A team of four led by course planners Ross Bidmead and Greg Thurlow was on its way at 9pm, two hours after the scheduled finish. From the road-end they expected to take two hours to reach Pukeatua, a distance of 6km with 700m climb. Everything went according to plan, although Ross reported difficulties following the intermittent track in the dark. The party was back at the Ngatiawa Camp base in Reikorangi by 3am.
Meanwhile Glen Warner and Debbie Mansfield, who retired early from the world rogaine with heat sickness, got their revenge with a fine win in the 12-hour section. With the big-pointers near Kapakapanui (1100m) and Pukeatua, they bucked the trend with a double crossing of the 500m hills above Waikanae, before looping through Kapakapanui Hut which is 200m below the summit. They were 80 points clear of Mike Sheridan and Ben Clendon who traversed Kapakapanui to Maymorn Junction, went down the Waiotauru River almost to Otaki Forks, and back over Pukeatua.
The 6-hour category was won by father-and-son Leo and Bernie Homes by 30 points from Simon Faulkner and David Rohan. The teams covered a near-identical loop through Kapakapanui Hut, though in opposite directions!
Full results when the organiser has caught up on sleep - see the event website.