Cash sought for Bay marathon

Sarah Portas competes in the recent Country 2 Coast. A new marathon will give runners more opportunities to compete locally. Photo / File

Supporters of an annual "destination marathon" planned for Hawke's Bay from next year say it will attract international visitors and boost the local economy.

Events company Lagardere Unlimited Oceania, an Auckland-based subsidiary of the world's third-largest sports marketing agency, plans to stage its first Hawke's Bay marathon this time next year.

The run is likely to start on Napier's Marine Parade and traverse a mix of roads, cycleways and private land before finishing at Sileni Estates Winery, Hastings.

The event would be held on Saturday, May 14, next year. As well as a full 42km marathon, Lagardere plans a half marathon (21km), 10km run and children's event on the same day.

The company is majority-owned by Lagardere Unlimited, Europe's largest sports-marketing agency, and the local operation was set up in 2012 by Dave Beeche, former chief executive of Triathlon NZ. Mr Beeche could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Lagardere is asking Hawke's Bay ratepayers to contribute $225,000 to the event over three years, through grants of $25,000 per year over three years from each of the Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

Napier City's contribution was supported yesterday at a meeting of the council's finance committee.

In a report prepared for yesterday's committee meeting, Napier City Council's acting corporate services manager Adele Henderson said last year's inaugural Queenstown marathon, organised by Lagardere, was launched "with great success".

The Queenstown event attracted 5900 runners, hitting the company's five-year target in the first year.

Of those who took part in the Queenstown event, 10 per cent were from overseas and 78 per cent from outside the Queenstown region. "Out of town" visitors taking part in the event spent $5.6 million.

Napier deputy mayor Faye White told yesterday's meeting the Queenstown marathon was promoted and executed well by Lagardere and it was hoped that would be repeated in the Bay.

"We've got the scenery, we're got the environment, we've got the will, and I believe this is a really good thing to add to Hawke's Bay's event calendar," she said.

But councillor Graeme Taylor said he had "severe reservations" about committing ratepayer money to the event because there was a history of marathons in the Bay not proving viable.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said his council had also been approached by Lagardere and staff had recommended the requested commitment be agreed to, although a formal decision had not been made. Regional Council Chairman Fenton Wilson said his council had met informally with Lagardere but was not prepared to commit the requested $25,000 annual contribution, given it supported tourism through an annual grant to Hawke's Bay Tourism.