First home was Geoff Ness in 6h 18m 48s, followed by Carl Laffan and Barb Carson.
Impressively, Albie Jane from Stratford finished in fourth place on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
The team from Stratford Runners & Walkers were the top Composite team, completing the course in 7h 40m 16s with a mixed group of runners and walkers.
The Running Team relay was won once again by Trentham Rabbits, followed by Napier Harriers and Wanganui Harriers.
It was the fourth time in the past five years a Trentham team has won this title, with their 4h 13m 7s time being over 30 minutes ahead of the nearest rival.
Wanganui Harrier's womens team were the first female group home to claim victory in that section.
The closest race of the day was in the Walk Team event.
Ivor Better Team of the Taranaki Race Walkers held off the strong finishing Al's Mob (Manawatu Striders) by just two minutes, with the second Taranaki group Ivor Good Team only another two minutes and 18 seconds further back in third.
Four teams competed in the Junior Relay, which was held over the last 26.76km of the adult course.
Wanganui Harriers White were first home in a time of 1h 50m and 22s, while second place went to Wanganui Harriers Blue, with Kapiti Harriers and Manawatu Striders completing the field.
One leg record was broken in the Junior Race as Wanganui Harriers White's George Lambert took nearly a minute and a half off the best time for Leg 3, previously held by a Hutt Valley Runner.
In a new initiative, this year the relay supported the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter, with a portion of the entry fee being donated to their trust.