Sponsored by Matthews Eyecare, the elite road mile featured Olympians from Ireland, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Winner Neil Gourley (UK) back row, sixth from left. Credit: Michael Dawson

The inaugural Nelson event celebrating all things running, The Spectacle, was hailed a resounding success with 1,500 competitors and crowds lining the streets on a scorching hot summer’s day in December.

“It went exceptionally well,” Matthews’ CEO Michael Cochrane, one of the organisers behind the event, told The Press. “The city really got behind it and there was highlight after highlight on Saturday.”

More than 20 representatives from the optical industry competed, with the top finishers in the main events being: Colette Read (Matthews) women’s 5km; Ben Harris (OPSM) men’s 5km; Tanique Wilde (Matthews) women’s 10km; Richard White men’s 10km; Jemima Daniels (Matthews) women’s 21km; Aaron Irvine (Specsavers) men’s 21km; Leah Watson (ophthalmic nurse) women’s 50km; Todd Scott (retired) men’s 50km.

Colette Read pounds Nelson's streets

After the races, Wellington band The Black Seeds entertained a crowd of about 4,000 on Upper Trafalgar Street. Putting on the free concert with a high-profile band was a financial risk but it paid off and concluded a fantastic day, Cochrane said.

The event included everything from kids’ road races to the elite mile, won by British Olympic 1,500m finalist Neil Gourley. The 2025 event will be held on 5 December.