More than 2,500 people took to the hills in Wānaka and Arrowtown yesterday (Saturday March 1) for New Zealand’s biggest off-road sporting event, the Motatapu. 

With five events on offer - including a 52km ultra run, a 42km trail marathon, 47km mountain bike, 15km trail run and 4km kids’ trail run - the event provides an opportunity for first-time competitors and hardened weekend warriors to mix it up alongside elite athletes.  

The marathon and mountain bike courses pass through the Motatapu, Soho, and Glencoe high-country stations which are opened to the public exclusively for the event each year.

The ultra runners were the first on course, starting their day in the darkness at 6am at Glendhu Bay before traversing the long and steep saddles, river crossings and 3,000m of cumulative climbing across the Harris Mountain Range to finish in Arrowtown.

Dean Stewart won the men’s Motatapu Ultra.

The event was won by Dean Stewart (21), whose strategy was to “cover as much ground as possible before the sun came up”. He won in 06:30:06; with 2017 Motatapu Ultra winner Majell Backhausen in second place (06:34:08) and Douglas Golding third (06:40:54).

Hannah Wall stepped up from a second-place finish in 2024 to take the win in the women’s Ultra field in a time of 06:57:52, well over an hour ahead of second place finisher Ashley Hawks. Lisa Macfarlane was third.

While the ultra-runners tested their stamina, it was all about the speed in the elite mountain biking field. Cameron Jones made short work of the 47km course through the Motatapu Valley, finishing in a time of 01:49:23, a couple of minutes shy of the course record of 1:47:53 set by Dirk Peters in 2013. 

Hannah Wall won the women’s Ultra field.

Sam Fox was a close second in 01:50:36 with 2024 U19 XCO National Champ Eddie Adams in third with 01:54:43. 

2024 U23 Cross Country National Champion Maria Laurie blitzed the women’s mountain bike field, winning in a time of 02:19:54 ahead of local mountain bike legend Kim Hurst on 02:34:47 and Danielle Donaldson in third place on 02:35:20. 

A competitive ebike category was added to the roster for the 2025 Motatapu with Layton Craig winning the inaugural title in the men’s field with a time of 01:52:03, followed by Lloyd Ferguson in second and Andrew Westray third. Karlene Atlee took the honours in the women’s competitive ebike field with a time of 02:36:02, Diane Craig in second and Madonna Harris third. 

The Miner’s Trail Run, a 15km walk or run through the Arrowtown hills - with over 800m of climbing, was won by Wānaka’s Luke Wilson in a time of 01:13:46.  

Motatapu Marathon winner Benje Paterson.

Jack McKay finished second in 01:17:30 with Lee Cook third in 01:18:35. 

Queenstown local Hayley Holmes topped the podium in the women’s Miner’s Trail, posting a winning time of 01:39:04 with Dympna Boland second and Jess Hardwood third. 

Two hundred children took part in the 4km Junior Trail Run.

Arrowtown local Benje Paterson won the Motatapu Marathon in a time of 03:04:11; Edward Eaton finished second in the Motatapu Marathon with Ben Hennessy third. 

Lining up for her very first marathon, Marina Ferguson won the women’s marathon field in a time of 03:28:20. Ella Scott finished in second place in a time of 03:34:31 with Emma Gutheinz third in 03:39:59. 

Two hundred competitors aged from 7 to 15 years old took on the 4km Junior Trail Run, with Niko Gardiner and Libby Fleck zooming around the course in impressive times of 00:16:13 and 00:18:09 to win their respective male and female categories. 

PHOTOS: Supplied