Willesden Farms

Kaituna Valley | 24th May 2026

Event #1 in the series. Just 30 minutes from Christchurch, Willesden Farms at Kaituna Valley delivers a spectacular Banks Peninsula trail experience shaped by ancient volcanic landscapes, rolling ridgelines, and hidden pockets of native bush. Starting low in the valley, the course climbs steadily through trees and open hill country before bursting onto exposed ridges with sweeping views across Kaitorete Spit, down the coast towards Timaru and over to the Canterbury foothills. Technical in places, flowing in others, and constantly changing, this venue offers a true test of strength and skill — and the perfect stage to launch the series.

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Scenic view of rolling hills and farmland with a dirt path leading through grassy terrain. The landscape shows green fields and dry, brown hills under a partly cloudy sky, with the ocean visible in the distance. Overlaid on the image is a logo reading "Walleden Farms."

Course Options and Details

Expect: hills, mud, rocks and fun.

*Weather may affect the exact course. See terms and conditions. (Link to terms and conditions)

  • Distance: 6km

    Elevation: 275m

    After 600m of flats you’ll head straight up the forest track and it is steep! Traversing along the hillside you will have a chance to look back down the valley and over the ocean. Eventually descending down a fun Zigzag track to the valley floor and back to the start. 

  • Distance: 10km

    Elevation: 360m

    After 600m of flats you’ll head straight up the forest track and it is steep! You’ll climb to a higher point on the ridge than the Sprint course and reach the top along the hill you will have a chance to look back down the valley and over the ocean. Eventually descending down a fun long spur to Ataahua and back along the base to the start. 

  • Distance: 19km

    Elevation: 700m

    After 600m of flats you’ll head straight up the forest track and it is steep! You’ll climb to a higher point on the ridge than the Midi course. Over and across to the top of the next valley eventually dipping into some native bush and a few small creek crossings. Back up, single track and sidling before descending down a fun long spur to Ataahua and back along the base to the start. Epic.

Schedule

7:30am: Registration/Race pack pick up opens (No on the day entries available)

8:45am: Registration closes for Endurance Epic Run and Midi Mountains events

8:50am: Course briefing for Endurance Epic and Midi Mountains at start line (Compulsory)

9:00am: Start time of Endurance Epic Run and Midi Mountains

9:45am: Registration closes for Slope Sprint event

9:50am: Course briefing for Slope Sprint at start line (Compulsory)

10:00am: Start time of Slope Sprint event

2:00pm: Last finishers expected

2:30pm: Event village closes

Compulsory Gear

All gear listed is the minimum requirement to be carried. You can not start the race without it. You must check the weather forecast, dress appropriately.

We may reduce your minimum gear requirements if the weather on the day allows. The pre-race email will notify you of this.

It is winter, it can be very cold and wet! All locations have potential to have snow, rain and temperatures close to zero. We want to run this event in most conditions so please wear the right gear!

All spare clothing must be in a dry bag or plastic snap-lock bag to keep your gear dry until required. If you are warm we can all have fun! When choosing thermal clothing it must be THERMAL e.g. Merino or Polypropylene - NOT sport dry fit clothing e.g. ‘skins’.

Participants may be subject to random gear checks.

Failure to carry compulsory gear may result in disqualification.

  • All participants must carry the following:

    • Waterproof jacket — fully waterproof, seam-sealed, with hood

    • Mobile phone — fully charged and switched on

    • Any personal medication (must be recorded in your entry form)

    Recommended Equipment:

    The following items are strongly recommended:

    • 500mls of water/electrolyte drink

    • Emergency survival foil blanket/bag

    • Lightweight gloves and beanie

    • Thermal mid-layer top

    • Energy snacks (e.g. PURE gels, lollies, bars)

  • All participants must carry the following:

    • Waterproof jacket — fully waterproof, seam-sealed, with hood

    • Thermal base layer top (wool or synthetic)

    • Thermal beanie or hat

    • Mobile phone — fully charged and switched on

    • Any personal medication (must be recorded in your entry form)

    • Energy/nutrition — e.g. lollies or PURE energy gels. Sufficient for your expected duration (typically 1–3 hours)

    • Minimum 500ml of water or sports drink (capacity to carry up to 1000ml recommended)

    Recommended Equipment:

    The following items are strongly recommended, particularly in cold, wet, or windy conditions:

    • Emergency survival foil blanket/bag

    • Thermal gloves

    • Additional warm layer

  • All participants must carry the following:

    • Emergency survival bag (foil bivvy/bag — blankets are not acceptable)

    • Waterproof jacket — fully waterproof, seam-sealed, with hood

    • Thermal base layer top (wool or synthetic)

    • Thermal mid-layer top (warmer than a base layer)

    • Thermal beanie or hat

    • Mobile phone — fully charged and switched on

    • Any personal medication (must be recorded in your entry form)

    • Energy/nutrition — e.g. lollies or PURE energy gels. Sufficient for your expected duration (typically 2–5 hours)

    • Minimum 1 litre of water or sports drink (recommended to start full)

    Recommended Equipment:

    The following items are strongly recommended:

    • Small personal first aid kit

    • Waterproof overtrousers — seam-sealed

    • Thermal gloves

    • Additional warm layer

Aid Stations

Aid Stations are only available for the Midi and Epic course. Actual location may differ if course is changed due to weather. (You will receive an email the day before or at very least at race briefing). There will be drink available at the finish line for all competitors.

At each aid station there will be:

  • PURE Sport Nutrition Electrolyte Drink

  • Plain Water

  • No cups - To help reduce waste and our environmental footprint, we do not provide disposable cups at aid stations. Please carry your own bottle, cup, or hydration system to refill on course. We recommend this cup, or this flask.

Midi Mountains: 1x Aid stations 

Location:

  • 3.3km - High Point in course - Junction with Epic Course

Epic Endurance: 2x Aid stations 

  • 3.3km - Junction with Midi Course

  • 12.2km - Junction (same location as first aid station returning after loop)

Prizes & placegetters

Each event is participation focused with no prizegiving on the day of the events.

Spot prizes will be awarded at random to competitors on event days as they cross the finish line. Runners who complete all four trail running events will compete for series prizes, awarded to the top three male and female finishers within each age group and distance. All are welcome to celebrate the end of the season with a Series prizegiving in late August (date and location TBC).

Event village location*

229 Kaituna Valley Road, Ataahua

*A friendly reminder that the locations are private land. You may only visit this location on race day.

 

Food

Our fundraising group will be providing food for sale on the day.

Please support this group. Cash is the method of payment. 

A landscape view of rolling hills and a valley with green fields, small trees, and a winding dirt path in the foreground. Blue sky with scattered clouds above.
Green grassy hillside with grazing cows, shrubs, and a blue sky with white clouds.
Green rolling hills with scattered rocks and trees, overlooking a large body of water under a cloudy sky.
Green rolling hills under a partly cloudy blue sky.