This weekend, in the Canterbury foothills, the final race in the inaugural New Zealand/ Australia Skyrunning Series will wrap up with the “Sky Rock n Run” on Mt Oxford. With 3600mD+ the race climbs from Coppers Creek, up to Mt Oxfords summit, down to the Whalfdale and then up to Black Hill. From here the course re-traces its steeps down Black Hill and back over Mt Oxford.
While I would love to offer a full blown preview, I 1) Don’t have time, 2) or have a start list……. Adrian puts on a good race, but is terrible at getting a starters list out 
I for this reason don’t really know what woman are running. Beth Cardelli has the series sewn up and from what I hear, don’t expect to see her racing at Oxford on Saturday. Whitney Dagg who won Mt Difficulty is out with injury and Jo Johansen just raced the Tarawera 50km, so unlikely they will be there either. It is wide open.
Expect Kellie Emmerson from Australia and local multisporter Sia Svendsen to duke it out for line honers.
Via the grapevine I have heard a few “names” that will be lining up in the men’s race-
Ben on his way to winning the Shotover Moonlight in 2014.
Ben Duffus is back! He owned the Hounslow Classic 6 weeks ago and more recently ran the 2nd fasted time ever at the Kawerau King of the Mountain- very very impressive. This is his, no doubt the “race” will be for 2nd. “If” Ben wins, the series shoudl be his.
John Winsbury stated months ago he was aiming for the series win and after his big win at Mt Difficulty it was all on. A injured toe ruled him out of Hounslow, which makes the series win that little bit harder, but still doable.
Expect Nick Hirschfeld (crazy fast Routeburn’s) and Brendon Bradley (2nd at the Mt Somers Marathon in October) to be in the mix also.
It should be a great finish to what has been a great fist ever Skyrunning Series down this way.
