Chuck Berry's name is synonymous with adventure - but it would appear he has inherited his sporting genes from his mother, the oldest female competitor in the 2012 Motatapu events.
Diane Stead (70), from Invercargill, completed the 47km mountain bike event, which crosses three high-country stations from Glendhu Bay in Wanaka through Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe stations, on Saturday - the eighth consecutive year she has entered.
Speaking to the Queenstown Times after the event, Mrs Stead said she "loves" mountain biking, particularly over the "awesome course".
The mother of five said she had once been a competitive squash player and had also been a runner, completing the Kepler Challenge and several Coast to Coasts.
Asked if she would come back for a ninth year, Mrs Stead said she hadn't ruled it out - particularly if the organisers would gift her a free entry.
While the mountain bike event ended in a photo finish, one competitor's sole aim was to cross the finish line.
Wanaka's John Howe broke his neck about halfway through the race in 2010, and Saturday was a chance to deal with the "unfinished business".
"I had to be helicoptered off the race two years ago after someone braked in front of me and I crashed off my bike.
"It took me eight months before I could get back on the bike, but here I am ... and I am very pleased to have finally finished the race."
Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter competed in his role as Pink Pilates patron, a programme designed to assist women with breast cancer.
Carter, retired from triathlon, said he enjoyed taking part in a recreational event after years of competitive top-level sport.
Thousands of people converged on Butler's Green and the banks of the Arrow River to cheer entrants home in the five separate events held this year.
Running alongside the mountain bike event was a 42.2km marathon, a 15km Miners Trail event, an Xterra triathlon and an adventure race.
Haydn Key, of Queenstown, took top honours in an inaugural multisport race, which will alternate with the adventure race from next year.
Key, who finished the 15km paddle on the Matukituki River, 47km mountain bike ride and the Miners Trail run in just over five and a-half hours, said it was "great to be back in the Lycra".
"This was a fantastic inaugural event and will be an excellent addition to the Motatapu.
"I love the course, but the run was very tough."
The marathon attracted Swedish tourist Fredrik Strahle, who saw the event advertised and decided to enter while staying in Queenstown.
He was ecstatic as he raced through the finish line brandishing the Swedish flag.
"The run was beautiful ... I have never seen anything so beautiful.
"It's only the second marathon I have ever completed and I loved it."
Olympic cycling gold medallist Sarah Ulmer finished the Miners Trail run in 19th place in the women's section, with a time of 1hr 53min 08sec.
She said she was blown away by the scenery.
"It was just stunning up there.
"I don't think it's worth running if you can't run in places like this."
Ulmer competed in the marathon event last year, but found the Miners Trail just as challenging.
"It was an amazing experience and the downhill down to the Arrow River was just so hard."
Motatapu event director Gemma Boyle said the overcast weather on Saturday provided an ideal environment for the competitors.
"This has set the background once again for a great Motatapu experience for our competitors and, once again, there has been lots of friendly rivalry and camaraderie throughout all five events, as well as our new multisport trial event.
"We are indebted to all our volunteers, sponsors and supporters for helping us make the event an outstanding success."
