Event details and FAQs

The Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon now has 2 great distances to choose from  – the Saint Clair half marathon of 21.1km and the Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km event.

The half marathon has three options to run, walk or hybrid (this is the one where you choose to run or walk at your discretion). And in the 12km you can choose to run or walk.

All walkers please note, it is against the rules for you to break into a run at any time, so if you think you might like to do a bit of jogging, enter the hybrid or the run options.

The Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon entry fee is $99, and the Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km entry fee is $79. These prices will increase by $10 per entry after 11:55pm on April 24, 2024.

Online entries close at 8pm on Thursday 9th May, but we will be taking late entries at race registration on Friday 10th May until 7pm (note there will be a $20 late fee).

A team of 4 all doing the half marathon is $364 (save $8 per person), and a team of 4 all doing the 12km is $292 (save $6 per person).

We go to great lengths to avoid the tedium of a lengthy prize giving, so if you are lucky you might find one of our great spot prizes from ThermaTech, Shoe Clinic, or Makana Chocolates in your race pack. So be sure to check your pack for the spot prize vouchers and details on how to claim your prize.

All entrants who complete either of the courses will receive their race trophy – a bottle of Saint Clair Family Estate wine from multi award-winning Saint Clair Family Estate Wines. Please note you must complete the half marathon or the 12km course to receive this trophy bottle of wine.

The first male and female winner of each category of run, hybrid and walk in the half marathon will also receive a magnum of Saint Clair Family Estate wine – that’s a big bottle!

The Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon will start and finish at the Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen on Selmes Rd, Blenheim, just off Rapaura Rd. It’s about a 10 minute drive from the centre of Blenheim, but you should allow at least 20-30 minutes to park your car and walk to the race village on race day as it will be busy. The site will open at 7.30 on race day.

The Nutrient Rescue Vineyard12km starts at The Vines Village on Rapaura Road, and also finishes at the Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen on Selmes Rd, Blenheim. Again, please allow 20-30 minutes to drive and park if you are coming from Blenheim. There will be plenty of pre-race entertainment and food and beverages at The Vines Village before the race, so make sure you come from 8.30 to enjoy the pre-race atmosphere.

Please ensure you are at the start line well before the briefing starts.

Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon Start Times

As a guideline, times taken to run and walk 21km generally range from:

Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km Start Times

As a guideline, times taken to run and walk 12km generally range from:

The race village at Saint Clair will close at 3pm.

An eTicket confirmation will be automatically emailed to all entrants who successfully complete their online entry.

If for any reason you don’t receive your eTicket by email within 24 hours of entering online, or any of your entry details are incorrect, please contact us and we will resend it.

All entrants must register the day before the event at the Marlborough Convention Centre on Alfred St in Blenheim on Friday 10th May 2024, from 11am to 8pm. We will also be taking late entries up to 7pm on Friday 10th May at race registration (with a $20 late fee).

We are going green this year which means no race packs. You will have your entry confirmation emailed to you to collect your race number. There will be a sponsors product area where you can choose to take goodies such as Pure Sports Nutrition hydration gel, and Cookie Time Cookies. If you have pre-ordered bus tickets, t-shirts or other merchandise, you will collect them here also.

You can get a friend to collect your race number for you – they just need to provide your name and can collect your race number.

There will be other attractions at registration including some great deals from some of our sponsors so be sure you come with plenty of spare time.

If you are unable to get to registration on Friday 10th May, please contact us and we can make alternative arrangements.

A gear storage tent will be staffed all day for you to leave your gear. Please attach the tear-off strip from the bottom of your bib to your bag for storage. You’ll need your race bib to collect gear at the end.

If you are participating in the Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km, your gear will be transported to the finish line for your collection.

Please ensure the bag is securely closed. This area will be supervised and we do our best to be vigilant but will take no responsibility for lost gear.

On the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon course there are five drink stations serving PURE Electrolyte Hydration and water: at the 5km, 8km, 11km, 15km and 18km points. You will find toilets at each of these stations too.

On the Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km course there are three drink stations serving PURE Electrolyte Hydration and water: at the 4km, 7km, 10km points. You will find toilets at each of these stations too.

There will also be a range of Taste Stations and live music at various spots along both courses for those who have the time and inclination to indulge!

Trial a sample pack of PURE Electrolyte Hydration here.

There will be buses to the half marathon start line at the Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen departing and returning to Seymour Square in central Blenheim.

There will also be buses to the 12km start line at The Vines Village departing and returning to Seymour Square in central Blenheim.

Depart Seymour Square Clock Tower in central Blenheim

• Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon – 7:30am and 8:00am
• Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km – 8:30am and 9:00am

Buses will return to Blenheim from the bus stop at Saint Clair every 30 minutes from 11am-3pm.  Don’t worry – it will be clearly sign posted.

It costs $25 for a return trip and bus tickets can be included as you purchase your entry or the day before the event at registration. Bus tickets cannot be purchased from the bus drivers.

Parking for the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon will be available in a paddock off Selmes Road from 7.30am – follow the direction of the Marshals please

Parking for the Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km will be available around the surrounding vineyard Headlands around the Vines Village. Please follow the instructions of the parking marshals and please be patient.

All parking will be $5 per car – this can be purchased at race registration or paid in cash to marshals on arrival.

You can then catch the free shuttle bus back to Vines Village after the race to collect your car. There will also be a Drop Off zone outside Vines Village where you can be dropped off on the morning of the race.

There will be a first aid station at the finish line to cope with any post-race issues.  There will also be a certified Paramedic on a mountain bike out on the course who will deal with any issues during the event. If you need any help please contact the nearest marshal, or ask another competitor to let a marshal know you need help.

There will also be a couple of handy vehicles on the course if you do need a lift back to the start/finish line due to injury.

If you do have to withdraw from the race for any reason, it is very important that you inform a marshal who will report your race number back to us as a withdrawal.

If you come across a fellow competitor in trouble on the course, please stop, take their race number and name if possible and go to the nearest marshal for help.  They will contact us and we will take the appropriate action.

We like to think it is always magical in Marlborough at this time of year and it almost always is. But please be prepared for anything and bring lot of layers. The day could range from 8-18 degrees.

After you have completed your race there will be plenty of food and drinks available to buy at ‘The Hub’ at Saint Clair – ranging from sausage rolls and chicken pies, to delicious meals from a range of specialty Marlborough producers. You will also find Saint Clair wine, Renaissance beer, cold drinks, and coffee. Full meals will be available at the fabulous Vineyard Kitchen if you make a booking prior to the event.

There will also be live music on the grassy knoll and plenty of other entertainment so you can relax here after your race with your friends and celebrate your achievement together.

NOTE: Debit/credit cards and cash payments will be accepted but please note there will not be ATM or cash withdrawal facilities on site. 

The site will close at 3pm.

Music devices may be worn once the race has started. However, we do ask that you turn them off at the safety briefing before the race, and at some points during the event. The safety of our runners /walkers is very important and we ask that everyone turns their devices off at all road crossings or when marshals are giving safety instructions. Please be aware of other runners’ enjoyment and do not play your music too loud.

The timing transponder in your race bib will officially start as you go across the start line, and your ‘mat’ time will be recorded as you finish. BUT, your ‘gun’ time is the time from when the starting gun goes and it is this time that determines your placement on the day, even though the mat time is more precise.

Prizes on the day will be awarded on gun times as official mat times will not be confirmed until 1-2 days after the race. The crux of that is, if you want to win or be in the top few places, you need to be over the start line as soon as the gun goes off.  If you are simply competing against yourself, you could be the last one across the line and still do a great time.

If you do not want your name published with your result, please let us know and we will only post your race number.

A few cheers from friends and family can make all the difference to the spirit of the half marathon competitor, so we want you to encourage them to come along and support you. There will be some great designated spectator spots for your supporters to cheer you on before heading back to Saint Clair to see you cross the finish line.

This very special course exists for only one day a year and relies solely on the goodwill of the participating landowners.  We ask all entrants and supporters to please respect private property and do not bring dogs onto the course.  Please ensure you do not leave any litter and please pick up all your tissues!

If you are a Nutrient Rescue Vineyard 12km entrant who parked at Vines Village, there will be a free shuttle bus provided from race finish at Saint Clair back to Vines Village to collect your vehicle after your race.  Don’t worry, the shuttle bus stop will be clearly signposted from race finish.

Note: free shuttles to Vines Village only operate after the event, not before.

If you need to withdraw from the event, your entry fee is refundable, minus a $25 administration and handling fee for each withdrawal. Entries can be refunded if you contact us before midnight Thursday 11th April 2024.

We do apologise but NO refunds can be given after this date. Between 12th April and 4th May entries can be transferred to the following years’ event. After 4th May no refunds or transfers will be made.

Please note that if you opt to roll your entry over to the next year, you may only do it once. You cannot then roll the entry over again to the following year. No refunds are available for rolled over entries.

IMPORTANT: We don’t have many rules but one of the biggies is NO running in another person’s bib. If you are found to be doing so you will be disqualified.