King & Queen of the Withers 2025

Saturday 11 January 2025

King & Queen of the Withers 2025

Run or fun walk or both this popular 10k hill race in the Wither Hills farm park, Blenheim. Great views over the town across to Taylor Pass and a challenging but fun course attracts participants of all abilities, from first timers giving it a go to some of New Zealand’s top runners.

The winner and titleholder for King of the Withers and Queen of the Withers will be the first male and first female home in the run and will come from any grade.

Online entry $25: Entering online gives you the pleasure and safety of having entered and paid so all you have to do on race day is pick up your race number avoiding the on the day entry queue.
Enter on the day $25

Grades

JUNIORS | Under 20
SENIORS | Under 35
VETERANS | 35+

Registration

Online entries not open yet

Entries on the day from 07:00am at the Rifle Range car park on Rifle Range Place, Blenheim. To save you time and having to fill in the entry form, access the printable entry form here and bring to the registration desk.
Bring cash as there is no EFT-POS
Race numbers for both online and on the day entries available at the registration desk.
Race briefing immediately before each event starts.
Registration opens on race day 7am.

Sausage sizzle will be available.
Coffee Cart on site.

Course Description

The course starts from the Rifle Range car park heading up towards the Quail stream car park on the farm track before turning right and crossing Quail stream on the small footbridge beside the car park, looping back on a track though the trees.

After a short downhill a left turn leads to a steep climb up the ridge to the rotary lookout, the course then continues on the ridge, past the twin tanks, climbing along the Taylor View Track before taking a left turn and heading downhill on the Reservoir Ridge track and then forking left down the Upper Harling Park track.

At the bottom of the Upper Harling track another left turn leads down a short hill back towards the Quail Stream car park, finally once more across the Quail Stream footbridge and downhill all the way back to the finish.

Click here for a large printable map of the course.

Prize Giving

At the venue following the event.

Performance prize for King of the Withers plus Queen of the Withers following the event.

Spot prizes open to all.

details

Start Times
Fun Walkers 7:30am | This category is social walking all the way.
Hybrid – Run/Walk 8:00am | Those entrants who compete and finish in a time under 60 minutes, will automatically be transferred to the main running event. This rule is in for fairness to all.
Runners 8:30am

Previous Winners & Race Records
Results: (2024 not held) 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

Winners and Record Holders

More Information

The event was first held in 1977 as the King of the Withers and contested by male runners only. In 1992 it was opened up to female runners and renamed the King and Queen of the Withers. Originally the course started in the CBD, went into the Wither Hills and then returned to town. Increased traffic and housing developments meant several changes have had to be made to the course in 2004 and now it is run totally within the Wither Hills Farm Park area. Further innovations saw separate male, female and walker events introduced in 2003, a hybrid (walk/run) section introduced in 2009, plus business house and married couples’ teams sections. 2018 we deleted Married Couples and Business House through lack of numbers registering for these categories. A children’s race was added 2017. Children’s race was deleted from 2020 event because of lack of interest for various reasons.