Gizzy Gully Runner teammates George Williams and Michele Frey (behind) paddled their way into Picton on Thursday, helping secure a third-place finish for the gritty Gisborne team. It was a picture-perfect day, nothing like 24 hours earlier when winds gusting to 80km/h and cold rain lashed Queen Charlotte Sound, and race organisers halted teams’ progress because of safety concerns. Photo / godzoneadventure.com
Gizzy Gully Runner teammates George Williams and Michele Frey (behind) paddled their way into Picton on Thursday, helping secure a third-place finish for the gritty Gisborne team. It was a picture-perfect day, nothing like 24 hours earlier when winds gusting to 80km/h and cold rain lashed Queen Charlotte Sound, and race organisers halted teams’ progress because of safety concerns. Photo / godzoneadventure.com
Strong decision-making and local support helped the Gizzy Gully Runners secure third place in this year’s Godzone Pursuit in Marlborough.
Gisborne farmers George Williams and Guy Thompson, along with Gisborne District Council staff Michele Frey and Nicki Davies, spent six days and 20 hours on the relentless 615km course, hiking,mountain biking, pack rafting and kayaking. They used maps to navigate their way through remote terrain to compulsory checkpoints and transition areas.
On Thursday, the team arrived at the Picton finish line in kayaks, exhausted and exhilarated after being at the mercy of the weather-impacted event.
“It’s a huge relief and this was an awesome team,” said Frey, who sits on the trust that hosts Godzone.
Each of the 32 teams in the week-long Godzone pure and pursuit events carried a portable satellite tracker so their progress was visible to family, friends and fans.
Gizzy Gully Runners Nicki Davies, Michele Frey, George Williams and Guy Thompson celebrate coming third in the Godzone pursuit event on Thursday. The team travelled 615km on water, bike and foot over six days and 20 hours. They say they couldn’t have done it without their family-based support crew, pictured here along with Godzone trustee Richie McCaw. Photo / godzoneadventure.com
Early on, local dot watchers were puzzled to see the Gizzy Gully Runners take an unusual hike route. But the sharp navigation of Frey and Thompson proved decisive. They steered the group into a valley with shade and water, allowing the team to finish a river section 10 minutes ahead of dark zone restrictions, an advantage that helped lock in their eventual third place.
The other boost came from home. After a long night hike, the team arrived at a transition feeling flat. Their support crew read out encouraging messages from friends and family, including the news that more than 5000 people had viewed their latest video update.
“We felt that support coming from home and it made it special,” Davies said.
Gizzy Gully Runner gals Nicki Davies and Michele Frey celebrate after being part of the first Gisborne team to podium at a Godzone event. This year’s Godzone was held in Marlborough. Photo / godzoneadventure.com
Williams said the team’s goals were simple: stay well fed, well rested, avoid bickering and be ready for whatever the event delivered. And it delivered plenty.
A weather bomb slowed progress, high winds shut water courses and teams were held at a cold and wet transition on the shortened route before the final push for home down Queen Charlotte Sound.
“We wanted to come out as friends,” Williams said, and Frey agreed.
“The race built a stronger-than-ever friendship between us.”
Davies said the delays stretched the race longer than expected, making the finish even sweeter.
The team praised the event organisation and accepted that the weather was out of anyone’s control.
At the line, beer and pie in hand, Thompson was even heard to say: “Bring on 2026!”
