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The Stawell Athletics Club has been forced to reduce its prize money for the major men's and women's gifts, after major sponsors declined to support the event.
Key points:
- Prize money to be cut by $15,000
- Shire Council moves to help
- Event brings in $4 million to local economy
Run in the western Victorian town of Stawell on the Easter long weekend, the Stawell Gift has been run for 138 years and is widely recognised as Australia's premier foot race.
But the Stawell Athletic Club which runs the Stawell Gift, has found it difficult to find sponsors.
The prize pool for the men's and women's Stawell Gift last year was $40,000 for each race, with that going down by $15,000 for this year's event.
But the Northern Grampians Shire Council has said it has made an offer to the Stawell Athletic Club, which could see the prize money maintained.
Mayor Kevin Erwin said council would assist in ensuring the longevity of the event.
"Council is working closely with the Stawell Athletic Club in an attempt to protect the prestige of the event, but we are all acutely aware of the pressures association with conducting a major event on the global athletics calendar," he said.
Local businesses keen, but national support lacking
Robert Irvine, a life member of the Stawell Athletic Club and sits on the committee, said while local businesses poured money into the event, the club struggled to compete for national sponsors.
"We've had to take the decision to decrease the prize money, unless a big sponsor comes on board between now and the event," he said.
"The commercial sponsorship area is clogged at the moment — you have all of the other sports competing for sponsorship dollars, and we just can't compete."
Mr Irvine said other Victorian athletics clubs were also struggling to find enough money to put on their gifts.
"It has been a pattern for a while now, but it's important that we keep going because I'm sure the tide will turn," he said.
Anticipation around for the event remains, says league
Victorian Athletics League (VAL) chief executive Tom Burbidge said foot racing struggled for publicity outside of the Stawell Gift.
Despite a drop in prize money, he believes the race will still carry the same significance this year.
"It has always been challenging finding sponsorship — Stawell has a much greater challenge in maintaining their current event, but the Stawell Gift has been the pinnacle of professional running in Australia for many years," he said.
"Irrespective of prize money, it is still going to be the most sought-after event."
But Mr Burbidge said the VAL could not assist the Stawell Athletics Club financially should the club not be able to lure a major sponsor.
"We support the clubs in every way we can, but we have around 25 clubs run gifts every season, so financially we are not in a position to be able to support them."
Hopes that 138-year old tradition will live on
Mr Irvine said the Stawell Gift brought in about $4 million to the local economy, and would continue on into the future.
"We have worked very hard for our 138th edition to make sure we put on the best possible athletics carnival, and I don't think there is a better athletics carnival," he said.
"We believe it will continue and we are working very hard towards that end.
"Our prime objective is ensuring the Stawell Gift is the pre-eminent foot race in Victoria."
But he said the club might have to make changes in the future as to how the event was run.
"There are many different options, but at the moment we are focused on running a three-day carnival this year and making it the best it can be," he said.
Mr Burbidge said if sponsorship continued to drop off, changes in how events such as the Stawell Gift are run were inevitable, but he still saw the event surviving.
"It has been hard for a long time and the sport, outside of the Stawell Gift, hasn't had much marketing at all," he said.
"It's a testament to the sport that it has survived pushing 150 years.
"In one way or another I most definitely see the Stawell Gift surviving."
Topics: sport, athletics, stawell-3380, ballarat-3350, horsham-3400
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