Organisers of this weekend's Nugget Multisport Festival in Waihi say the event attracted a record number of participants, with more than 900 people registering across multisport and running events and effectively doubling the 2014 field.

Participants at the start of the 5km and 10km race. Photos by: Mark Samson Photography.

Whakatane athletes Hayden Wilde and Corrin Smit were in golden form winning the men's and women's Full Nugget multisport races convincingly. Smit, blitzed the course in 4:48:53, her time was 28 minutes faster than second placed female Sharnelle Cornelle.

Wilde completed the 78km Full Nugget Solo in four hours and one minute, beating second placed Bobby Dean by 11 minutes and third placed New Zealand Mountain representative Carl Jones by 14 minutes. The Nugget victory is Wilde's first win in a major multiport race. He was richly rewarded winning a $400 silver Nugget donated by local Company Waihihi Bullion.

The Full Nugget multisport race is considered achievable for all but challenging enough for the elite athlete consists of a 23km road cycle, 10km harbour paddle, 8km road cycle, 10km coastal run, 23km mountain bike ride and a final 2.2km run around the famous Martha Mine crater rim.

Now in its fifth year, the festival also includes the Half Nugget Duathlon (10km coastal run/23 km MTB/2.2km run), and 5, 10 and 21.1km adventure run and walk events.

The Half Nugget Duathlon individual male winner was Bryce Giddy in two hours, 30 minutes and 53 seconds, with the fastest female, Marquita Gelderman, across the line in three hours, three minutes and 58 seconds.

In the half marathon, Stefan Wagner blitzed the course to take the podium in a time of one hour, 51 minutes and 16 seconds, just three minutes clear of second-placed Matthew McLaren.

Veteran Katikati runner Sally Gibbs won the women's half marathon in a very slick time of two hours, two minutes and 29 seconds, which will be hard to beat in the future. Erin Furness was second in a time of two hours, 10 minutes and 52 seconds. This year the half marathon run course was changed from the previous course to make it an all off-road trail, the course changes will make previous records harder to break.

Organised by Waihi charity Sport ‘n' Action, funds raised by the event are earmarked for a new sports facility for the little town affectionately known as New Zealand's Heart of Gold.

Cyclists at the start of the Full Nugget next to the historic pump house.

Race organiser Mark Samson was 'stoked' with the event.

'Previously the event was run by Total Sport, with this the second year that our community organised it.

"We've had greater community support as a result and participation has sky-rocketed from previous years."

Anticipating growth, Mark says plenty of positive feedback was received. 'With slight changes to the kayak course, it is now much safer and achievable especially for novice kayakers,” he added.

Mark further noted that Waihi is an easy place to get to and has much to offer as a holiday destination.

'We have great places to shop, eat and stay, loads of historical and outdoor activities, and the new Hauraki Rail Trail, which starts right in Waihi, has huge appeal for cyclists, runners and walkers of all ages."

Full results can be found here.

Corrin Smit at the finish line.