From the first nervous laughs at the start line to the dusty, slightly delirious smiles at the finish, this year’s event delivered exactly what it promised — a proper mix of chaos, challenge, and good times. Wedderburn turned it on once again, dishing up equal parts beauty and brutality, with terrain that kept everyone honest and the Otago backdrop doing its best to distract from the effort.
The 40k race delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the day, with 25 runners taking on three horses in a true test of endurance and timing.
With the horses starting 15 minutes behind, it set up a fascinating chase. The runners pushed early, knowing they had a head start to defend, while the horses worked to reel them in.
First across the line was Matthew Gummer, finishing in 3 hours 15 minutes. From there, all eyes turned down the course as the tension built.
Ginny Sutton, riding Sass, crossed 11 minutes later. With the staggered start, that gave them a total time of 3 hours 11 minutes — enough to take the lead, but not yet secure the win.
What followed was an anxious wait as Sass underwent the mandatory vet check. To be officially classified, the horse’s heart rate had to drop to 64 beats per minute within 20 minutes.
The crowd gathered as the clock ticked. It took 15 minutes, but Sass got there.
With that, Ginny Sutton was declared the winner — a hard-fought victory that came down to endurance, recovery, and a nerve-wracking finish.
The 25k fun ride/run added a more relaxed element, with 16 runners and 6 riders enjoying the scenery and sharing the trails — a reminder that not every great day out needs to hurt quite so much.
As always, the community made the event. Volunteers, supporters, and spectators brought the energy, and the buffet and evening atmosphere turned tired legs into full bellies and great stories.
Through the event entries, BBQ, Buffet, and auction, a total of $6000 was raised for Maniototo Area School.
With another win to the horses, the human jackpot rolls over again — climbing to $1500 for 2027.
Event photos by Floofy Photography are available for purchase at https://floofyphotography1.shootproof.com/gallery/28698229/album/22605754
Inch Events 