Hannah Oldroyd Wins Sixth Queenstown Marathon Title, Ciaran Faherty Claims His First

British and Irish runners dominated today’s New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Queenstown Marathon presented by ASICS as Christchurch-based Brit Hannah Olroyd claimed an incredible sixth title, while Ireland’s Ciaran Faherty won his first.

With the event celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Oldroyd’s win today means she’s won six out of 10 Queenstown Marathon titles, and now four on the bounce. Oldroyd was in a class of her own, taking the tape in 2:52:53 and 14 minutes clear of Amy Daniel in second. Claire Horner rounded out the women’s marathon podium.

“I just went out with the intention to enjoy it because I usually have a really bad last 10km, so I just went out with the intention of feeling good at 30km and then just meandering to the end,” said Oldroyd. “So, it was pretty good. I just went out pretty slow, ran with some of the guys around the lake, had a chat there, it was good.”

With six Queenstown Marathon’s under her belt, Oldroyd says the event just keep getting better and better, with the support out on course this year on another level.

“The trails were amazing actually, because we walked Lake Hayes yesterday and there was an ankle-deep puddle, so I was waiting to get my feet wet, but that metal bridge organisers put out was literally the moment of the day, apart from getting a cuddle from my dog at 7km to go.

“The course, the support was amazing, I think that was the best it's ever been because the noise through town, that was insane. I'm not very emotional, but I did get a bit that way. That was really cool,” she said. “The feeling coming down the finish chute was pretty good because it was so loud. Went a bit wide from the corner, and nearly fell over again, but it was awesome.”

In the men’s marathon, Auckland-based Irish runner Ciaran Faherty claimed his first Queenstown Marathon victory after finishing fourth last year. Faherty ran the 42.2km course in 2:34:05 to finish over two minutes ahead of Orestas Rimkus, with the Lithuanian bettering his third-place finish from last year. Third place went to Clinton Manderson in 2:42:38.
“It's cool to win on the 10th anniversary, I’m happy,” said Faherty. “I didn't plan to go so early, I ran with the guy in second for 25km, but then it seemed like I was pulling a real gap, so I just carried on with that gap.

“The course was perfect, the trails were unbelievable. I was a bit worried about flooding, but the course was fab, the fans were so good, running past the boat shed, oh my god, incredible atmosphere. So good.”

In the La Roche Posay Half Marathon Taonga Mbambo made a hugely impressive event and distance debut, smashing the course record by nearly a minute to take the tape in 1:06:29.

“Yeah, I feel good. It’s my first ever half marathon, so I just wanted to come out and give it a solid go. I'm pretty happy with how it went,” said Mbambo. “It was good, really challenging. That's what I wanted to do, is to come and challenge myself. New distance, not really a course that's known for running fast, but just come out and try a new distance and enjoy it.

In a tight and exciting men’s race which saw a pack of about six runners stay together for most of the 21.1km course, Mbambo patiently bided his time and chose his moments to press on when he felt others were struggling.

“It was good to run with the group, it makes it really easy when you're running with so many people. I was just trusting my instincts and trying to hear when people felt like they were breathing hard or struggling a little bit, then that was my cue to push and try to break them,” he said.

“I felt like I was in pretty good shape, it was all about just running with as much composure as I could, running with as much poise as I could. Then when I felt like it was time to go, just trust my instincts.”

Christopher Dryden finished less than a minute behind Mbambo in 1:07:04, with Alex Harvey just 40 seconds further back in third.

Like Mbambo, Maya Irving added a new name to the list of Queenstown Half Marathon champions this weekend as she claimed a breakout win in 1:22:51. Katie Morgan, who finished third in 2023, elevated herself up the podium this year to finish second, while Australian Olympic Games representative Madeline Heiner finished third in 1:24:00.

“It’s my first time running in Queenstown. Honestly, highly recommend, must do in New Zealand. I love the undulations and the few little climbs, but flat and fast towards the end especially and just gorgeous,” said Irving.

“My race went to plan. I found myself at the front and thought oh well, as long as I'm feeling comfortable, this is fine, I guess. I mean, all racing is the same, sit in behind and wait to strike, which I did in the last few km’s and that worked out well.”

Irving couldn’t contain her excitement at taking out the win as she crossed the finish line, in what was her first half marathon since high school.

“It’s such an awesome start, I'm still in shock,” she said. “I did a little bit of running over in the States. I was a 5km runner, cross country by trade over there in Oregon. I've taken a year and a bit off and just been enjoying stringing together some big weeks, but just always having fun with it.

“This is maybe a little resurgence for something that I thought was pretty behind me. But as long as you stay stoked with it, then why not get a little bit more competition under the belt? Looking forward to another marathon, maybe.”

Another Queenstown Marathon record tumbled today, with Oli Chignell blasting his way to the men’s 10km title in just over 30 minutes to break the existing record that has stood since 2018 by more than two minutes. Beth Garland took out the women’s 10km title in 37:44.

More than 12,500 registered participants tackled the world’s most beautiful marathon today across four distances, the New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Marathon, La Roche Posay Half Marathon, 10km and Kids Run.

Women’s Marathon
1 – Hannah Oldroyd (Christchurch) 2:52:53
2 – Amy Daniel (Sydney) 3:07:04
3 – Claire Horner (Tauranga) 3:09:50

Men’s Marathon
1 – Ciaran Faherty (Queenstown) 2:34:05
2 – Orestas Rimkus (Christchurch) 2:36:27
3 – Clinton Manderson (Nelson) 2:42:38

Women’s Half Marathon
1 – Maya Irving (Christchurch) – 1:22:51
2 – Katie Morgan (Wanaka) – 1:23:58
3 - Madeline Heiner (Melbourne) – 1:24:00

Men’s Half Marathon
1 – Taonga Mbambo (Ashburton) – 1:06:29
2 – Christopher Dryden (Auckland) – 1:07:04
3 – Alex Harvey (Noosa) – 1:07:43

Women’s 10km
1 – Beth Garland (Emsworth, UK) 37:44
2 – Kate Todd (Brisbane) 38:11
3 – Alexandra Hawke (Christchurch) 39:56

Men’s 10km
1 – Oli Chignell (Dunedin) 30:44
2 – Joshua Lovely (Timaru) 35:33
3 – Tom Fahey (Dunedin) 35:41