FROM A SMALL TUKITUKI TRAIL EVENT TO THE WORLD STAGE

What started in Waipukurau just three years ago as a relatively small local ultramarathon, the River Run Backyard Ultra, has now become part of one of the world's most remarkable running events.

On Saturday, 17 October, (Sunday 18 October in NZ) 1,110 athletes representing 74 countries will line up around the world for the 2026 Big's Backyard Ultra World Team Championship — and one of those official international events will be held right here in Waipukurau.

The connection is a remarkable one.

The River Run Backyard Ultra was first held on the Tukituki Trails in 2023, attracting around 50 runners to Central Hawke's Bay for the inaugural event. Competitors ran a 6.7km loop, setting off again at the beginning of every hour, with the race continuing until only one runner remained.

Now, three years later, the local River Run is part of a worldwide championship.

At precisely the same moment around the globe, runners will leave their starting lines and begin a 6.706km lap. Every country stages its own event, but the clock is the same everywhere. The 2026 championship starts at 12.00 UTC, which is 1.00am New Zealand time on Sunday 18 October.

Each country fields a team of 15 runners. Unlike a conventional team race, every one of those 15 athletes counts towards the national team's score. Their individual performances are added together to produce the country's total. At the same time, the runners are competing individually, with the last athlete standing in each national event becoming that country's individual champion and receiving an invite to the following years Big's Backyard Ultra World Individual Championship held in Tennessee USA.

The current record is 119 laps – that’s 119 hours and 798kms over 5 days!!  The NZ team came 6th overall at the last World Team Championships and this year are poised to do even better with current world number 2 (Sam Harvey) in the team along with 14 other incredible athletes.

And that is where the Waipukurau story becomes particularly interesting.

From Bell Buckle to Waipukurau

Backyard Ultra Marathons began in 2011 on the private property of their founder, Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell, in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, USA.

More than a decade later, the concept has travelled around the world — and it has found a home beside the Tukituki River in Waipukurau.

What began as a relatively small event in Central Hawke’s Bay is now connected to a global Backyard Ultra field of 1,110 athletes from 74 countries.

The Backyard Ultra story may have started in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, but Waipukurau is now very much part of that story.

And, quite literally, the world will be watching.

Planning is officially underway to rebuild the much-loved Swing Bridge, says Roy Fraser, Chair of the Rotary River Pathways Trust.

“The Trust has always been clear – the Swing Bridge will be rebuilt. The first step already underway is to get an up-to-date cost estimate. We know delays have been frustrating, and costs have climbed, but our commitment hasn’t wavered. Now we’re putting together a plan to raise the funds needed, and it will take a big community effort.”

The Trust will be launching fresh fundraising initiatives and reviving the popular ‘Friends of the Trails’ programme to give locals the chance to play their part. “Watch this space – very soon we’ll be asking the community to join us in making the bridge a reality again.”

The Swing Bridge has always been more than wood, steel, and concrete. It was a place where cyclists, walkers, picnickers, and visitors gathered – a place of connection. It linked Waipawa and Waipukurau, connected people with each other, and opened a gateway to nature along the Tukituki Trails.

“Rebuilding the bridge isn’t about pointing fingers at the past – it’s about looking forward. It’s about this community coming together, as it did before, to make something special happen again.”

When the bridge was first built, the community raised around $300,000, gifting the finished project to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as trail guardians. That idea began almost as a joke – a casual comment about linking the towns by a bridge – but it quickly sparked the imagination of locals. The result was a loop ride that attracted both residents and visitors, feeding into the national boom in cycle tourism alongside the Otago Rail Trail, Alps 2 Ocean, and the Timber Trail.

The Swing Bridge became a symbol of Central Hawke’s Bay’s vision: a place people wanted to visit, and a reason people wanted to stay. “Amenities like our trails, our bridge, and the mountain bike park make this district not only a destination, but a great place to call home,” Fraser said.

Now it’s time to rebuild – together.

It’s been a while since we last issued a newsletter, and we can report that there are currently a number of things happening.

The bridge at Black Creek (Kahahakuri Bridge) is being reinstated. The support piles have been driven in place—next each will get a concrete cap before the bridge and approaches are then attached.

This will mean that the Ashcott Loop trail will be rideable once more. Hooray!

The trail that runs towards the stopbank then east to Ford Road or Taiparu Road has been rerouted. It is now  formed further west along the stopbank and down nearer the SH2. This joins into the trail adjacent to Higgins carpark off Lindsay Road.

The trail that goes west from the carpark has been reinstated.  This trail, which continues on to the stopbank, was significantly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. It will take a while for the surface to bed in.

The cost of this work and the bridge reinstatement has come from the Trusts funds.

We purchased this motorised wheelbarrow using the generous donation received from MTF Finance. This will speed up track repairs and maintenance.

Seen trees down or damage to trails? contact Roy @ 0275904551, Dennis @ 021830373 or Don @ 0274789432

There will be a working bee at the Gum Tree Mountain Bike Park on Saturday 28th September from 9:00 for about 2 hours.  We plan to rake or blow rubbish from the tracks. Bring rakes and/or blower and some morning tea. Subject to the weather being good.

Subscriptions and Donations

The Tukituki Trails are managed and maintained by the Trustees of the Rotary River Pathways Trust and many volunteers. Most of the manpower is given willingly by these people and its monetary value is priceless. Maintaining, repairing and developing this trail complex is expensive and we are thankful for all the generous support we receive.

If you have a subscription with us, now is a good time to renew it—if you feel inclined to make a donation we will appreciate any amount. Annual Subs $50 single or $100 for a family, Life Membership is $500. Go to our website for more info.  www.tukitukitrail.com

Our bank account details are:  Waipukurau Rotary River Pathways Trust—ANZ Bank

06 0781 0094950 00

Gum Tree Farm Mountain Bike Park

We have been lucky to have the Gum Tree Farm mountain bike park as integral part of our trails.  The park escaped significant damage due to Cyclone Gabrielle and then it became a very popular place for Hawkes Bay bikers. New trails and ongoing maintenance continues.

There is currently some refurbishing of Camino trail going on and we will be tidying up in the middle and wetter areas. Also relieving the hill climb towards the end where there was some cattle damage has taken place through the winter.

A fair few hours of work has gone in to refurbishing and freshening up The Gabriel’s Gully track with the help of a couple school students this is 90% complete—they were working towards Duke of Edenborough and William Pike Challenges.

There is a team constructing a new track which runs the length of the eastern side of the park that will have some exciting features—a lot of great work here. Now the Weather is settled we will get back into the McKiwi Trail extension from the shale pit.

Over the winter months a couple of volunteers have been great doing that thankless task, blowing and raking some of debris from the trails. Thanks.

 We aim is the refurbish and tweak one maybe two trails a year and try to relieve/ repair muddy areas and keep on top of the ongoing maintenance.

There will be a working bee at the park on Saturday 28th September from 9:00 for about 2 hours.  We plan to rake or blow rubbish from the tracks. Bring rakes and/or blower and some morning tea. Subject to the weather being good.