Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event

Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event

March 7 2015
The eleventh annual Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event roared into action today(Saturday March 7, 2015) with 4,567 registered competitors taking to the backcountry with enthusiasm, vigour and excitement.

Despite a wet start to proceedings, competitors embraced the challenging conditions, which were unusually cold and wet. Motatapu race day – usually the first Saturday in March - is typically warm and settled, in keeping with balmy Central Otago temperatures.

However due to heavy rain early in the day and challenging weather conditions, event organisers were required to implement a contingency plan part way through the day that changed the finish point for all races.

High river levels meant it was unsafe for competitors to continue crossing the last river on the course. As a result a course diversion was put in place 2km up the Arrow River which meant competitors completed two different routes on the day.

Due to no cell coverage at the diversion point, final results are not immediately available. The collation of results will therefore take a couple of days, with an announcement on final results early next week.

Please note the results currently online are provisional results only and will change for many athletes.

Finishers were in high spirits, with both elite and non-competitive athletes claiming it was a challenging, but thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience, with many planning to return next year.

ENDS

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