Triathlon Australia (TA) has cancelled the national Challenge Series, saying the events were not financially viable following a sweeping review and consultation with numerous industry bodies. Triathlon Australia has dissolved the existing Challenge Series format in favor of established races.
Former president Ken Bonham had trumpeted the Challenge Series as "an exciting new chapter for triathlon in Australia".
The new decision to cancel the series has led to four races on the Australian 2010 triathlon calendar being cancelled. The cancelled races are Geelong Challenge on January 17, Hobart Challenge on February 14, Sydney Challenge on March 7 and Adelaide Challenge on March 20-21. The Canberra Challenge race scheduled for January 24 will still go ahead though it will now be known as the Canberra Capital Triathlon and run by Triathlon ACT.
The decision comes on the back of last month’s Annual General Meeting that saw the election of a new President and Board determined to adopt a unified and cooperative approach for the betterment of the sport.
Triathlon Australia immediately sought input from its state triathlon associations, participants in the previous series, the TA high performance unit and engaged an experienced event director, Garth Prowd, as an external consultant to assist with a review of the series.
Triathlon Australia President, Peter Hedge, said making immediate and significant changes to the Challenge Series was the only responsible course of action that could be taken.
“It was clear from the review that the Challenge Series had failed to meet the organisation’s expectations and deliver on its original objectives,” Mr Hedge said. “The series, in its existing format, was not financially viable at this stage and faced significant logistical hurdles, so the Board has decided to withdraw from the series now in order to protect the interests of our members and the sport.”
“These changes have not been made lightly and having now relieved itself of the Challenge Series, Triathlon Australia is free to implement pro-active initiatives that will lift the profile of the sport and its athletes, facilitate delivery of a unified race calendar, and improve services to our members,” Mr Hedge said.
“We regret that these changes will disrupt those few athletes who have already entered the cancelled events and TA will endeavour to assist these athletes to enter an alternate qualifying race should they have difficulty submitting entries at this late stage.”
What does this mean for me if I have entered a Challenge Series race?
Everyone who has entered a Challenge Series race in any location will receive a full refund. Triathlon Australia will credit the amount to your nominated account. Notification of this will be sent to your nominated email once this has been done.
For those who have entered Canberra on January 24, races are still going ahead apart from the Sprint Distance Triathlon. This event will now be known as the Canberra Capital Triathlon and will be run by Triathlon ACT. Those who entered Canberra Challenge races will receive a full refund and will need to re-enter races in the Canberra Capital Triathlon.
The Canberra Capital Triathlon (to be run by Triathlon ACT)
Please visit www.triathlonact.com.au for more information
