Southland’s premier river racing event returned this past weekend with two days of full-throttle competition across the Mataura and Oreti rivers. Known as the Southland Twin Rivers, the marathon-style contest draws the best of New Zealand’s jet boating talent to race over back-to-back courses that test both boat and crew.
On Saturday 23 August, competitors lined up on the Mataura River for four 43-kilometre legs. The course began at Steeghs Beach and ran upstream to Ardlussa and Keowns Bridge, before turning around for the downstream return – repeated twice for a gruelling day on one of Southland’s most technical waterways.

Sunday shifted the action to the Oreti River, with a shorter but no less demanding 40-kilometre course. Starting at Thomsons Crossing Road, the fleet blasted upstream to Dipton before racing back downstream. Four legs on the Oreti capped off the weekend, combining fast straights, tight corners, and constantly changing river conditions.
Together, the two rivers delivered a complete test of speed, stamina, and strategy. From Unlimited gas turbines to CX rivals and the rising FX-Evo class, every leg shaped the battle for silverware and bragging rights in New Zealand’s toughest river racing event.
Overall results – Southland Twin Rivers 2025
After eight legs across two rivers, the Southland Twin Rivers 2025 produced clear champions in each class – and confirmed Roger and Ben Preston as the standout crew of the weekend.

The father-and-son pairing dominated the Unlimited Class, winning every leg on both the Mataura and Oreti Rivers with relentless 17-minute runs. Their pace earned them not only the class crown but also a sweep of the major trophies.
In CX Class, consistency was the key. Adam Wilton and Matt Melton stayed calm under pressure, delivering quick, reliable times that kept them ahead of challengers Justin Hill, Damian Pulley, and Craig Plunkett. While rivals occasionally posted faster individual legs, Wilton and Melton’s steadiness across the full marathon gave them the edge.
FX-Evo Class saw Ashburton’s Aidan Flett and Jared Farquhar confirm their status as the team to beat. Flett was unmatched on the stopwatch, although Regan Howley came within two seconds on Oreti Leg 3 – the closest margin of the entire weekend. That brief scare aside, Flett’s pace secured a commanding win.
At prizegiving in Winton, the silverware told the story:
- Unlimited Class – Roger and Ben Preston
- CX Class – Adam Wilton and Matt Melton
- FX-Evo Class – Aidan Flett and Jared Farquhar
Special trophies went the same way. The Prestons collected the Alan Baxter Memorial Trophy (fastest Oreti), the Longford Tavern Trophy (fastest Mataura), the Southland Twin Rivers Trophy (fastest combined), and the Winton Hotel Rivers Trophy (fastest on handicap). The only award to escape their grasp was the Southern Challenge Shield, recognising the fastest combined times over the Waitaki and Southland events without DNFs – this went to Wilton and Melton, an acknowledgment of their class consistency.
The Twin Rivers once again showcased why Southland sits at the heart of New Zealand river racing: fierce competition, family legacies, and two rivers that never fail to deliver drama.
Unlimited Class – Preston in command
Roger and Ben Preston (NZ367) came into the Southland Twin Rivers with pedigree, having taken the NZ1 title this year. The father–son crew from Winton showed why they are regarded as one of the hardest teams to beat.
Across both days they stamped authority on the Unlimited class. On the Mataura they swept every leg with sub-18 minute runs – 17:49, 17:36, 17:58, 17:07 – each time finishing a minute or more ahead of Ben Baxter (A199) and Mike King.
On Sunday’s Oreti, Baxter’s consistency nearly paid dividends: he got within 35 seconds of Preston in Leg 2 (17:05 vs 17:40), the closest margin of the weekend. But Preston never faltered, finishing every run in the 17-minute bracket.
CX Class – Wilton’s consistency pays
The CX Class was where the closest leg-by-leg racing unfolded.
On Saturday’s Mataura opener, Adam Wilton (229) edged Justin Hill (248) by just four seconds (19:48 vs 19:52). Hill, a World Champion in both A Class (2017) and CX (2019), is always one to watch, but Wilton controlled the early tempo. Robert White (666), Damian Pulley (32), and Craig Robinson (28) followed closely, all within two minutes.
By Leg 2, Wilton went faster (18:49) and stretched the lead. White’s 19:38 put him briefly ahead of Hill, while Pulley and Robinson dropped back. In Leg 3, Wilton (19:52) held steady, but Pulley’s disastrous 27:26 opened the door for Plunkett (71) to jump ahead. Hill again stayed right there with Wilton, only four seconds back.
The fourth leg saw Hill fire back with the fastest CX time of the day (18:46), nine seconds quicker than Wilton. Pulley recovered (19:47), while Plunkett and Robinson held position mid-pack.
On the Oreti River, Wilton kept the pressure on. He opened with 18:53, only 31 seconds ahead of Pulley (19:24) and 36 ahead of Hill (19:29). Leg 2 tightened further: Wilton 18:00, Pulley and Plunkett both 18:25.
Leg 3 turned the script: Wilton slowed to 22:25, leaving Hill (19:39) and Pulley (19:31) ahead on the stopwatch. Plunkett (20:33) also got the better of him. But Wilton’s earlier speed kept him on top overall. In the final Oreti leg, he sealed victory with 18:12, fending off Plunkett (18:17).
FX-Evo Class – Flett untouchable, Howley’s challenge
FX-Evo is River Racing NZ’s entry-level category, designed as a feeder to CX and A/Unlimited. Despite its developing nature, the competition was fierce.
Ashburton’s Aidan Flett (525) dominated. On Mataura he ran four legs all around the 22–23 minute mark. His opener (22:44) set the tone, nearly three minutes clear of Regan Howley (110). Matthew Thomson (144) and Joseph Kelly (A307) filled out the class but were more than 4–9 minutes down per run.
Oreti again belonged to Flett, but Leg 3 brought drama. After winning Leg 1 (23:01) and edging Howley in Leg 2 (21:58 vs 22:20), he was nearly matched in Leg 3: Flett’s 24:04 to Howley’s 24:06 – only two seconds apart. It was the tightest class finish of the weekend. By the final leg, Flett hammered home the win with 21:31.
Looking forward
As the trophies head home and the boats are packed away, attention already turns to the next showdown. If the Twin Rivers taught us anything, it’s that New Zealand’s jet boating talent runs deep – and the racing only gets faster from here.
2025 Golden Homes New Zealand Marathon – race week preview
New Zealand’s biggest river racing event is set for late October, with the 2025 Golden Homes New Zealand Marathon promising four days of spectacular action across the South Island’s most famous rivers.
The marathon opens on Tuesday 21 October with tech inspection and a welcome function (venue to be confirmed), before racing begins on the mighty Rakaia River.
Wednesday 22 October – short legs from the Lagoon to SH1.
Thursday 23 October – long legs from the Lagoon to Gorge Bridge.
The action then shifts to the Waimakariri system, beginning on Friday 24 October with the Upper Waimakariri course from Gorge Bridge to Esk Pool. On Saturday 25 October the finale takes place from the SH1 ramp to Alpine Jet, Rubicon – one of the most demanding and iconic stretches of river in the country.
Organised by Byron Campbell, the New Zealand Marathon is regarded as the ultimate test of jet boat racing, combining speed, navigation skill, and the stamina of both crew and machinery across multiple rivers and courses.
For more details, visit the Race Info page.