The MLT Moonshine Trail made a successful return to the events calendar yesterday (25 Feb).

After the 2022 event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, Southland’s biggest mountain biking and off-road running event returned to the picturesque surroundings of Dolamore Park, near Gore.

Nearly 500 participants took part across six categories, which included a new NRG-sponsored 2km family-friendly walk/run.

Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey said it was great to see the eastern Southland community supporting the event, with participants also coming from across Southland, Otago, Central Otago and as far away as England, with Bristol’s Wes Clarke enjoying himself in the Shoe Clinic 15km event.

“Events like this take a lot of work to pull together and we have almost our entire team involved on the day,” Hughey said.

“We rely heavily on local support as well, including our new and long-standing sponsors, and the landowners who add a lot of character to the event by providing once-a-year access to their properties.”

MLT board member Vince Aynsley said the licensing trust was proud to support an event like the MLT Moonshine Trail.

“As a trust we are a community-owned asset and supporting community events like this is a key part of what we do.”

Gene Marsh was first male home in the demanding Crossroads Cycles 50km mountain bike event, with Sarah Moreton winning the women’s category.

Registrations are now open for Active Southland’s next event, the More FM Surf to City on March 12, which is also returning to its traditional one-day format after being run as a multi-day festival last year due to Covid-restrictions.

Provisional results

MLT 5km:

Men: Mac Heapi 24:58 1, Stan Hunter 25:15 2, Max Wiegersma 27:46 3.

Women: Lili Gemmill 28:22 1, Manasseh Verkaik 28:24 2, Tiffany Richardson 32:17 3.

Shoe Clinic 15km:

Men: Kelvin Meade 1:09:59 1, Jason Russell 1:14:56 2, Matt Green 1:16:10 3.

Women: Margie Campbell 1:12:38 1, Lauren Johnston 1:19:50 2, Debbie Rankin 1:25:33 3.

Ewan Allan Honda 30km:

Men: Anthony Brown 1:37:41 1, Jeremy Byars 1:40:55 2, Michael Boomer 1:40:56 3.

Women: Jess Rabbitte 1:56:46 1, Sarah Doak-Stride 2:04:53 2, Nadia Lyders 2:09:29 3.

Southland Isuzu 39km:

Men: Gerard Watson 2:08:44 1, Edwin Wiegersma 2:14:49 2, Bruce Haynman 2:16:38 3.

Women: Paige Clark 2:31:37 1, Paula Hedges 2:37:53 2, Anna Burrell 2:45:50 3.

CrossRoad Cycles 50km:

Men: Gene Marsh 2:23:33 1, Justin Roy 2:25:46 2, Liam O’Rourke 2:27:47 3.

Women: Sarah Moreton 3:07:05 1, Rachael Tarson 3:09:44 2, Teresa Noble 3:11:32 3.