Proposals to rebrand the popular Ironman triathlon and secure the sporting event for the county until 2021 are set to be discussed next week.

A report from Pembrokeshire County Council’s head of highways and construction, Darren Thomas, to update the authority’s new cabinet on the proposed legal agreement and financial contribution between PCC and Ironman Ltd, will be given at a meeting at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Monday.

“It is now proposed to sign a new Host Sponsorship Agreement with Ironman Ltd for another five-year term (2017 – 21),” states Mr. Thomas in his report.

“As part of the host arrangements for Ironman, the authority is required to provide an annual sum of £50,000 to be paid to Ironman Ltd.

“This sum will be set out in a legal agreement with Ironman, which is currently being finalised. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority have also agreed in principle to partly support this contribution to the amount of £16,000.00 per annum and Tenby Town Council have committed a £5,000 contribution for year one of the proposed new agreement, with further commitment being considered on a year by year basis,” continued Mr. Thomas, explaining that Narberth and Pembroke Town Councils and Saundersfoot Community Council were also approached, but declined to contribute.

Comments by PCC’s director of finance state that the Ironman agreement has not been factored into the 2017/18 budget or the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017-18 to 2020-21, and the £50k contribution for 2017-18, minus any contribution received from other bodies such as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Tenby Town Council, will need to be identified.

The report also states that it has been agreed to rebrand the event as - Ironman Wales Pembrokeshire/Ironman Cymru Sir Benfro.

Tenby and Pembrokeshire has successfully hosted the event, which is said to have contributed £3.7M annually to the local economy since 2011.

County councillor for Tenby south ward, Mike Evans, said that the event had been ‘transformational’ for the health and fitness of residents in the town and Pembrokeshire.

“It’s a fact that Pembrokeshire has the highest per capita participation rate of any Ironman in the world, more than the likes of Paris and New York; last year it was approaching 400 people,” he remarked.

“It’s been a phenomenal success for health and fitness regimes and the legacy it’s providing for youngsters.

“The whole county is benefiting from Ironman and other events, such as the cliff diving, and they are putting Pembrokeshire on the international map,” he added.