Event Overview
| Date | Nov 7, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Butler Green, Arrowtown, Otago, New Zealand |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Region | Oceania |
| Distance / duration | 6.71 km every hour |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | The fourth edition starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Entry is $220 through Webscorer, plus a 3% surcharge for card payments. On October 20 Webscorer showed 151 registrations and said the event was 94% full; registration closes at 11:59 PM NZDT on Friday, November 6. Big’s Backyard Ultra lists a capacity of 150 and says the race sold out in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Big’s race page labels it “Bronze”. |
| Elevation gain | About 48 m per loop (organizer’s Strava profile); Big’s Backyard Ultra lists 150 ft |
| Cutoff | Each 6.71 km yard must be finished within the hour; no fixed overall finish. Runners not in the starting corral for the next yard are recorded as DNF. Warning sounds go off 3, 2 and 1 minutes before each start, but are quieter between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM because of noise restrictions. If no runner completes one more yard than everyone else, there is no winner. |
| Start | 9:00 AM Saturday, November 7 (NZDT) |
| Field size | Big’s Backyard Ultra lists a capacity of 150. The 2024 field of 150 sold out in two days, according to the Otago Daily Times. Yardlore lists 155 starters in 2023, 149 in 2024 and 129 in 2025; local reports of the 2025 race say 150 lined up. |
| Highlights | Arrow River Trail, Gold-Rush Town Base |
Arrowtown Backyard Ultra winners
Winner, assist and most yards by a woman in each edition.
| Year | Winner | Yards | Assist | Top woman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kieran Philip | 40 | Simon Budd (39) | Hadani Woodruff (33) |
| 2024 | Paul Maxwell | 45 | Josh Hastie (44) | Hadani Woodruff (37) |
| 2023 | Jeremy Pelvin | 50 | Glenn Sutton (49) | Brooke Thomas (37) |
The organizer’s Webscorer page confirms the 50, 45 and 40-yard totals; names, assists and women’s totals are from Yardlore and local press.
Sources: Yardlore 2025 results; Yardlore 2024 results; Yardlore 2023 results; Organizer’s 2026 registration (Webscorer).
Course & Terrain
One 6.71 km loop on the Arrow River Trail from the event village on Butler Green. It is mostly hard-packed trail with a winding singletrack section through the bush, crosses Bush Creek twice and uses two pedestrian bridges over the Arrow River. Big’s Backyard Ultra lists the night loop as the same course without the technical bush trail.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Arrow River Trail and two pedestrian bridges over the Arrow River
- Bush singletrack along Bush Creek (day loop only)
Mostly hard-packed gravel trail with shade cover, a few small inclines most runners walk, and two crossings of Bush Creek. The course is shared with the public and runners must give way.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry with no qualifying result, limited by the field cap. Teams of four (men’s, women’s or mixed) can enter by each member registering individually and emailing the team name to the race director. |
| Support model | Self-supported. Runners bring their own gazebo, chair, food and water. The timing tent has a shared microwave and jug and a few power points for phones. |
| Crew / pacers | All support must be given in the event village between yards; runners may not take food or drink during a yard, including just after the start. Supporters and eliminated runners may not go on the course. No pacing, and no trekking poles or other artificial aids. |
| Logistics note | Gazebo setup is 3:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday; each runner may put up one 3 m by 3 m gazebo on Butler Green. Registration is 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday or 7:30 to 8:30 AM Saturday, and the briefing is at 8:45 AM. Overnight stays on Butler Green are not allowed; the organizer suggests Arrowtown Campground. Arrowtown is about 20 minutes from Queenstown. A free 1 km kids trail race starts at 12:05 PM. |
Why This Race Matters
Brandon Purdue organizes the race with Cromwell-based Highland Events, and it was first held in 2023. Jeremy Pelvin won the first edition with 50 yards, one more than Glenn Sutton; the Otago Daily Times described it as a New Zealand record at the time, since broken. Paul Maxwell of Waitati won in 2024 with 45 yards (302 km), one ahead of Josh Hastie. In 2025 about 150 runners started and Kieran Philip of Cromwell won with 40 yards (268 km), one ahead of Simon Budd. The organizer says results count toward New Zealand team selection for the 2028 Backyard Ultra World Team Championship, with a qualifying window from August 16, 2026, to August 15, 2028.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: Jeremy Pelvin, 50 yards, 2023
- Women: Brooke Thomas, 37 yards, 2023, and Hadani Woodruff, 37 yards, 2024 (Yardlore)
- 2025 winner: Kieran Philip, 40 yards (268 km)
Preparing for a Race Like Arrowtown Backyard Ultra
The backyard ultra race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:
- Backyard ultras explained: Rules, distance math, current records and how a race ends.
- Backyard ultra training plan: A 16-week framework with hourly-loop rehearsals and a printable worksheet.
- Backyard ultra race strategy: Loop pacing, the routine between loops, sleep and knowing when to stop.
- Backyard ultra nutrition: A tested fueling routine for eating and drinking between loops.
Best Fit
- Runners who want a mostly runnable, shaded trail loop near Queenstown
- Teams of four entering together
Planning Notes
- Practice the exact hourly routine: loop, eat, foot check, bottle refill, and back to the start. The format rewards repeatability.
- Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
- The directory marks this as having comparatively simpler logistics. That editorial label is not a safety rating; verify cutoffs, terrain, support, crew access, and withdrawal procedures.
- Entries were 94% full on October 20, and the race has sold out every year
- No overnight camping at the event village
- Quieter start warnings at night because of noise restrictions
Event FAQs
When does the Arrowtown Backyard Ultra 2026 start?
The first 6.71 km yard starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from Butler Green in Arrowtown. Registration is on Friday evening or from 7:30 AM on race morning, and the briefing is at 8:45 AM. Yards start every hour until one runner is left.
What is the Arrowtown Backyard Ultra record?
Jeremy Pelvin set the course record of 50 yards in the first edition in 2023. Paul Maxwell won in 2024 with 45 and Kieran Philip in 2025 with 40. The most yards by a woman is 37, by Brooke Thomas in 2023 and Hadani Woodruff in 2024.
Can I still enter the Arrowtown Backyard Ultra?
Entry costs $220 on Webscorer. On October 20 it had 151 registrations and showed the event as 94% full, and the race sold out in each of its first three years. Registration closes at 11:59 PM NZDT on Friday, November 6, if places remain.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Browse the 2026 backyard ultra calendar
- Open the Backyard Ultra format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Build a backyard yard and rest-time schedule
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Arrowtown Backyard Ultra (Highland Events) — https://www.highlandevents.co.nz/backyard-ultra
- Official 2026 registration (Webscorer) — https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=420074
- Big’s Backyard Ultra race listing — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/arrowtown-backyard-ultra/
- Yardlore event history — https://www.yardlore.com/backyards/arrowtown-backyard-ultra
- Lakes Weekly Bulletin 2025 race report — https://lwb.co.nz/content/its-easy-until-its-not-arrowtown-backyard-ultra-was-about-testing-runners-limits/
- Otago Daily Times 2024 race preview — https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/good-odds-female-winner
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.