Hamish Elliott won the Coast to Coast Longest Day race on Saturday, crossing New Zealand’s South Island from Kumara to Christchurch and finishing first by a wide margin.
The 31-year-old took control early and ended the day more than 20 minutes ahead of Sam Manson, even after falling out of his kayak into the Waimakariri River.
The Coast to Coast Longest Day is a tough multi-sport event that mixes cycling, running, and kayaking. Elliott said he tipped in after going through river rapids and losing focus for a moment. He joked that the surprise swim made him push harder once he was back on course.
The biggest move came on the opening 55-kilometre cycling stage from Kumara on the West Coast. By the time athletes climbed up towards Goat Pass, Elliott had built a 10-minute lead over Manson. He managed to protect that advantage through the river section and then stretched it again on the final cycle into Christchurch.
This was Elliott’s second Longest Day win, after first taking the title in 2024. In 2025, he led for much of the race but finished four minutes behind Australian Alex Hunt. This year, he said he wanted to enjoy the challenge as much as possible.
