Coast to Coast race director Robin Judkins is on a nationwide search to track down the original cast of his famous multisport race.
Judkins is to visit eight cities over the next two weeks in a bid to lure the 79 competitors back for the 20th anniversary of the race in
February.
Judkins has 20 names and is optimistic of contacting half of the field, but is relying on word of mouth for the other athletes.
"I'm offering them all a deal - if they turn up I'll return their original entry fee [$60]," Judkins said.
However, there is a catch for the athletes. The anniversary T-shirt is priced at $60 and regarded as a compulsory purchase by the eccentric race organiser.
The original race winner, Englishman Joe Sherriff, now a doctor at Invercargill's Kew Hospital, is a confirmed starter.
The focus for next year's event is a far cry from the 2001 event, which was billed the "race of champions" because of the three-way battle between the race's greatest names - Steve Gurney, Keith Murray and Australian John Jacoby.
Gurney won the race for the seventh time, and with it $10,000 in prizemoney, but subsequently retired. Judkins estimates it is the sixth time he has done so.
Judkins' second goal for the 20th anniversary race is attracting all the previous category winners.
He also aims to have the 2002 event broadcast live on a major television channel, lift international competitor numbers from 64 to 200 in the next five years, and raise the number of women and North Island competitors.
- NZPA
