The 18th edition of the MLT Moonshine Trail, Southland’s largest mountainbike and offroad running event, was a success despite the damp conditions on Saturday (Feb 10).

Based in the beautiful surrounds of Dolamore Park, near Gore, the mountainbike and offroad running/walking event also includes once-a-year access to seven private properties and the famous Hokonui Hills.

Originally the brainchild of former Active Southland Eastern activator Richard Pasco, now owner of local bike shop CrossRoads Cycles, the event has been running since 2006, with only the 2022 version having to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

Over 300 participants braved the unseasonable rain and wind across seven categories, from the free 2km walk through to the challenging 50km mountainbike event.

Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey-Pol said it was great to see the eastern Southland community supporting the event.

“With quite a bit of rain falling on the day, everyone got a real event experience and it was great to see the smiles from people coming across the finish line - albeit with a bit more mud involved than usual. One competitor who was doing their eighth Moonshine said it was the hardest one they had done with the conditions, so there was some real resilience on display,” she said.

Craig Fairburn (Wyndham) riding in the MLT Moonshine Trail on Saturday. Photo: Supplied

The MLT have been the naming sponsor for the event since its inception, just one example of the great support that goes into making the event possible, Hughey-Pol said.

“Special mention has to go to our local volunteers John Henry and Mike Johnston who do a lot of work behind the scenes, including setting up the course.

“We rely heavily on local support, 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.”

Registrations are now open for Active Southland’s next event, the Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City on March 10.

Provisional Results

MLT 5km:

Men: 1 Craig Iverson 23:55; 2 Hudson Roy 24:56; 3 Stan Hunter 25:06.

Women: 1 Kimberley Iverson 27:29; 2 Lily Gemmell 28:17; 3 Alice Roy 32:17.

Shoe Clinic 15km:

Men: 1 George Hamilton 1:00:42; 2 Ben Pigou 1:08:21; 3 Russell McKay 1:11:46.

Women: 1 Anna Frampton 1:20:42; 2 Sam Dodd 1:25:11; 3 Mannasseh Versaik 1:28:05.

The Good Tech Team 30km e-bike:

Men: 1 Nikolai Whelan 1:07:27; 2 Robert Kerber 1:17:21; 3 Darren Coombs 1:22:04.

Women: 1 Megan Lindsay 2:29:28.

Ewan Allan Honda 30km:

Men: 1 Richard Templeton 1:51:42; 2 Nigel Terry 2:05:33; 3 Romel Pascual 2:07:42.

Women: 1 Toni Eade 2:07:41; 2 Keryn Kean 2:23:37; 3 Catherine Frantz 2:29:27.

Southland Isuzu 39km:

Men: 1 Joe McDowall 2:12:20; 2 Fraser Dawson 2:20:19; 3 Hunter Kingsford-Smith 2:20:48.

Women: 1 Paige Clarke 2:40:04; 2 Angela Rye 3:05:38; 3 Allanah White 3:24:38.

CrossRoad Cycles 50km:

Men: 1 Toby Roberts 2:26:28; 2 Joshua Haggerty 2:35:12; 3 Gene Marsh 2:35:21.

Women: 1 Rachel Tarson 3:24:35; 2 Sarah Moreton 3:27:26; 3 Hannah Wilson 3:34:09.