Finch Hatton Shines In Zach Mach Return

In an amazing turn-out, over 240 competitors participated in both the ZACH MACH Adventure Challenge and MINI MACH Adventure Challenge over the ANZAC long weekend. Finch Hatton RSL was the new Head Quarters, and the choice to move to that particular location was an excellent one. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

The venue was shared with the RSL’s ANZAC Day celebrations, adding a unique and respectful atmosphere to the event.

The MTB stage featured the popular Finch Hatton MTB trails, which were met with great enthusiasm. The road cycle took competitors along local roads and rolling hills, framed by the stunning Pioneer Valley mountains. The run included refreshing creek crossings, twists, and turns that challenged and delighted participants. The kayak stage was reshaped into a “Y” formation, which also received positive feedback from competitors.

The winners were as follows:

𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗢 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀:
Completing an epic 87km of MTB, Kayak, Trail Run & Road Cycle -both winners, take the glory as second-time winners!

𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿: our first ever ZACH MACH champion in 2013 and now our first Male Solo winner at our new Finch Hatton HQ!

𝗝𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿: true to form, backed up her long course Female Solo win with another first in 2025!

Sharing the podium:
2nd Female: 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹
2nd Male: 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘇
3rd Female: 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻
3rd Male: 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 (missing from the photo)

𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗦:
Pairs complete the full ZACH MACH Course together and have to stay withing 20m of each other for the entire course:

1st Place: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝘆𝘀 - Evan Corry & Ashley Brownsey
2nd Place: 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗰𝘀 - Caleb Caldwell & Archer Flanagan
3rd Place: 𝗧𝗿𝗶-𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗩𝟴 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘀 - Linda Wetherall & Christine Webb

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦:
Teams relayed their way through the iconic Pioneer Valley, some team members taking on more than one stage!

1st Place: May Contain Nuts
2nd Place: Send for Help
3rd Place: Blackfullas
Incredible to see a full local podium!

𝗠𝗧𝗕 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 (36km Adventure Ride)
Across private property, up the iconic Teemburra Climb (because it 𝒊𝒔 an Adventure Challenge after all!) and finishing with the Finch Hatton MTB Park:

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male (by a whisker): Ethan Jansen
Female: Cath Meng

𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Riley Green
Female: Sacha Hoare

𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Zac Schwarzrock
The female MTB podium was skipped as both our legends Cath and Sacha powered straight into the 10ish KM Trail Run! Congrats Cath!

𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 (10km)
Redesigned this year for a more 'social course' set up in beautiful Teemburra Dam!

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: Zara Richardson (2nd year standing)
Congrats Zara — we hope you loved the new setup!

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 (Short & Long Course)
We may have been in Finch Hatton, however we still included the iconic Cattle Creek and had access through amazing private farms:

𝟱𝗞𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺:

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Female: Millie Groom
Male: Riley Walz

𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Female: Charlie Walker
Male: Tom Ballingall

𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Female: Isabelle Cahill
Male: Ollie Preston

𝟭𝟬𝗞𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺: May have been a little longer

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Jason Burke
Female: Kylie Parkinson

𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Eli Flanagan
Female: Samantha Sticklan

𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Graeme Harris
Female: Abigail Preston

𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 (25km Scenic Sprint)
Rolling hills, lush mountainous views, and our biggest Road Cycle Stage to date!

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
Male: Riley Green
Female: Abigail Preston

𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Ethan Jansen
Female: Bella Preston

𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲:
Male: Zac Schwarzrock
Female: Bella Preston

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Completing an epic 87km of MTB, Kayak, Trail Run and Road Cycle, both winners Lee Taylor and Jody Walker, take the glory as second-time winners

Teams podium with team 'May Contain Nuts' taking the win

Over 240 competitors took on the ZACH MACH and MINI MACH challenges in Finch Hatton over the ANZAC weekend, with epic stages and glowing feedback. Photos supplied