The ninth annual Kiama Coastal Classic attracted close to 1,000 participants across four race distances last weekend.

The most popular event of the day was the 21km race, which featured around 500 runners and ended in a dramatic finish in the men's division.

“The guy who came second in the 21km was just three seconds behind,” said Seb Gallery, marketing manager at Elite Energy Events.

“It was amazingly close racing - especially considering it’s not a flat course. Those times are impressive even on a flat route, let alone one that covers varied terrain.”

Steven Horrocks claimed first place in the men's division with a time of 01:29:09, closely followed by James Naldrett at 01:29:12.

In the women’s division, Martine Schlosser took the win with a time of 01:44:30.

Gallery noted the strong family turnout for the shorter events, highlighting the inclusive atmosphere of the day.

Finishing with a beautiful ocean view at Kiama Coastal Classic. Photo: The Bugle

“It was great to see so many families getting involved,” he said. “You had kids running the 2km event, while parents or siblings took on the longer distances.”

Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Kiama Coastal Classic. Gallery, who was part of Elite Energy when the event first launched, says he’s proud of how much it has grown.

“We’re still producing a great event, and we’ve seen people return year after year,” he said. 

“Some participants have completed all nine Kiama Coastal Classics - which is a real feather in our cap. That’s what we’re about: creating a fun and memorable experience for everyone.”

While Gallery was tight-lipped about the details for 2026, he hinted at a special celebration to mark the milestone.

“There’ll be birthday celebrations for the 10th year, but details will be released in due course,” he said. “There’ll definitely be some kind of surprise for the 10th anniversary.”

Full list of winners:

21km race

• Male: Steven Horrocks
• Female: Martine Schlosser

12km race

• Male: Charley Gibson
• Female: Elisha Bell

5km race

• Male: Sam Haldane
• Female: Amy Abbey

2km fun run

• Male: Memphis Menchaca
• Female: Alessia Spasevski