The festival, which features a towering 52 kilometre-long ultra-marathon, a 42km marathon, a half-marathon, a 10km Winery Run and shorter fun-runs, was held at Hunter Valley Gardens on Sunday morning. 

At 6.30am, with temperatures just edging past 5 degrees, the competitors tackling the ultra-marathon took off from the starting line. 

The thirty-odd elite runners wound through the gardens, spilled onto wine-country’s bush-lined back roads before hitting the heart-breaking hill at Audrey Wilkinson winery. 

Veteran long-distance runner Junya Kitano took out top-spot in the men’s category just over four hours and two minutes while Shortland’s Renae Brock triumphed in the womens’ category in four hours and 47 minutes, finishing fifth overall.

Rathmines’ Renee Schofield finished second in the women’s ultra and tenth overall with a time of five hours and two minutes while Maitland runner Greg Mullaly finished the ultra-marathon in five hours and 30 minutes.

Andrew Heyden grabbed first in the men’s marathon in two hours and 57 minutes while Newcastle’s Corey Newman took out the womens’ category in three hours and 22 minutes. 

For a full list of results click here.