Course Description

What’s it Like?

This route has all sorts and is very runnable! The first half is where you’ll find the high country and the second half the large open plains.

Roughly half the route is off-trail and the rest on trail or 4WD tracks. Most of the off-trail is through paddocks that are smooth, firm and runnable. The Water Race is winding but fast. A couple of small sections are pushing through some tussock and one of those sections (Jeffery’sHill, up to Long Ridge) also has a few prickly things to dodge. The runners will be hoping this slows the horses like it did Jeffery!

There’s also about 12km (in two sections) trotting along the Mt Ida Water Race (there’s info about that on the Maniototo page). Some say the water race is good to drink but we have seen a few dead animals in it and Chris tried some and got crook guts for 3 weeks – best avoided and wait for the aid stations… you have been warned!

The route crosses over the Ewe Burn, the Wether Burn (twice) and the Ida Burn (twice) – you might miss them as they don’t have a lot of water! Have some respect though; those little trickles later become part of something big! The Ida Burn drains into the Clutha River and the Wether Burn and Ewe Burn drain into the Taieri River – something to ponder as you trot along.

One of our favourite parts of the course is the large open plateau in the final 7 kms, it is exactly what you’d expect of the Maniototo Plains.

What’s the Route?

25k and 40k

The Race Base is at the Wedderburn Cottages, across the road from the Wedderburn Tavern. Starting at the Race Base, Only Fools and Horses follows a spectacular 40km route with about 900m of vert across private land where almost every 5kms is different.

Leaving Wedderburn riders and runners follow markers through open farm paddocks up to the historic Mt Ida Water Race. Follow this Race downstream to the West Eweburn Dam Aid Station, then trot along the edges of the Dam and enter a beautifully unique Silver Birch Forest.

Wind your way through this forest to find a steep but short pinch up Jeffery’s Hill onto Long Ridge. This ridge is mostly runnable with spectacular views of Little Mt Ida and the Ida Range. At the top a marshal will point you in the direction of a 4WD track towards the highest point of the course at 950m. Here spectators will be cheering you on through the High-Top Aid Station.

Enjoy the descent (mostly) down 4WD tracks through some amazing golden tussock fields to the Derelict Building for the next Aid Station, and for the horses, a vet check (for the 40k horses).

40k only

From the Derelict Building cross a couple of farm paddocks along side the Wether Burn, then cross and climb back up onto the Mt Ida Water Race but this time heading up-stream. Wind your way along the Race another 6km through large open country until a marshal will direct you left through some tussock paddocks and up onto Seagull Hill, a rather nondescript but none the less scenic hill. The descent crossing over the Ida Burn will bring you to the last Aid Station on Little Mt Ida Rd.

The final 7kms are some of the most open, giving you the chance to hunt down your competition. Head over some paddocks before crossing a magnificent wide open plateau before a final wee climb up onto the last spur, where you will start to hear the cheers of supporters and get a view over Wedderburn before dropping down to the finish line at the Race Base.

See map below.

Here’s a downloadable gpx file you can download to your phone or watch.

25k only

After the Derelict Building, you cut across some paddocks to join the 40k route to cross a magnificent wide open plateau before a final wee climb up onto the last spur, where you will start to hear the cheers of supporters and get a view over Wedderburn before dropping down to the finish line at the Race Base.

See map below.

Here’s a d ownloadable gpx file you can download to your phone or watch.