KEY POINTS:
Give Jane Patterson the money and she promises to deliver a 25th Ironman New Zealand next year to remember.
Long before the last of the 1000-plus finishers had crossed the line at the end of Ironman New Zealand just before midnight on Saturday, long-time race director Patterson was talking up next year's event - her 11th in the role.
Patterson has a wishlist for her race but only if she can find the support she needs.
While admitting the costs for next year's jubilee race - among the first of the international ironman triathlons to reach the milestone - will remain constant, at just over $1 million, she is keen to sink more into the prize pool.
Patterson, the driving force behind last year's highly successful world netball championships, also wants to find the money (or a fairy godmother airline) needed to attract more of the world's best.
"And, it would be great to bring back all the previous race winners [12 of the 24 races have been won by internationals]," said Patterson. "We have plans to do something special next year but how much we can do depends on the level of support we attract.
"If we could take the level of sponsorship up by $500,000, we would look at what we could offer the elite athletes in terms of travel and appearance fees. At present we can't look at matching what races like Ironman Germany offer.
"To get the best in the world needs money. That is not to put our race down in any way. We have some of the best here anyway. It just happens both [race winners Cameron Brown and Jo Lawn] are New Zealanders.
"Maybe because they are so good, they, unwittingly, are keeping other pros away. The proliferation - to around 20 - of ironman races around the world is another factor," said Patterson. "We are all in the same position. We all want to get the best field we can. I would like to pay more prize money."
The athletes go along with that.
Like most such races, Bonita Ironman NZ offers US$60,000 ($75,000) in prize money with Brown and Lawn collecting $8500 each for winning.
"Of course it would be great if prize money was increased - it has remained at the same level for years," said Brown. "While it is not the only driving force, it would certainly help. Some races offer more, just as some, but not the world championship in Hawaii, offer good appearance fees.
"But we cannot live on that alone. I'm fortunate I have good support from sponsors who have been with me for years. Winning a race like this helps obviously. Sponsors want to see a return."
But, like most, Brown accepts they will never match the big money other sports offer. Tennis players, golfers, motorsport and other competitors chase far bigger prize purses every week but without the same physical demands.
Maybe next year, but whatever is on offer will still be way short of the US$100,000 first-prize purses Brown and Lawn will chase in Hawaii in October.
First stop for Patterson on the money trail will be Bonita whose sponsorship ended on Saturday.
Spokesman Pat Corson intimated his company is keen to be involved and did not dismiss a special one-off arrangement for next year's race.
