Challenging navigation, a tough mountain bike leg and a spectacular night paddle made the fourth edition of Top Dog 24 one to remember.
The 2026 Top Dog 24 Adventure Race delivered a challenging new course around Googong and the Canberra region, with teams tackling urban rogaining, open-country trekking, demanding mountain biking and a spectacular paddle under the stars.
Long-time Top Dog competitors Rob Joford and Michael Reed from Results Racing claimed the full-course victory, combining excellent navigation with impressive speed and perhaps a little local knowledge. With the course passing through Michael’s backyard, the pair certainly had some familiarity with the terrain!
It was a close battle at the front, with Capital AR and Chafing the Dream keeping the pressure on throughout the race. Clever route choices and accurate navigation proved decisive, with Results Racing at one stage overtaking their rivals on a different route without either team realising just how close they were.
The race began with a short urban rogaine around Googong before heading towards Molonglo Gorge and Kowen State Forest. The beautiful gorge and surrounding open country provided the setting for the second of three navigation-focused treks, with plenty of challenging checkpoints and route choices to keep teams thinking.
For the Little Dog half-course teams, optional bonus checkpoints added another tactical element. Cram Racing collected every available bonus checkpoint to secure an impressive victory.
Meanwhile, the full-course teams headed deeper into Kowen State Forest for a demanding 60km mountain bike leg featuring approximately 1,600m of climbing. With technical navigation, challenging terrain and some serious elevation, it proved to be one of the toughest sections of the race.
As competitor Dominic Tomesek put it, “The big ride was BRUTAL, but the views from the top of Kowen Forest made it worth it.”
One of the highlights of the weekend came overnight, with teams paddling across Googong Dam under the stars. Heavy fog made navigation particularly challenging at times, while glassy water, still conditions and clear skies created an unforgettable experience.
Results Racing’s Rob Joford described the experience as “Paddle under the stars on Googong was epic.”
A final navigation-focused trek through the open country around Tin Hut and the spectacular London Bridge arch rewarded accurate navigation before teams tackled a fast-paced mountain bike ride back to Googong and the finish line.
Top Dog 24 Results
Top Three Overall – Full Course (120km)
Results Racing – 13:05:34
Chafing the Dream – 13:29:53
Capital AR – 13:31:15
Top Three Overall – Little Dog (85km)
Cram Racing – 02:26:02
Carwoola Cruisers – 11:38:26
Egg On Top! – 11:50:34
Little Dog results include bonus time adjustments.
Full results are available at www.wldnco.com/live, where teams can also review their tracking data and maps from the race.
Top Dog 24 delivered everything we hoped for from the new location. Challenging racing, rewarding navigation and some fantastic terrain. Feedback from competitors has been overwhelmingly positive, with plenty of stories from a tough but memorable weekend.
We’re already looking forward to the 2027 edition, with some exciting ideas and suggestions from competitors helping shape what comes next.
A huge thank you to everyone who raced, volunteered and helped make Top Dog 24 another great weekend of adventure racing.
