Several new sports events have received government and Vincent Community Board (VCB) funding; to showcase Central Otago and attract visitors from outside the region according to Tourism Central Otago (TCO). 

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) regional events promotion fund recipients were announced by Minister of Tourism Matt Doocey earlier this month.

A range of new Central events have been named among the 132 recipients to receive funding support, including Lake Dunstan Trail Marathon $10,000, Clyde Classic $2575, Goldrush Multisport $22,900 and Pedal and Pour $2500. 

Existing events were also backed by MBIE; Cromwell Half Marathon $1500, The Prospector MTB stage race $10,000 and Spirited Women Adventure Race $4000. 

Applications for MBIE’s funding had to be made through the local Regional Tourism Organisation, TCO, who worked with event organisers who met the specific criteria to complete the application. 

TCO’s head of destination Anthony (Antz) Longman said events had to be ticketed or with paid-registration and held outside the peak summer season. 

“The events had to co-fund at least 50 per cent of promotion costs and were weighted higher when they aligned with the region’s Destination Management Plan.”

In a Vincent Community Board (VCB) meeting in April, annual promotion grants for 2024 - 2025 allocated $10,000 to The Goldrush for event promotion, signage, marshals and local staff costs and Clyde Classic allocated $5000 for traffic management, LINZ costs and equipment hire. 

VCB minutes emphasised that successful grants should be seen as a launching pad for establishing events, with groups aiming to become financially self-sustaining after a period.

Antz said the role of events was important “economically, socially, environmentally and culturally for the district".

“A positive experience for a visitor at an event can prompt them to become a destination advocate, promoting an area, and potentially prompting a return visit, investing in or even moving to the region.”

The Lake Dunstan Trail Marathon on Sunday, September 1 is the first time the trail has been used for a marathon.

Its organiser is Terry Davis who has experience of hosting rogaining, multi-sport and running events since 2008 across the Central Lakes. 

During the race the trail will not be closed to other users.

Runners will start in Clyde and finish in Cromwell’s heritage precinct.

Safety is top of mind for organisers with nine aid stations, roaming medics on e-bikes and a support boat on the lake. 

Terry said he had spent close to $20,000 on marketing locally and the 165 entries were “a bit lighter than hoped for.” 

“The vast majority have come from outside the region; Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch and the North Island . . . hopefully next year we’ll get more, including some from Australia.”

Terry said the short lead in time was one of the reasons numbers were low.

“Three months isn't enough for a marathon.”

The event is giving back to the community with $40 per entry going to the Southern Lakes Trails Trust, and $500 from each of the nine aid stations going to Dunstan High School, Cromwell College and the Cromwell Lions.

The Clyde Lions, who are marshalling on the day, will receive $400. 

Another new event called the Clyde Classic, taking place on October 19, within the historic town, got funding from the MBIE and VCB. 

Runners will take in views of the Mata-Au (Clutha) River, run or walk over the Clyde Dam, during the 5, 10 or 21 km course, and 25 per cent of the entry fees benefit Clyde School. 

Clyde Classic race director Tom Heath said entries so far were amazing with more than 100 people signing up, and $2000 raised already for Clyde School in the first two weeks of registrations.

“The [government] funding has been crucial as a startup and has covered expenses we’ve had to pay well in advance of releasing registrations to start generating revenue. 

“We haven’t started spending the majority of MBIE funding yet as we’ve only started marketing the event locally.” 

Tom plans to advertise nationally to bring tourists into the area and contribute to the local economy, and in the future he hopes to make the race a medium sized event at the national level.

“Even without national advertising, 35 per cent of people entered are from outside Central Otago.”

“October is usually pretty quiet for the businesses reliant on tourism so we hope to get the season off to a flyer and bring in people who wouldn’t necessarily see Clyde as a holiday destination.” 

Tom said Central has everything from mountains to fresh water, tree lined trails to rocky deserts and all can be experienced in one run, making it a top holiday destination for active travellers.  

The Clyde Classic course takes in much of the historic town, its bridge, dam and riverside trails. PHOTO: Tourism Central Otago

Multisport event The Goldrush is back, boosted by VCB and MBIE funding.

The event, being hosted next March over Otago anniversary weekend, hasn't been run since 2014. 

Local company Dare 2 Sweat events, who also put on Spirited Women Adventure Race, are running it and have given it an overhaul. 

Company and event director Neil Gellatly said he was excited about adding this once special annual sporting event back to the Central Otago event calendar and seeing the community benefit year on year. 

Neil said his business had invested $150,000 - $160,000 in The Goldrush and he estimated the economic impact over the three days of entrants, support crew and visitors coming and spending in Central could be in the vicinity of $700,000 - $800,000.

The Goldrush would also be giving back to three local charities; Central Otago Clutha Trails Limited (who maintain the Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail), Southern Lakes Trails Trust and Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group.

The Goldrush two day event involves trail running, kayaking, swimming and mountain biking.

“We’re hoping it will be enduring, and we’ll have many years ahead of it on an annual basis . . . these are the visitors we want, using our back door.”

The event has a Department of Conservation permit for a maximum of 500 entries; an entry could be an individual, tandem or relay team and each team needs two support people.

“All up there could be thousands attending for a minimum of three nights stay.”

Antz said TCO wants to support locally based events and are in the final stages of an ‘Event Development Framework’ to define the TCO’s role to support events within the context of Central Otago District Council. 

“The plan will provide recommendations and action points for how TCO, Council and other stakeholders can collaborate to ensure success of events in Central Otago, and where possible align events with the aspirations and building blocks of the Central Otago Destination Management Plan.”

Antz said nationally, there has been growing interest in running events. 

“That is reflected in Central Otago, whether an organised race, or a more casual offering like the Otago Central Rail Trail Park Run. 

“There is . . . a need to balance how events impact on other users, and it’s encouraging to see organisers looking at how they can hold their events in quieter periods, which in turn brings additional people into the region in what is sometimes defined as off-peak.”

Check out events on The Central App’s What’s On Guide.

More information: Pedal and Pour, Clyde Classic and Parkrun.