The drought broke in time to provide a first feel of winter, with a slight drizzle and a southerly wind maintaining the temperature in the mid-teens.
After completing three laps of their 6km course, senior runners were split into four grades for the forthcoming season.
Fastest around the full course was Ben Winder, firing an opening shot at the other A grade competitors by completing the distance in 27min 7s.
Graeme Butcher was second and Mark Eagle, returning to the series for the first time in several seasons, was third.
Vicki Paine was the only female to make the A grade split, finishing ninth overall with a time of 32.38.
Women runners were first in each of the other three grades with national triathlete Sue Bankier posting fastest time of 35.1 in the B grade.
Judy Brown topped the C grade in 39.52 and Rachel Gawith headed the D grade in 45.8.
Competitors in the walking grade completed two laps of the course and were led in by the father and son duo of Chris and Ben van Gervan, who recorded the same time of 31.25 for the 4km race.
Junior runners also completed two laps with newcomer Rhys Gwyther first past the flag in 21.44 while the 10- to 13-year-olds ran a single lap of the full 2km course. Liam Heard had nearly three minutes to spare in clocking 10.44.
The under-10 runners were led in by Sienna Cockburn, who completed the 1km in 4.59, 3s ahead of Travis Bartlett.
ACM Harriers chairwoman Gail Edwards was especially pleased with the number who attended the race, many of them being newcomers to the event.
The next race in the cross-country series will start at Longridge Road, Wainuioru, on April 28 with registrations from 9.30am.
