Roxburgh’s 60 year old John Mckinnel said “old age” got him in the end in the 2024 Coast to Coast longest day race. 

John is no stranger to the race, as 20 years earlier he completed the 243km race in a time of 13 hours and 23 mins.

This year he was 20 minutes past the cut off time in the kayak and had to pull out approximately 50km through the 71km paddle stage.

John said it was worth a crack and he enjoyed the atmosphere, despite not managing the entire race.

“As you get older, time is creeping up and you’ve got to get out and keep challenging yourself.

“The biking caught me out a bit . . . you really need to be at all of the disciplines all of the time [in training].”

John during the kayak stage. PHOTO: Supplied

He said he was pretty shattered after being on the course for 11 hours and 33 minutes, but he doesn’t regret getting out there.

Pictured (from left) support crew member Tiaan McKinnel and John during the race. PHOTO: Supplied 

“I’ve been a part of sport all my life and it’s for the challenge.”

He said its “a bit raw just now”, but he’ll definitely go back again, potentially in a team event next time. 

“I take my hat off to everyone who does [the longest day], it doesn’t matter if you’re an elite and first, or if you are the very last.”

There were eight men in the vintage 60+ category, and of those only three made the finish line. The winner was Kerry Hamilton from New Plymouth with a time of 16 hours and 15 minutes. 

Race ambassador and founder Robin Judkins started the longest day race on Saturday, February 10. PHOTO: Supplied  

In 2024 the first woman ever in the vintage age group completed the gruelling course. She was Motueka’s Maria Voigt and her time was 16 hours and 46 minutes. 

Local Dunstan High School student Jasper Wearing’s team finished second in the school's section with a time of 12 hours 55 minutes. They were beaten by a Wakatipu High School team by 23 minutes.

Older brother Ben Wearing’s team, with other Alexandra athletes Sam Thow and Harry Kelly, placed 18th out of 48 two day, three person men’s teams with a time of 14 hours and three minutes.   

This year was the iteration of the 42nd Coast to Coast.

It starts at the beach on the West Coast at Kumara, and finishes at New Brighton in Christchurch.

Read more: Central brothers in Coast to Coast teams.

Check out the Coast to Coast results here.