Central women topped the podium in several categories in a recent trail run in Queenstown.

The Shotover Moonlight Marathon held on Queenstown’s Ben Lomond Station is one of the most challenging trail running courses in New Zealand.

This year a field of over 400 runners from more than 16 countries took part in the weekend’s events.

Alexandra based runner Hannah Presswood (34) was the first female in the ultra marathon and set a new course record of 8 hours and 54 minutes.

Hannah Presswood. PHOTO: Supplied

Hannah said she was stoked everything came together the day.

" I had no idea that I had set a new course record until after the race and was pretty surprised to find out. The course and terrain was right up my alley and I feel very lucky to have raced on such a beautiful course."

Julie Williamson (52) placed first in veteran women in the ultra with a time of 10 hours and 34 minutes. 

In the 30 km adventure run Earnscleugh’s Tanya Copeland (38) was the fastest female, and second overall in 3 hours and 41 minutes. 

Cromwell’s Helen Stark placed second in the 40-49 female category with a time of 4 hours and 37 minutes. 

Heather Harries won the 30km race in the 50-59 age group with a time of 5 hours 36 minutes. 

In the 10km trail run Alexandra’s Natasha Kelly placed second overall female, only one minute behind Australian Mary Searl. 

On offer were a 56km ultra marathon, a marathon, a 30 km adventure race, a half marathon and a 10 km trail run on a private high country station owned by the Foster family. 

Before the long distance events, the Ben Lomond Vertical Kilometre was on February 16.

It is an up-hill only race starting near the Ben Lomond Station woolshed at Moke Lake, to the summit of Ben Lomond.

Runners climb over 1200 vertical metres in just 3.9km.

Auckland based Toby Batchelor defended his New Zealand title winning in an astounding 56 minutes and one second ahead of Scotland’s Ross Gollan.

In the ladies field Kate Morrision of Lyttelton secured the women’s title in 1 hour 5 minutes and 11 seconds.

Toby and Kate both secured positions to attend the World Skyrunning Championships later this year in Spain. 

Vertical Kilometre podium at the summit of Ben Lomond. Pictured (from left) are Maria Walsh (AUS), Claire Jacquin (Fra), Kate Morrison (NZ), Toby Batchelor (NZ), Ross Gollan (SCO), and Iain Best (AUS). PHOTO: Michael Beckmann, Maunga Media.

Event co-director Antz Longman said the response to the event from new and returning athletes was absolutely awesome.

“The weather conditions were fantastic, and the calibre of runners across all events was exceptional.

 “As a family run event it’s pretty special for us to all work together and give runners the chance to experience running through a working merino station and enjoy the spectacular high country landscapes.” 

A bake sale and ice block stand raised more than $500 for Journeys Central Otago, a free outdoor programme for Central kōhine (girls) that involves mountain biking and on foot adventures. 

Megan Longman, co-founder of Journeys Central Otago, grew up on the high country merino station owned and run by her parents John and Ginny Foster, where the trail running event was held.

Find out more about Journeys.