WILL the Edgell Jog be back in 2019?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That remains to be seen.
The 43rd Edgell Jog was held on Sunday morning, with a total of 787 runners.
Organisers had hoped to see bigger numbers after revealing last week that low attendance would put the event’s future in jeopardy after it ran at a loss in 2017.
On Sunday, long-serving committee member Jim Hallahan said there would be some hard discussions ahead for the committee to determine whether the jog can return for a 44th time.
“We were looking for 800 minimum, would have liked to have got 1000, but 787 is better than it looked earlier in the week so we're pretty happy with that,” he said.
“We’re going to have to have a very serious look at whether it's viable, and I guess it depends a lot on the council, their support. It was fantastic [this year].”
It was only with an increased donation from Bathurst Regional Council that it was possible to hold the jog this year, after councillors voted in June to grant $13,000 to help with running costs.
The biggest cost facing the committee is traffic control, the bill at $14,000 this year.
Despite the uncertain future, Mr Hallahan, who ran the course himself at age 77, said Sunday’s event was still great for the participants.
“The message with the jog is: What a fantastic day. All those little kids you speak to, they're all having a good time. It's fantastic,” he said.
“It's just an icon event in Bathurst; it rivals things like the car races, it is just something Bathurst is known for.”
Mr Hallahan thanked the sponsors and the wider community for their support.
Wes Gibson was the first Bathurst runner to cross the finish line, placing seventh.
He said he would love to see the jog return in 2019, as it was an important part of the community.
“This was my first-ever running race, about 6 years, 7 years ago. I've got a lot of runners that I coach on a Wednesday night with Up Coaching who have been aiming for the Edgell Jog,” he said.
“I know that it is a difficult event with the street closures and things like that, but I think as far as a community event goes it is one of a kind in country NSW.
“I think if anyone that can get behind it - and I think today we had quite a few - hopefully we can keep it there, because it's definitely part of Bathurst, as much as the race cars or the B2B.”