Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We've got you covered - Like that bush that magically appears above the treeline just as you need to go 💩
Here's what we've got for you this week:
Ben Lomond VK results
Shotover Moonlight Marathon results (Say that fast while eating a gel!)
My Worst Run Ever
Upcoming Events: Old Ghost Ultra
Mountain Skag pic of the week
Ben Lomond VK Challenge
Steep from the get go - Photo: Shotover Moonlight Facebook
What an amazing setting for NZ's first-ever official VK (vertical kilometre) sky race. The inaugural Ben Lomond VK kicked off Friday 9 AM under perfect bluebird conditions. Vert fiends lined up on the shores of Lake Moke staring up to the summit of Ben Lomond. And we mean UP. 3.9KM of off-track tussock bashing with 1200M of vertical gain😵. The pre-race chatter "Is sub 60 possible?" came to life in the form of the flying man bun that is Toby Batchelor. He continued his form of 2nd at the Goat last month, to claim victory over travelling American Altra athlete, Kyle Curtin and NZ's Scotty Hawker.
Men's podium:
🥇Toby Batchelor - 59:45
🥈 Kyle Curtin - 1:04:14
🥉 Scott Hawker - 1:04:56
Scott Hawker, Toby Batchelor, Kyle Curtin - On top of the world Photo: Jub Bryant
Women's podium:
🥇 Kate Morrison - 1:09:14
🥈 Hannah - 1:15:31 (Sorry Hannah - my PI skills failed me on the last name)
🥉 Sarah Ostaszewski - 1:16:43
Kate Morrison powering home to victory Video: Jub Bryant
Kate Morrison dominated the women's field from start to finish - here's what she had to say.
I’ve wanted to compete in a VK for a long time now, so I was so stoked to find out Shotover was finally hosting one!It’s so rare that I get to run with complete abandon and unleash the beast. I loved every second of it – the borderline hyperventilating, the insane constant up, the sweat and the rock spine ridges.The course is a unique VK as the terrain is not groomed at all. This meant that choosing the best line was super important for a fast time and I thought the added technical challenge made for an even better event.A massive thank you to Shotover organisers, marshalls and other competitors for an epic weekend, it was so well organized and such a fun time.
Kate Morrison
Shotover Moonlight Results
Over 300 runners lined up across 5 distances to do battle with Ben Lomond High Country Station. And by all accounts, it was quite the battle. They would be taking on 1880's gold mining water races, sheep tracks on razorback ridges, calf-burning climbs and quad-killing descents. The official temperature was 26🌡️, so add another 5 and you'd be about right🥵.
Moonlight Marathon: 📏42K - ⛰️2500M
The Marathon distance is the premier event and arguably the most competitive. Although, someone forgot to tell Jessica Campbell. She finished 15 minutes clear of the field taking 1st women, and 1st overall. Behind Campbell, it was a bit of a lolly scramble; 2nd-9th all finished within 10 minutes of each other.
1st Overall - Jessica Campbell Photo: Shotover Instagram
Women's podium:
🥇Jessica Campbell - 5:35:34 - (🥇 Overall)
🥈Maureen Stachowicz - 5:55:22
🥉Sarah Ostaszewsk - 5:56:20
"Yesterday was a good day on an amazing course. There was a strong women's field that pushed me to give it my all right to the end. I love technical running so the course was fun and having those mountain views just made the day enjoyable, despite the muscle fatigue. Taking the win was the icing on the cake and proof to myself that the training I am putting in is working and I am continuing to grow and improve in this sport that I love. Thanks to the organisers and all of the fantastic volunteers"
Jessica Campbell
Men's podium:
🥇Ben Brown - 5:50:57
🥈James Wharmby - 5:53:10
🥉Kieran Philip - 6:00:13
1st Male & 2nd Overall - Ben Brown Photo: Shotover Instagram
Unfortunately, my reporter in the field spent most of the weekend at Altitude Brewing. So I'm a little short on detail - But here are the official results for the rest of the distances.
Moonlight Ultra: 📏56K - ⛰️3500M
Men's podium:
🥇Sam Mowat - 8:11:31
🥈Daniel Palfreyman - 8:31:02
🥉 Henry Braybrook - 8:37:04
Women's podium:
🥇Veronika Palockova - 9:02:13 - New CR! Congrats Veronika
🥈Grace Mitchell - 9:44:12
🥉Jane Mcalpine - 9:47:04
56K Runners light up at first light Photo: Shotover Moonlight Facebook
Shotover Moonlight Adventure Run: 📏30K - ⛰️1400M
Women's podium:
🥇Laura Wallis - 3:43:03
🥈Lenka Horanska - 4:11:10
🥉Angela Bishop - 4:16:48
Men's podium:
🥇George Hedley - 3:02:55
🥈Robert Drage - 3:32:21
🥉David Stephenson - 3:35:03
The relentless terrain of Ben Lomond Station Photo: Shotover Moonlight Facebook
Shotover Moonlight Half-Marathon: 📏21.1K - ⛰️629M
Men's podium:
🥇Toby Batchelor - 1:36:32 (Also won Ben Lomond VK)
🥈 Brad Geen - 2:06:10
🥉 Phill Jones - 2:08:18
Women's podium:
🥇Eve Kennedy - 2:09:31 (Under 18, young gun alert)
🥈Rachel Duckworth - 2:13:08
🥉Monique Flores - 2:16:35
Photo: Shotover Moonlight Facebook
Shotover Moonlight 10K: 📏10K - ⛰️ 135M
Men's podium:
🥇Matt Foston - 43:29
🥈Karl Ruston - 49:35
🥉Tristan Mannix - 51:09
Women's podium:
🥇Eleanor Bradbury - 46:06
🥈Rose Fitzgerald - 50:49
🥉Sarah Griffin - 59:55
Great turnout and some great racing on one of NZ's toughest courses. The fact you can't access this terrain any other time of the year really should bump this up people's wish list.I've not heard one bad thing said about the race. It's a great way to compete and see what Queenstown has to offer.Altra Elite Athlete Kyle shared his thoughts on his day
Awesome experience overall at the Shotover. The helicopter ride is such a unique experience to start a race. The weather wasn't too bad, and the course was super rugged and techy. Unfortunately, I took a wrong turn halfway through to add a couple of kms, but really loved the trail running community that showed up and supported this iconic race.
Kyle Curtin
My Worst Run Ever
We have our first brave soul! Email your 'Worst Run Ever' to [email protected] or send us a DM on Instagram
"I had been ski touring⛷️ for the last 4 months in Squamish, Canada. I was living my absolute best life. It was spring, and I was out of shape; well... I was A shape. A beer🍺 and chips🍟 kind of shape.I thought I would run up to 'The Chief' (awesome mountain name alert). Turns out, dicking around in the snow doesn't prepare you for uphill running - who would have thought?Long story short, I found myself an hour up the hill with searing pain ripping through my knee. No food or warm clothes. Doh!😮 That was a long walk home in -10 🥶. I wondered who would kill me first - The resident bears 🐻 or my partner Jo, who was running out to meet me ..."
Arran Whiteford - Retold ... Embellished by Bradley Houghton
Each story gets a custom AI generated artpiece
Upcoming Events
Old Ghost Ultra
Saturday 25th of February
The Old Ghost Ultra is one of NZ's premier mountain races. It is a true test of endurance and grit. What else would you expect from the West Coast?
Old Ghost Ultra Facts:
📏85KM🥵2700M of vert🗺️ 1 course, 1 distance⛰️15KM of trails over 1,000M above sea level🧑🤝🧑Capped at 300 runners
It follows the Old Ghost Road from north to south. Starting at the Seddonville end and finishing at Lyell. Runners will work their way up to 1,340M near 'Heavens Door' on the Lyell Range.
2700M of vert is tough enough - But check out the elevation profile. You run a marathon before you even hit the major climb! The race finishes with just over 25K of downhill ... better pack your spare pair of quads - Ouch!
Two-time Old Ghoster Sam Hansby has this to say:
"I’ve done OGU twice now. It’s still the most beautiful ultra I’ve ever done. Fortunately, you run past the best swimming spots before thirsty daydreams start forming in your mind. The thirsties come later (if it's a warm day) at 45k when you start climbing to the highest point of the course following an exposed ridge to some ridiculous views. The final section is bush-clad, downhill and where cramping joins me for the run into the finish. It’s a great event."
Follow along on Instagram or if you want severe FOMO - Check out this video of the 2021 race
Mountain Skag pic of the week
Mountain Joggers from Wellington BSR getting a hit of Tararua Mountain Skag Photo: Martin "Holiday" Grethe
We will be back next week with the Old Ghost Ultra & Southern Lakes Ultra results and more. Tag us on Instagram @trailrunning.nz with all things trail running.If you're picking up what I'm putting down, please subscribe 😀.
PS- Watch this space. The flying Dr David Haunschmidt is racing Old Ghost fresh off his CR at TUM50. This is the longest he's ever raced - if he sticks the landing we could see Matt Flaherty's CR of 6:52:45 broken.