Red Stag Rotorua Marathon 2025: Dan Balchin, Billie Haresnape victorious

Dan Balchin and Billie Haresnape have taken the honours as more than 7000 entrants tackled the 2025 men’s and women’s Red Stag Rotorua Marathon races today.

Balchin ran a time of 02:24:41, just two seconds ahead of Cullern Thorby (02:24:43) with local hero Michael Voss (02:26:52) in third.

Balchin reported that “neither of us could really drop the other” as they both battled over the closing kilometres back into the heart of Rotorua.

“I managed to get a break on him in the last kilometre and hold on to that to the finish”.

Haresnape ran a time of 03:03:49, ahead of Rachel O’Brien (03:04:31) and Kovo MacDonald (03:07:27).

Haresnape shared her joy in not only winning the event but also simply finishing the event.

An injury meant she was off her feet for much of her build-up.

Red Stag Rotorua Marathon: Cullern Thorby, Dan Balchin and Michael Voss. Picture / Rotorua Marathon

“I’ve only run three times in the last eight weeks, I’ve been mostly on the bike.”

She’ll now turn her attention to an Ironman in Germany later this year.

Red Stag Rotorua Marathon. Picture / Rotorua Marathon

The marathon started at 8am from the Government Gardens and took in a historic lap of the lake.

Rotorua local Voss was defending his Rotorua Marathon title, while last year’s runner-up Thorby repeated his placing.

Men’s winner Balchin came in to the race with a 2:22.25 best from Auckland in 2022.

Women’s winner Haresnape finished third in the 2022 edition of the event.

O’Brien finished fourth in 2024 with a strong 3:10.21 performance.

The year’s event, the 61st Rotorua Marathon, had a new finish line in the heart of the newly redeveloped Rotorua Lakefront precinct with a grand final stretch down Eat Streat and finishing outside the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside.

A big crowd lined the finish chute and along the city’s dining precinct this morning, with restaurant patrons cheering on the runners approaching the finish line.

Meanwhile, the NZCT Half Marathon featured impressive performances, with local Casey Thorby winning the men’s race in 1:11:38.

Tyler Jerram and Anton Weatherhead followed, finishing in 1:14:29 and 1:15:29, respectively. Kumiko Otani dominated the women’s half marathon, completing it in 1:21:58, ahead of Lauren Spyker (1:27:45) and Mia Fletcher (1:30:50).

The Go Media 12km race debuted a stunning new course in 2025, capturing the essence of Rotorua’s geothermal beauty and forested trails.

Daniel Balchin was the men's winner of the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon, followed home closely by Cullern Thorby. Photo / Laura Smith

Runners were treated to a dramatic start at Te Puia, the cultural and geothermal heart of Rotorua, where they passed the Pōhutu Geyser as it erupted into the morning sky, a uniquely Rotorua moment that set the tone for the race. The race then weaved through Whakarewarewa Forest before heading back to the new-look finish.

In the women’s race, Sofia Maulvurfs impressed with a decisive win in 49:08, with Alayna Le Comte (49:48) and Katie Elmitt (50:30) rounding out the podium.

Red Stag Rotorua Marathon. Picture / Rotorua Marathon

The new final stretch in Eat Streat. Red Stag Rotorua Marathon. Picture / Rotorua Marathon

On the men’s side, Corin Jack claimed victory in 45:57, holding off a strong challenge from Brodie Deer (46:17) and William Hylkema (46:43).

The Te Arawa Marae to Marae Relay made a triumphant return, with over 900 participants across 25 teams. Team Hohowai clinched the win, completing the relay in 4:45:13, followed by Tapuaekura and Hurungaterangi.