One Month To Go: Who To Watch At Motatapu 2026

With just over one month to go until the Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event returns on Saturday 7 March, anticipation is building for one of New Zealand’s most iconic endurance events.

Established in 2005, Motatapu has earned its reputation as a bucket-list challenge, drawing a unique mix of elite athletes, weekend warriors, first-time competitors and junior runners. Set between Wānaka and Arrowtown, the event opens private high-country stations to the public for one day only — offering an experience unlike any other.

As entries continue to climb towards an expected 2,500 participants, we take a look at who will be lining up across Motatapu’s major events in 2026.

Rab 52km Ultra Run

The women’s Ultra field will once again be led by Hannah Wall, who delivered one of the most commanding performances of Motatapu 2025. Wall won the women’s Ultra and finished fifth overall in a time of 6:57:32, placing more than 40 minutes ahead of the next finisher and over an hour clear of the second woman.

Also returning is Luke Wilson, who finished second overall in the Ultra in 2024 before backing it up with a Miners Trail victory in 2025, making him one of the most versatile athletes on the start list.

Other names to watch include Chester Holt Quick, fourth in the Ultra in 2025, and Benje Patterson, who steps up to the Ultra after winning the Trail Marathon last year.

47km Mountain Bike

Women’s course record holder Kate Boe (née Fluker) returns in 2026. A former national mountain bike champion and Commonwealth Games representative, Boe set the current course record of 2:08:31 in 2014 — a time that still stands today.

While Boe insists she’s “just here to enjoy the views” this time around, few are convinced the competitive instinct won’t kick in once she’s on the start line.

Also lining up are Black Magic Team riders Michaela Rogan and Lily Havard, both making the transition from road racing to mountain biking. Rogan returns to her off-road roots after racing in Europe, while Havard — a U19 road and track cyclist — impressed at Motatapu 2025 with a third-place finish in her age group.

Veteran competitor Kim Hurst, a former New Zealand representative cyclist and 2014 World 24-Hour Solo MTB Champion, is also back. Balancing parenthood, full-time work and

training, Hurst says she’s “trying to hang on to the watts” — with rumours suggesting the Crown Range has become part of her commute.

Danielle Donaldson, third in 2025, also returns for another shot.

Enduro World Cup racer Matthew Fairbrother is the hot favourite in the men’s field. Fairbrother made his name as a teenager by bikepacking between Enduro World Cup stops in Europe, riding hundreds of kilometres self-supported. He repeated that approach at the NZ MTB Rally in 2024 — riding between stages and winning the overall title. This could be the year Dirk Peters’ Motatapu course record of 1:47:53, set in 2013, is finally broken.

Trail Marathon

The Trail Marathon field includes familiar names and world-class talent — led by the return of Scott Hawker. One of New Zealand’s most accomplished mountain and ultra-trail athletes, Scotty is no stranger to Motatapu. He raced the Trail Marathon in 2023, finishing an impressive second place, and returns in 2026 with a formidable résumé.

Internationally, Scotty is best known for his performances at the UTMB World Series, home to the biggest and most competitive mountain races on the planet. His achievements include a second place at CCC — a 101km mountain race that forms part of the UTMB festival in Chamonix — and a third place at UTMB itself, the iconic 171km loop around Mont Blanc regarded as the world championship of ultra-trail running. He also holds multiple Ultra-Trail World Tour top-10 finishes.

Also lining up is Hamish Elliott, the 2024 Coast to Coast champion and multiple-time winner of the Challenge Wānaka Multi. If recovered well from this year’s Coast to Coast, Elliott will be another strong contender and an exciting addition to the men’s field.

Returning for another crack is Edward Eaton, runner-up in 2025 and fresh off a New Zealand Long Course Championship victory. With growing momentum and a love for the high country, Eaton will again be chasing a top result.

The women’s race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Marina Ferguson returns after a fairytale debut in 2025, where she won the Marathon in her first-ever attempt at the distance.

Joining her is Crystal Brindle, who claimed victory in the 2024 Ultra, winning ahead of Hannah Wall — an achievement that firmly marks her as one to watch in 2026.

Another standout name is running legend Mel Aitken, with the 2015 and 2016 Motatapu Marathon champion, making her long-awaited return to the event.

UDC Finance Miners Trail

While shorter than the other running events, the Miners Trail has never been considered easy — and in 2026, the stakes are higher than ever.

For the first time, the event offers prize money, with $500 awarded to the first male and female overall finishers, aligning it with Motatapu’s other major races. The Miners Trail is also part of the newly launched Kea Mountain Run Series and is an official UTMB Index race, attracting a deep field.

Among those to watch in the men’s field are Cameron Swales, a Canterbury-based athlete transitioning from track and road who recently won the 27km Luxmore Grunt in one of the fastest times in the event’s history; and Sagar Khemani, a Dunedin-based runner who has represented India at two World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

In the women’s race, 2025 winner Hayley Holmes returns to defend her title and will face strong competition from several high-profile athletes. Katie Morgan, a three-time Kepler Challenge champion and national short-course titleholder, is back from injury and targeting shorter, faster races as part of her rebuild. Jessie Speedy, who competes on the Mountain Running World Cup circuit and recently placed 28th at the World Mountain & Trail Championships in the 14km Up & Down race, also lines up for 2026. Joining them is Sarah Douglas, the women’s course record holder (1:29:01, 2023), returning once again to test herself on the Arrowtown hills.

More than elite racing

While elite performances capture headlines, Motatapu remains an event for everyone. With the right preparation, each course is achievable — for those racing for a podium, chasing a personal goal, or simply soaking up the scenery.

Motatapu also celebrates its Legend Competitors, awarding trophies to the oldest finisher in each event. In 2025, 70-year-old Wolfgang Braun - who travelled all the way from Germany for the event - earned the Ultra Run Legend title, finishing in 10:27:08, with his wife Marion close behind.

Race Director and event owner Gemma Peskett says the diversity of participants is what makes Motatapu special:

“Motatapu has always been about bringing people together — from elite athletes to first-timers. Seeing around 2,500 people line up next month, all with their own reasons for being there, is what makes this event so special.”

© Scoop Media