Queen Charlotte Relay
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Queen Charlotte Relay
The Queen Charlotte Relay is a five-person road relay along Queen Charlotte Road between Picton and Havelock. The course passes coastal sounds, beaches, native bush and rolling farmland. The event began on 17 September 1982 and has been held annually with exceptions in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2022 due to road safety concerns. The route has seen only minor changes, mainly in Havelock. Teams travel from around New Zealand to compete.
The event includes a walkers grade introduced in 2002; walkers are not refereed and are organised as social walking. There is a Business House Challenge run as a race within a race for teams from the same or related industries; entrants must be aged 14 or above. All competitors must be aged 14 or above on race day. Team entry is $200 online only and the event is limited to a maximum of 80 teams. If the race is cancelled at the request of Marlborough Roads for unsafe road conditions, entry fees will be refunded less a $40 administration fee.
The course is divided into five legs with the following distances and terrain:
- Leg 1: Picton to Wedge Point - 5,100 metres (undulating then steady climb)
- Leg 2: Wedge Point to Momorangi Bay - 8,600 metres (downhill then undulating)
- Leg 3: Momorangi Bay to Linkwater - 8,100 metres (flat and fast)
- Leg 4: Linkwater to Moenui - 6,200 metres (undulating then steady climb)
- Leg 5: Moenui to Havelock - 6,650 metres (steady rise then sharp downhill then undulating)
There are cut-off running times at each changeover; failure to meet them can result in a mass start for the next leg and requirements for support vehicles to wait. Prizes are awarded to first place in each grade and for the fastest lap times by men and women regardless of grade. Registration, toilet facilities and race briefings are held at the Bluebridge Ferry Terminal yard in Picton and buses for leg 2 runners depart from the same location. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
