Ella Julian and Sam Clark had their eyes firmly focused on the top step of the podium at the recent Coast to Coast – and almost got there.

Last year Julian, 21, won the under-23 crown so was hoping to defend her title.

Although this did not eventuate, and she had to settle for second in the two-day individual under-23 category, she feels proud of how she performed across the gruelling 243-kilometre race, which starts in Kumara and finishes at New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.

“I wouldn’t say I’m unhappy, but I was definitely aiming to defend the title. Still happy to walk away with second behind Sophie Shallard, who put up an amazing fight and definitely deserved the title.”

Her preparation for the Coast to Coast had been solid.

“I had done a few local races leading up to Coast to Coast like Whaka50, the Highlander, Tois Challenge and of course The Motu Challenge but nothing in the couple of months prior as that’s our busy time in the berries, so very hard to do anything other than work.”

She was not feeling 100 percent when she lined up at the race start.

“I had been very sick straight out of the berry season and my spine was not in a good way leading up to Coast to Coast race, so I was kind of just hoping my body would hold up to get me over the finish line.”

“But I, unfortunately, had a rough run – I couldn’t keep anything down for the first 15-kilometres,” she said.

“It’s always a bit of a challenge to keep your head in it and carry on, knowing you still have a long way to go and can’t keep your nutrition in.

“It was definitely tougher conditions than last year. There were some pretty awesome women racing this year, which made for a pretty exciting and challenging race.

Despite how hard the race can be at times; Julian loves all aspects of it.

“I definitely am always looking forward to getting in my boat as I’m a stronger paddler than anything.

As for competing next year, she’s undecided.

“Going into this year I had decided I would not race next year to sort out some injuries and focus on work, however, now I’m very torn so we shall see.”

Clark, competing in the one-day elite men’s division, also had a fantastic race in what was his first Coast to Coast race in about five years.

The four-time champion showed he could still mix it with the best and if it wasn’t for some bad luck early on in the race that saw him fall behind, he could have been celebrating a fifth title.

Clark had to settle for third behind Australian and first-time winner Alex Hunt and Hamish Elliott, who won the 2024 race.

The 34-year-old said it was good to be back in the Coast to Coast.

“I was happy with the performance I was able to put together, even if I wasn't able to take the win," he said.

Clark had an impressive 2024, racing in the likes of China and at the final Motu Challenge where he was first to the finish.

His return to the Coast to Coast created a real buzz around the men’s race and his abilities across all three disciplines gave him a strong chance.

Riding down the great Braden Currie on South Eyre Road on the way to his second victory in 2017, or his regular sub three-hour journeys over Goat Pass are just a couple of examples that underlined his credentials in the race, and why so many expected him to be right up there, despite him having been away for a few years.
He had stepped away from the race in previous years to give other events such as the Tour of Southland a crack.

Now that he’s back, his supporters will be hoping to see him return in 2026 to, hopefully secure a fifth victory.