mountain Bike sees the biggest field with 1600 riders tackling the 47km course and the elite racers making it from Glendhu Bay through to Arrowtown in just over two hours.
The men’s podium saw a particularly tight finish with Reef Roberts in first place in 02:10:37 followed by Taz Selfe in 02:12:23, only just beating Joshua Barley in 02:12:24.
Amy McClintock was pleasantly surprised to come away with a win in her age category and second place in the overall women’s MTB field, having only entered the event a week and a half ago.
“We just moved from Christchurch to Wānaka, and I thought it’s a good opportunity to have a go at a local event. So, I didn’t come in with any expectations, but I was really stoked to come out with a win today.
"It’s great being able to ride a track that you can’t ride all the time and being able to start in one area of this great part of Central Otago and finish in Arrowtown is really awesome. Seeing anyone and everyone out getting out and having a go, that’s really cool. People from all walks of life, they all have different reasons for doing it, I think that’s really special.”
Georgina Read was the overall winner of the women’s mountain bike and said: “It’s a great race, it’s nice to be out there doing it again. I just enjoyed racing again, we haven’t done it for a couple of years. I’m really happy about being here doing it with everybody. I’d like to come back again but maybe for the Coronet Loop next time. Something a little bit more technical, and it’s nice to do the new trails.”
Sam Shaw was the winner of the inaugural Coronet Loop Mountain Bike, storming out of the start gate and leading all the way around the 56km circuit to finish almost 16 minutes ahead of anyone else in the field.
“Coronet Loop was absolutely stunning, I had a wonderful day out there,” he said.
Described as “an honest course” by competitor Marie Ford in the Female 60+ category, the Miners Trail also saw some fast finishers and plenty of sweaty but smiling faces. The 15.7km course follows a spectacular loop from Arrowtown, ascending the historic Tobin's Track up onto the Crown Terrace before entering the magnificent Glencoe Station.
“I loved it,” said Marie. “So many good hills, it just keeps on going and going but the view is amazing. It’s an honest course, that’s for sure, but it was awesome.”
There was a great sense of camaraderie out on the marathon course as winner of the women’s category Ella Fry describes. “I met so many people out on the course today. You run past and they start talking to you, ask where you’re from and have a good chat."
Ella was delighted to achieve her goal of a sub four-hour finish, posting a time of 03:41:22. She was met at the finish by her proud mum Leeanne Durry, who won the very first Motatapu marathon event in 2005.
Some 105 junior racers also took on the Jennian Homes Junior Trail Run yesterday, racing around a 4km loop and finishing with the big smiles that suggest many will be lining up again at the start line in years to come.
There was some sadness at the start of the Mountain Bike event, at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka, with the death of a 58-year-old man.
Police were notified about 9.30am, and part of Motatapu Rd was closed for a short period of time.
The death has been referred to the Coroner.
"The Motatapu team worked closely with the emergency services and continue to assist. We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved family."
More photos from the event:
