Kath Kelly (35), of Millers Flat, emerged the women's winner of the three-day event yesterday in 19hr 40min 32sec by 38sec, losing most of her 12min lead on day two to Mitch Murdoch, of Queenstown (19:41:10).
Hannah Thorne, of Dunedin, was third (20:33:54).
Day one winner Sarah Fairmaid, of Cromwell, had pulled out of the race earlier on day two because of illness.
Dougal Allan was the winner at the end of each of the three days of the 376km race around Central Otago but was challenged strongly on each stage by Nathan Peterson, of Christchurch, and Liam Drew, of Wellington, who raced for 90min on day two with a broken mountainbike seat.
He had a 22min 24sec advantage on Peterson yesterday but extended it by only 8min 57sec on day three, finishing in 17:26:59.
Peterson recorded 17:58:20 and Drew came in at 18:40:05.
‘‘I honestly couldn't relax at all because he was always hunting me,'' Allan said of Peterson after the race.
There were few changes in other categories.
John Williamson, of Alexandra, who has competed in all 12 Goldrush races, had a slow start on Saturday but was able to budge Invercargill's Joe Sherriff out of the top three in the individual classic men's race on day three to take third behind Barry Mackie (20:47:00) and George Richardson.
Dunstan High School (18:16:42) won the college male category ahead of Shirley Boys High School and Central Southland College.
Yesterday's race took place in warm and calm conditions but got off to a late start at 7.30am at Tarras because of the light.
A cycle accident shortly after the start resulted in a female athlete being taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital with a fractured arm.
Other results:
Individual vet men: John Harris (Nelson) 1, Dave Howard (Whangarei) 2, Martin Thow (Alexandra) 3.
Team open men: The prospectors (Christchurch) 1, Vivian Espie (Queenstown) 2, Dads in Spanky Pants (3).
Team open women: Wanaka Chix (Wanaka ) 1, Physically Educated (Balclutha) 2, Mama Fish (Inglewood) 3. Team vet women:The Righteous Sisters (Auckland) 1, Hamy's Girls (Southbridge) 2, Toots (Invercargill) 3. Team open tandem: Chocolate and sprinkles (Alexandra) 1, Two Cuzzies (Alexandra) 2, Team Thermatech (Christchurch) 3. Team classic open: The Tortoise and the Hare (Cromwell) 1, Talbot Turbos (Christchurch) 2, Quiet Boys (Oamaru) 3. Team vet men: Not Just 40 (Christchurch)1, Queenstown rollers (Christchurch) 2, Oldies (Dunedin) 3. Team corporate: The Test Icycles (Christchurch) 1, Mike Pero Mortgages (Christchurch) 2, Sportbase Adventures (3). Team vet mixed: The bald and beautiful (Christchurch) 1, Line 7 (Auckland) 2, Team Fubar (Mosgiel) 3. Team college female: SGHS White (Invercargill) 1, CSC Little Girls (Otautau) 2, Fletch's Angels (St Hildas) 3. Team college mixed: James Hargest Blue (Invercargill) 1, James Hargest Red (Invercargill) 2, JeLaBe (Wyndham) 3.
