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Beautifully maintained showground fields in the suburbs of Whangarei City. The big open fields flow into some sheep farm paddocks at the backend of the course (the highest part of the loop) with some beautiful views over the countryside. The travel under foot is a mix of field, farm, single trail, gravel road, tarseal roading. Some native fauna and flora along the creek side. To make it interesting , horse showjumping equipment will be placed for visual effect. Elevation gain of approx 100 mtrs.
An easy (until its not!), ever changing 6.71km lap that will suit all levels of backyarder.
Sat 31 May 2025 9am until the last person is standing!
Barge Park Showground, Whangarei
The 2024 event was EPIC !!!! The NZ on soil record was broken with 52 yards/laps or 348.92km
We expect the 2025 event to SELL OUT !
How far do you think you could run?
Marathon? 100km? 100miles? or are you after a PB
Are you interested to see how far you can go? Find that limit
Test your limits, Physically and Mentally and enter the KINGS Backyard Ultra now!
Friday night gazebo set up: 4pm – 7pm (you cannot stay overnight Friday night)
Registration: Friday 6pm – 7pm or Saturday 7:30am – 8:15am
Race Briefing: Saturday 8:30am
Race Start: Saturday 9am
Supporters briefing 9:15 am
Race Finish: Who knows…100+ laps???
Runners must finish the lap within 1 hour or will be a DNF
The next lap starts on the hour every hour after that (signalled by the bell)
Participants must be in the starting corral at the bell
Warning whistle will be given at 3, 2, and 1 minutes prior to start
Runners may not leave the course until each loop is completed (once the bell goes you must complete a loop before any support is given/taken)
No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners).
You are not to receive support, unless from a competitor still in the race– gear, food or liquids. All that is allowed is a quick verbal encouragement as they pass you or you pass them. You will be disqualified if this rule is broken.
No personal aid/support during a lap (the one aid/support location is the event base)
No artificial aids (including poles!). Music is okay but we ask that you’re aware of other runners so as not to hold people up.
Slower runners – please allow faster runners to pass
The winner is the last person to complete a lap when all others have given up
All others are technically DNF
If no runner can complete one more lap than anyone else, there is no winner
Please report to the timing area when you decide you can no longer go on
No cats, dogs or other domesticated animals allowed on the course with runners.
Beautifully maintained showground fields in the suburbs of Whangarei City. The big open fields flow into some sheep farm paddocks at the backend of the course (the highest part of the loop) with some beautiful views over the countryside. The travel under foot is a mix of field, farm, single trail, gravel road, tarseal roading. Some native fauna and flora along the creek side. To make it interesting , horse showjumping equipment will be placed for visual effect. Elevation gain of approx 100 mtrs.
An easy (until its not!), ever changing 6.71km lap that will suit all levels of backyarder.
We recommend the KINGS Backyard Ultra runners have support crew. This is limited to a maximum of 2 people at a time (based at the runners support tent). We’re happy to relax this a little after 12 hours and the numbers are reduced and there is more space. General supporters can cheer/encourage/kick up the arse at the finish line etc but can not join the runner in their tent. This is to prevent overcrowding on the course around the tents.
Each ultra individual is allowed a roughly 4m x 4m site within the event base. This will be marked out with tape. Due to safety and ground conditions no vehicles will be allowed to be parked in the tent site area (there are a couple of campervans that have made contact but they will be on the edge of the tent sites so a bit further away from the corral/start/finish).There is no mains power onsite. We will have no supply of water. We recommend people bring enough water for themselves/their teams. Sorry we do not have power available – please plan accordingly with powerbanks etc. There will be a cafe open on site during there standard hours, shops are within 10mins of Venue.
Do you want to represent NZ in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship in October 2026?
KINGS Backyard Ultra provides you with the opportunity to qualify for the World Team Championships.
With 15 spots up for grabs in the NZ team, 3 spots will be taken by the winners of the 2026 Silver Ticket events – Riverhead Relaps Auckland, Krayzies Christchurh and Pigs in Dunedin. The remaining 12 spots will be the highest yards achieved by Kiwis during the qualifying period (16 August 2024 – 15 August 2026).
KINGS 2025 is a Bronze ticket event, what does this mean ? If you are the last person standing you will receive a free entry into any 1 of above 3 Silver ticket events.
KINGS Backyard Ultra 2025 is a qualifying event for the World Team Championships in October 2026. As at Nov 2024, you will need to complete 49 or more laps to make the NZ ‘At Large’ list. When we set out the course in 2024 we had this in mind to get people onto that team at KINGS Backyard Ultra 2024 we got 2 people onto that team and set the NZ on soil record so KINGS is ideal for clocking up the yards.
The winner of the NZ World Team Championships in Oct 2026 then receives an entry to the Individual World Championships at Big’s Backyard Ultra in October 2027.
Click on the link below to see more info about the World Satellite Championships.
