News Update: 8th December 2009
An updated entry form and competitor information are available now, please check the Entry Form page for this information.
News Update: 2nd July 2009
Planning for the 2010 Scanpower Ruahine MTB Challenge are underway, and a date has been set. Book the 20th March in your calendar now. The Entry Form is already available on this website, and further details will be provided soon, so keep checking back!
News Update: 11th December 2008
Details of the 2009 Scanpower Ruahine MTB Challenge are now available on the home page. Entry forms, on the Entry Page where you will also find a map of the three courses being run next year.
News Update: April 1st 2008
The Scanpower Ruahine MTB Challenge was run in weather that couldn't have been more of a contrast from last year. Bright sunshine, and only a slight headwind made everything go much more smoothly. Here are the results...
61 Km Ride
Jackson Green 3.28.49
Bevan King 3.37.04
Phil Etheridge 3.43.33
Carl Paton 3.48.54
Allan Caird 3.52.13
Steve Full 3.54.28
Barry Jowett 3.55.56
Grant Spiers 4.02.34
Ross Mepham 4.05.22
Adrian Gibson 4.17.48
Nick Lowe 4.25.03
Rob Duff 4.45.31
Francene Anderson 4.47.20
James McGuire 4.54.04
Blair Francis 4.55.07
Nathan Hey 4.55.20
Emma Butte 4.59.20
Brett Andrews 5.08.39
Jonathan Block 5.10.04
Buster Curson 5.22.11
Emma McGuire 6.01.30
Paul Critchley 6.29.04
Partly Completed
Larry Burch 3.22.06
Ken Foy 4.05.01
31 km Ride
Glenn Kirk 1.53.13
Jeremy Ballantyne 1.59.12
Colin Knight 2.01.29
Schepper Styn 2.07.42
Raewyn Knight 2.10.31
Mike Talley 2.10.54
Gavin Teahan 2.14.55
Dean Cameron 2.16.08
Barry Rance 2.20.48
Darren Blatchford 2.23.03
Stuart Harvey 2.23.18
Hamish Gollan 2.25.23
Keryn Knight 2.25.33
Sam Haslett 2.25.52
Graham Teahan 2.26.00
Dave Gordon 2.28.00
Gareth Beaumont 2.32.06
Ian Downey 2.32.08
Ron Wallace 2.33.10
Ben McLean 2.34.14
Bruce Reiche 2.37.06
Dudly Hall 2.39.03
Brett Harpham 2.41.53
Ingrid Perols 2.42.23
Jo Brown 2.44.03
Jeff Stephenson 2.46.06
Gary Stutter 2.46.25
Richard Beaumont 2.49.07
Russell Harris 2.50.18
David Lochore 2.52.30
Virginia Lochore 2.52.31
James McKimm 2.58.35
Judy Swainson 3.00.00
Anne Stephenson 3.02.15
Aaron Bowles 3.03.11
Michael Frith 3.04.17
Angela Leatherby 3.06.32
Kay Frith 3.07.16
Ray Teahan 3.08.29
Lee Holdaway 3.14.11
Stuart Telford 3.15.06
Paul McKimm 3.19.07
Muareen Carrol 3.19.50
Steve Canham 3.22.37
Sophie Giddens 3.56.42
Allan Giddens 3.56.42
Clint Brunton 3.56.43
Robin Thompson 3.59.34
Trevor Luke 3.59.35
News Update: February 17th 2008
The Ruahine MTB Challenge is now just under a month away, so get in quick and fill in your entry form now!
News Update: May 14th 2007
One of the welcoming signs to the Taruara District invites you to ‘experience the elements’ and that’s exactly what happened on the inaugural Ruahine Challenge.
Weeks of hot summer weather and no wind lasted up until a week before the 17th March, then the elements brought rain and strong winds. On Friday, track marking day, it was blustery but ok until the morning of the 17th dawned with wind and rain along the ranges and poor visibility. Bikers arrived at the Umutaoroa Hall, on the outskirts of Dannevirke, looking less than enthusiastic but the call was made to get on the bus and proceed to the Saddle Road windfarm start point. Amidst light showers and blustery conditions the field of 41 riders started the long course of 61.2 km at around 9.30 am.
Weather conditions improved and confidence grew that the whole course could be ridden. The short course (30 km) started at Coppermine Road with 36 riders. The high points at top of Bonds farm and top of Skye farm gave riders a taste of Tararua’s windy elements and some sideways riding was experienced. But hey, this is mountain country! Tararua TV has put together a DVD of the event which is available for $20. Contact George Proctor Tararua Television, P.O. Box 89 Pahiatua or gp.graphic@xtra.co.nz if you would like a copy.
The course starts among the windmills of Te Apiti windfarm on farm tracks through some quite spectacular country varying from rolling down land to gullies and hills. Challenging down hill runs and climbs with near level sections between. Then along 2.5 kms of sealed road to Coppermine Road and back into farm land following the base of the Ruahines through streams and pasture land. A stiff climb up to 500 m ASL to the top of Bonds farm gave spectacular views from right on the bush line down over the plains land to Dannevirke. This point is about the 40 km mark for the long course and half way for the short course. Then followed a swift descent along grassy tracks to Law Road and across country again to West Tamaki Road where the short course veered off down to Top Grass Road and back to the Umutaoroa. Hall. For 15 riders however the real challenge was about to begin. 7 km of gravel road to the end of East Tamaki Road saw the start of an awesome uphill ride to nearly 700 m ASL at the top of Skye Farm. Then the reward of a long, quite technical, downhill run before coming out onto Te Kakapo Valley road and a couple of km’s of sealed road to the hall.
A BBQ and liquid refreshment went down very well for tired bodies and worked over legs! 76 riders finished with the fastest times of 3.31.46 by Gary Hall for the long course and 1.59.58 by Graham Jensen for the short course. Tandem riders Jackson Green and Rose Johnson did the long course in 4.00.02 despite having to mend a puncture.
The prize draw was eagerly awaited. Ken Foy of Havelock North won the mountain bike while the $1000 travel voucher was won by a local rider. 60 other prizes ranging from an angle grinder to petrol vouchers all donated by Dannevirke businesses were well received.
Feedback on the day and subsequently by email has been very positive.
"Just some feedback on the race. I thought it was a
fantastic event, really well run and with a good hard course
that provides a challenge for even the fittest riders. The
barbeque afterwards also added a lot to the atmosphere, and
for only $55 the whole thing was a bargan. Thanks a lot for
making such a good event."
"Thanks again for a great event first up. The enthusiasm and helpfulness of your marshalls, helpers and organisation team ensured that competitors will go away and promote your event to fellow mountain bikers to ensure a bigger and better field next year. The complimentary food and refreshments at the end were gratefully enjoyed by all. On behalf of other competitors please pass on our thanks to all involved"
Planning is underway for next year’s challenge. Watch this space.