Selwyn Stampede

CAN YOU SPOT YOURSELF? 👀📸

We recently found a stack of photos from the 2012 Selwyn Running and Walking Festival held in Leeston. Naturally, we had to go digging through them, and these are too good not to share! 🥹

The event has come a long way since then. We’ve moved from Leeston to Rolleston, tweaked our name from the Selwyn Running and Walking Festival to the Selwyn Stampede, and we’ve welcomed tens of thousands of runners and walkers along the way! 🤝

But here’s what we love the most about these photos...Some of the people in them are still turning up today!

You might even recognise a few local legends who will be back on the Stampede start line in 2027? 👀

How many familiar faces can you spot? 🔍

STAMPEDE STORIES 🤝 | Mark Maddren

Every year when we open entries for the Stampede, there’s always a little part of us worried about how many people will sign up.

However, we know there is at least one person we can count on.

Mark Maddren 🤝

Some people become part of the furniture in a small charitable trust like ours, and Mark and his whānau are no different 💚

Mark has taken part in every single event we’ve held, from the original Selwyn Running and Walking Festival back in Leeston, through the transition to the Selwyn Stampede here in Rolleston, and now into our 2027 event. That is over a decade of race bibs and finisher medals!🎖️

But his connection with us started before that.

Mark began his running journey with the Ellesmere Road Runners back in 2011. He started by running and walking between power poles, with the Selwyn Running Festival becoming one of his early goals to work towards.

These days, he’s still a regular with the Ellesmere Road Runners. He’s probably run the Ellesmere Road Runners loop more times than you could care to count, and running has gone from something he started for his health, to now an integral part of his life.

And if you’ve been around our events, you’ll know Mark isn’t just there to run.

He volunteers alongside his whānau. He arrives early and stays late without being asked. He supports other participants. He just gets stuck in!

We count ourselves pretty lucky to have Mark and his whānau as part of the SST community. Events like ours simply don’t operate without community legends like this!

And yes, he’s already entered for 2027. We were never worried about that... 😂

🎟️ Will you join Mark in 2027? - https://eventplus.net/SES27

RUNNING WITH YOUR MATES > RUNNING ALONE 🤝

Half Marathon feeling like a bit much? Split it ✂️

Grab three friends and take on 5.25km each, or team up with a mate and take on 10.5km each 🤝

Our Team Relay is a simple way to get involved, split up the challenge and have your crew there with you on race day! 🏁

Who is in your relay squad? 👯‍♀️

🎟️ Entries are open: https://eventplus.net/SES27

🚨 LAST DAY TO SAVE!

The countdown is on. Super Early Bird entries for the 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede finish tomorrow at midnight (12 Aug).

This is your last chance to secure the best available price before the next price increase kicks in 👀

Flat course. Great atmosphere. A challenge for every runner and walker 🏁💚

If February’s Stampede has been sitting on your “I should do that” list, this is your sign to stop thinking about it and get your entry sorted!

🎟️ Lock in your spot here:
https://eventplus.net/SES27

A little reminder for anyone still sitting on the fence 👀🏃‍♀️

Our Super Early Bird prices for the 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede finish this Wednesday, the 12th of August ⌛️

If you’ve been meaning to lock in your Stampede, now is the cheapest time to do it!

Flat course, great atmosphere, and a challenge for every level of runner and walker 🏁

The start line is already starting to fill up, so grab your spot before the next price increase kicks in.

🎟️ Enter here: https://eventplus.net/SES27

STAMPEDE STORIES 💚 | Stephen’s Incredible Journey

In 2009, Stephen was 46 years old, weighed around 115kg, and started jogging because he knew he needed to make a change for his health.

He nearly gave up twice.

Fast forward to February 2027, and Stephen will stand on the start line of the Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede Half Marathon to complete his 100th Half Marathon. 🏃‍♂️🎉

Along the way he has completed 45 marathons, raced across the Sydney Harbour Bridge ane even ran the New York Marathon! 🗽

For his 100th Half Marathon, Stephen is running in support of the Rainbow community, with friends and whānau joining him for the special occasion.

People like Stephen are the reason we love putting this event on. A local guy who started running for his health, stuck with it for nearly two decades, and is now about to complete Half Marathon number 100, an incredible achievement! 💚

If you’re thinking about taking on your first 5.25km, 10.5km or Half Marathon, this is your sign to join Stephen and hundreds of others on the Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede start line on 21 February 2027 🏁

🏎️ Join Stephen on the start line: https://eventplus.net/SES27

👉 Read Stephen’s full journey below:
https://www.selwynsportstrust.org.nz/newsarticle/168717?newsfeedId=2486659

The road to the finish line starts here 🏁💚

The 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede course map has landed! 🗺️

A flat and fast 5.25km loop through Arbor Green, giving runners and walkers the chance to experience the atmosphere, challenge themselves, and enjoy a great morning out in Selwyn.

Whether you’re completing one lap, building towards the Half Marathon, or getting a group of mates together to take on the Team Relay, this course has something for everyone.

Get a feel for the map, start picturing yourself out there, and let us know...

How many laps are you taking on? 👀

⚡ Super Early Bird pricing is only available for a few more days, so now is the time to secure your spot and save.

🏃 Enter here:
https://eventplus.net/SES27

24 hours in... and we’re already getting excited for February 🏃‍♀️💚

The first entries are rolling in, and seeing the excitement build is a pretty cool reminder of what makes this event so special!

Thank you to everyone who has already entered the 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede. The start line crowd is growing quickly, and we can’t wait to see everyone come together again in February 🤝

Have you locked in your challenge yet? 👀

🎟️ Enter here: https://eventplus.net/SES27

⚡ Super Early Bird pricing is only available for a few more days

🎉 ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN! 🎉

The 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede is officially live, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the start line on Sunday 21 February 2027. 💚

Whether you’re chasing a new PB, taking on your first event, running with friends, or bringing the whole whānau along, there is a challenge for everyone:

🏃 21.1km Half Marathon
🏃 10.5km
🏃 5.25km
🤝 Team Relay
👟 Kids Dash

⚡ Super Early Bird pricing is available for a limited time only, so if you’re planning to join us, don’t wait too long to lock in your spot and save some cash!

👉 Enter now: https://eventplus.net/SES27

Tag your running buddy and let us know which event you’re signing up for 👇

See you on the start line! 🏁💚

💚 Running for something bigger 💚

We’re excited to share a brand new feature for the 2027 Arbor Green Selwyn Stampede.

For the first time ever, when you enter the Stampede you’ll be able to:
🎗️- Donate directly to a charity or cause that matters to you
🏃‍♂️- Create your own fundraising page and have your Stampede challenge raise money for a cause close to your heart!

Whether it’s a local charity, a community organisation, a sports club, or a cause that has supported you or someone you care about, your run or walk can now help make a real difference 🤝

This is a really exciting step forward for the Selwyn Stampede and another way we can use physical activity to bring people together and support the wider Selwyn community.

At the Selwyn Sports Trust, we believe in Active Lives, Connected Communities, and this new fundraising option is a great example of that in action 👏

Imagine crossing the finish line knowing that every kilometre you covered also helped support a cause that matters to you. 💚

So tell us... who would you be joining the Stampede for? 👇

🚨 Entries open tomorrow, Monday 3 August at 9:00am.