2024

Winners Top 10 Men

Winners Top 10 Women

Prologue & Seeding

Abangeni

Race Essentials

Schedule

Route Details

Race Rules

All Results

2024 Otter Top 10 men

1 Robbie SIMPSON 04:21:36
2 Jacques BUYS 04:24:39
3 Kane REILLY 04:25:30
4 Mvuyisi GCOGCO 04:38:18
5 Admire MUZOPAMBWA 04:42:02
6 Jacques DU PLESSIS 04:45:38
7 James MILLER 04:45:38
8 Gabriel KRIEL 04:49:13
9 Christiaan GREYLING 04:51:09
10 Sinovuyo NGCOBO 05:02:21

1  Robbie SIMPSON / 04:21:36

2  Jacques BUYS / 04:24:39

3  Kane REILLY / 04:25:30

4  Mvuyisi GCOGCO / 04:38:18

5  Admire MUZOPAMBWA / 04:42:02

6  Jacques DU PLESSIS / 04:45:38

7  James MILLER / 04:45:38

8  Gabriel KRIEL / 04:49:13

9  Christiaan GREYLING / 04:51:09 / 00:29:33

10 Sinovuyo NGCOBO / 05:02:21 / 00:40:45

All Results

2024 Otter Top 10 Women

1 Bianca TARBOTON 04:48:41
2 Rebecca WATNEY 05:06:19
3 Samantha REILLY 05:13:26
4 Meg MACKENZIE 05:32:20
5 Emily DJOCK 05:33:15
6 Catherine WILLIAMSON 05:45:02
7 Maryke VAN ZYL 05:51:37
8 Jeanne BRINK 05:56:33
9 Tamlyn GILL 06:13:42
10 Carla COLLINS 06:16:04

1 Bianca TARBOTON 04:48:41
2 Rebecca WATNEY 05:06:19 00:17:37
3 Samantha REILLY 05:13:26 00:24:44
4 Meg MACKENZIE 05:32:20 00:43:38
5 Emily DJOCK 05:33:15 00:44:34
6 Catherine WILLIAMSON 05:45:02 00:56:21
7 Maryke VAN ZYL 05:51:37 01:02:55
8 Jeanne BRINK 05:56:33 01:07:51
9 Tamlyn GILL 06:13:42 01:25:00
10 Carla COLLINS 06:16:04 01:27:22

All Results

Abangeni (Contender Group)

The Abangeni are the top contenders. Based on their Prologue Results, the first group consists of the top 24 men and 16 women.

Podium Rankings: The first five finishers of the Otter Race are ranked by the order they cross the finish line.  Only Abangeni athletes are eligible for prize money.

Race Day Essentials

Shuttles to Start: Depart from the Easy Transfers pick-up outside Race Village. Shuttle departures are from 05:15 to 05:30.

Parking: There is limited parking at the Natures Valley Start Venue—carpool if possible. Allow at least 50 minutes of transit from Plettenberg Bay or Storms River Mouth Rest Camp.

Vida e Coffee: Two free coffee vouchers per athlete, provided by Vida e Caffé at the start.

Finish Line Food: A buffet will be available for athletes at the finish.

Post-Race Dinner & Awards: A buffet dinner in Race Village tent. Extra dinner tickets can be purchased at registration (subject to availability). The awards ceremony and race highlights will follow after dinner.

Otter Race Schedule

05:15-05:30 / Easy Transfers to Start

06:15  / Start Line Race briefing

06:30 / Abangeni Start

10:30 / First Runners expected at the finish line

16:00 / Course closes

17:30-19:00 / Post-race Dinner in the Race Village Marque

18:00-19:00 / Sunset live music

19:00 / Awards ceremony

Race Route Details

Munchie Point: Located near Oakhurst hut (approx. 20km), offering snacks from NAMEDSPORT, ButtaNutt, fruits, nuts, and eggs. This will supplement your energy but won’t suffice for the entire race—come prepared.

Water on the trail: Numerous streams and springs are safe for drinking. Avoid drinking from Coldstream Witels and Lottering Rivers. Use rainwater tanks at overnight huts.

Otter vs Retto: The Otter and Retto routes alternate yearly. The Classic (Otter) is typically 7-10 minutes slower than the Retto, with technical descents and the Bloukrans crossing at the 30km mark adding difficulty.

Otter Rules

No supporters on the route: Supporters are only allowed at the start in Natures Valley and the finish in Storms River Rest Camp.

No Littering: Bins are available at overnight stops and checkpoints. Littering will result in disqualification.

Fairness & Doping: Medical checks for doping may be conducted in line with ASA regulations. Refusal or failure to attend these checks will result in disqualification.

Trespassing & Land Traversing: The Otter Trail is only open to trail running on race days. Athletes caught trespassing outside race days will face a lifetime ban and legal consequences from SANParks.

Fearsome / 11hr cut-off

Otter Challenge

CLASSIC EDITION
1-2 Oct 2025
Day 1 - Prologue Seeding
Day 2 - 42km Grail of Trail

ENTRIES CLOSED
Phase 2 - 1st Nov 2024

WAITING LIST

Extreme / 9hr cut-off

Otter Race

CLASSIC EDITION
3-4 Oct 2025
Day 1 - Prologue Seeding
Day 2 - 42km Grail of Trail

ENTRIES CLOSED
Phase 2 - 1st Nov 2024

WAITING LIST
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Robbie Simpson - 2024 Otter Mens Winner
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Bianca TARBOTON Womens Winner 2024 Otter Race
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The Otter Green principle is to ensure that the near-pristine environment is better for you having participated.

Your best Otter

Green Trails

The Otter is run along a section of near-pristine coastline. Find out how we are keeping it that way.
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Policies

We strive for the perfect race, to be enjoyed by all. Here is how to make most it.

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Athlete News

Specific information sent out as newsletters regarding updates. Latest copies are here.

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Training

We have great advice from experts on training plans

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Otter records and winning times from 2011 to 2024

Record Times
Otter Grail of Trail

Classic Edition

All time Race records

Marc Lauenstein (CH)

03:59:0

Bianca Tarboton (SA)
New Record 2021

04:45:0

Marathon Distance. Four river crossings. Over 2,400 meters of elevation gain and 11 significant climbs. This is what makes the Otter “The Grail of Trail”

Otter Grail of Trail

Retto Edition

All time Race records

Bartlomiej Przedwojewski (POL)
03:40:0

Toni McCann (SA)
New Record 2022

04:33:0

Otter IG

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2020 Video Highlights

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2020 Otter - Retto Best of Highlights

Otter Tube

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Prize Money: A total of R80,000 was awarded to both male and female winners of the 2020 Race.

Male and Female each received:
1st - R25,000
2nd - R10,000
3rd - R5,000

2020 Otter Race -
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1st - Pere Aurell Bove

04:03:0

Men Overall

2nd - Johardt Van Heerden
3rd - Kane Reilly

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1st - Toni McCann

04:40:0

Women Overall

2nd - Bianca Tarboton
3rd - Ragna Debats

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1st - Quintin Honey

04:56:0

Men Vet

2nd - Kevin Evans
3rd - Guido Tagge

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1st - Ragna Debats

05:06:0

Women Vet

2nd - Lindi Georgiou
3rd - Janeske Oosthuizen

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 Retto Record

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Johardt Van Heerden clocks a new South African RETTO record in a time of 04:03:50

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1st - Roldah Orrie

07:32:0

Women Master

2nd - Marie Ayton

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1st - Jaco Burger

05:19:0

Men Master

2nd - Kevin Spratley
3rd - Charles Girdlestone

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 Retto Record

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Toni McCann broke her own record for fastest South African time by a minute and a half, finishing the RETTO in a new record time of 04:40:30
 

Otter 2020 - Race

The Race Participant Start Times

The race start is 7am on Nature's Valley beach.
 

Apologies, there is was an issue with start times, they are not available on the site. An sms was sent regarding your individual time and there is a print out at the start line.

The Race Weather Alert Announcement

Taking into consideration tomorrow's weather forecast, as well as swell, wind and tides, Race Director, Mark Collins and his team have made the weather call for the Otter Race to take place on 31 October 2020. The Otter Challenge on Saturday will be run under Weather Alert Level 1. Sunny but cool temps are expected - perfect running conditions.

All Race Gear Requirements

You will need to carry the following:
• Pack/hip belt
• Water bottles/bladder
• Timing chip
• Phone + add to contacts - Rescue: 0725047537 and Medical: 0749910911
• Whistle
• Space blanket
• Strapping
• ER food (minimum 2 GU Energy Gels)
• Bib/race shirt
• Hand sanitiser
• Mask/buff
• Wind-proof jacket
• Running footwear
2020 Otter -

Retto - Challenge Prologue

Retto - Challenge

Retto - Race Prologue

Retto - Race

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