Kawarau Station up the back of Bannockburn opened its gates this weekend to adventure racers on horseback, bike and foot for a rogaine supporting a worthy cause.

Event organiser Mandy McFarlane described a rogaine as being “similar to an orienteering course…but you decide how far and fast you want to go”.

The event raised funds for the region’s rescue helicopter service - a personal cause for Mandy.

“I needed the rescue helicopter two years ago,” she said.

“That’s motivated me to do it.”

Participants could choose between a six or a three-hour course, competing as teams or individuals, across races on both Saturday and Sunday (November 15 and 16).

Stations with points attached were mapped out, and it was up to those racing to choose which points to seek, all while watching the clock to get back to base - a historical woolshed - within the timeframe or face a penalty.

Freya Greaves, 7, and her brother Zac, 5, at the end of their three-hour adventure race over hills out the back of Cromwell. Image: The Central App

Mandy said close to 100 people took part, along with dozens of horses.

Five-year-old Zac Greaves, of Wānaka, was in a team with his seven-year-old sister Freya.

He said the hardest part of the race was “the prickles”, but mystery challenges dotted throughout the course made up for it.

One of his favourites? Wooden rubber band shooters with cup targets to hit.

Helena Ruud rides Red in Sunday’s three-hour rogaine fundraiser at Kawarau Station. Image: The Central App

Helena Ruud, a Cromwell vineyard worker from Norway, rode horse Red in Sunday’s three-hour event.

She said the terrain was varied - “small rivers, steep hills, some rocky parts, mud” - and, despite being on the look out for rabbit holes, there were plenty of opportunities for the horses to have a good canter.

It amazed her to see “a whole community come together to do something fun”, she said.

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