International Race Weekend organisers are involved in talks with potential new sponsors to fill the void left by the withdrawal of the previous main backers, the Bank of Butterfield.

And the future of the road-running extravaganza as an event capable of attracting elite overseas runners may hinge on the success of the negotiations.

With just three months to go until the 2001 Race Weekend, scheduled for January 12 to 14, the amount of prize money to be offered remains in doubt.

Judy Simmons, president of event organisers the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA), said: "We are right in the middle of negotiations with potential new sponsors and that is all I can say at this time.'' The bank pulled out as main sponsors in the summer after their three-year agreement expired following the 2000 Race Weekend in January.

Although the deal was worth around $195,000 over three years, it is understood the bank put up many thousands more to promote the event.

And last year, the bank offered a $20,000 bonus to the first runner to run the Front Street Mile in under four minutes, as well as prizes and bonuses for the 10K and the marathon.

Entry forms for the 2001 International Race Weekend, scheduled for January 12 to 14, state that there will be "at least $25,000'' in prize money to be won, plus bonuses totalling $30,000 for record-breaking performances in the marathon and the mile.

But the forms, which were mailed two months ago to all the overseas competitors who took part in 2000, do not specify what prizes will be on offer for which events.

The Department of Tourism and Marathon Tours and Travel have been named as sponsors.

When asked whether prizes and bonuses had been affected by the withdrawal of the bank, Simmons replied: "I do not have any comment on that right now.'' Better news is that charity walkers and runners are set to hit the Island in their hundreds once more for Race Weekend -- despite apparent competition from a marathon walk to be held on the Island next month.

Race Weekend secretary Pam Shailer said she had received a large number of requests for application forms from US charity organisations for next year's event.

And she did not feel that the November 15 marathon walk, organised by American company Strategic Resource Allocation Group and backed by the Department of Tourism, would detract from Race Weekend numbers.

"The Leukaemia/Lymphoma Society is still bringing over a big group in January,'' said Shailer. "They've requested more than 300 application forms for 15 chapters all over the US.

"The walk is a good thing. It means we have two events attracting hundreds of extra visitors to Bermuda at what is normally a quiet time of year.'' Race Weekend will comprise mile races on Front Street on the Friday night, followed by a 10K race on the Saturday, with a half-marathon and marathon rounding off the event on the Sunday.

The overseas entry deadline for Race Weekend is November 30, but there is an extension for Bermuda residents to December 15.

Entries received before those deadlines will cost $25 for the marathon, $15 for the 10K and half-marathon and $10 for the 10K charity walk.

Late entries (December 15-January 5) will cost $40 for the marathon and $30 for the 10K and half-marathon, while last-minute registration (January 11-13) will cost $50.

Bermuda Track and Field Association have a web site (www.bermudatracknfield.com) from which entry forms can be downloaded.

Front Street Mile trials will take place on December 2 and 3 at the National Stadium.