During the 26km military endurance race, teams and individual competitors carrying small arms and enough equipment to survive for 24 hours in battle conditions covered a circuit from Booth Rd.
The course, which included sections of the Pineapple Track, also traversed the 668m Flagstaff Hill and 739m Swampy Summit.
Major Peter Aymes, of 4th Otago Southland Battalion Group, said the event was designed to test the Territorials physically and mentally, and the event this year required competitors to show a "huge amount of guts and determination" in wet, cold conditions.
Maj Aymes said interest in the territorial forces was growing in the area and 49 potential soldiers had contacted the recruiters in recent months.
About 30 of these applicants were expected to progress to further training.
A Central Otago nucleus group had been formed recently and a regular forces non-commissioned officer was now stationed permanently in Cromwell.
The event was first run in 2002 as a test of physical and mental endurance for battalion members, but has proved popular and is now open to groups from around the country and naval reserve groups, including the Dunedin-based HMNZS Toroa.
Team event winner: Otago A; 4hr 52min.
Individual winner: Corporal McKerras, of 2nd Canterbury Nelson Marlborough West Coast Battalion; 4hr 16min.
