A MEETING next month with Bathurst Regional Council will decide the immediate future of the Edgell Jog.
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Concerns had been raised over the viability of the community fun run after the past two events attracted only 800 runners each.
The Jog is battling for numbers within an increasingly packed September sporting calendar in Bathurst, with this year’s run clashing with both local football grand finals and the inaugural Western Premiers rugby league challenge at Carrington Park.
Jog committee treasurer Ray Stapley admitted there were real concerns leading into this year’s event but a finaly tally of finances had painted a rosier picture.
He said the Jog committee would meet council next month to discuss funding for next year’s event, and those talks would go a long way towards securing its future.
“We still feel September is the best time because once you get to October it can get too hot and August can be too cold,” he said.
“We can’t pre-empt what council might do but we have a meeting with them in November to provide an update on what we are doing. We are trying to cut costs where we can.”
Mr Stapley said a $13,000 grant from council this year covered most of the bill for traffic control, while Simplot paid for the prizes.
But running the Jog was still a costly exercise, with bills for advertising, public address system and the start-finish gantry among the larger expenses.
“I would love to see 1000 starters each year but if 800 is the number we’re going to get, then 800’s the number,” Mr Stapley said.
“We might need to look at cutting a few little things here and there but we’ve received plenty of positive comments and everyone is pretty happy about where we are.”
Mayor Graeme Hanger said he looked forward to meeting the Edgell Jog committee and discussing how council could best support the event.
“It’s a tourist attraction that brings people to town and has been an icon for more than 40 years,” Cr Hanger said.
“We will sit down with the Edgell Jog people and work through it and do everything in our power to ensure it continues.”
The mayor flagged possible changes for the Jog, including a new route.
“Maybe we will have to look at a different start venue or a different route,” Cr Hanger said.
“These things have been talked about in the past so we will have to see what happens.”