This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

28

Feb 2024

Last Updated: 28/02/2024

Nidderdale Show chair reveals why £2m sports tourism event moved to Masham

by Flora Grafton

| 28 Feb, 2024
Comment

0

mixcollage-27-feb-2024-03-03-pm-1416

The chairman of Nidderdale Agricultural Society today revealed the reason behind the change of location of the new sports tourism event Long Course Weekend.

The three-day weekend, which North Yorkshire Council expects will attract thousands of competitors and pump £2 million into the Nidderdale economy, was due to be held at the Nidderdale Showground in Pateley Bridge in September.

The council is holding it in collaboration with a private company and with local organisations. But it announced last week the event had been moved to Masham because of “difficulties over using the Nidderdale Showground”. No further details were released.

However, Martin Smith, chairman of Nidderdale Agricultural Society, which organises the annual Nidderdale Show, discussed the matter today.

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret that staging the inaugural Long Course Weekend raised “too many questions” about what condition the showground would be left in ahead of the agricultural show, which is being held later that same month on September 24.

He said:

“The show is our absolute priority.
“We were initially told the Long Course Weekend could be held in May. We avoid hiring out the showground in September completely due to the show — and the infamous weather we usually get with it — as we have to make sure the showground is in the best condition it can be to go ahead.
“However, it was then moved to September. We provided the Long Course Weekend with some terms and conditions, which we do when the ground is being hired out, because we wanted assurance the ground would be left in good order ahead of the show.
“We agreed to hosting the show this September on the basis it would be brought forward to earlier in the year — like May or June — the following years. This was in the hopes of better weather or, if the weather was poor, that there would be sufficient time to get the ground in good condition again in time.”


However, Mr Smith said the council began “calling the shots” and “would not budge” on the show being held annually in September. He added:

“We realised holding it every September just raised too many questions about whether the showground would be left in good condition.
“That’s when we thought it would be better to just pull out of hosting it, rather than risk the state of the land ahead of the show, which again is our priority.”


Mr Smith added the re-location was “marvellous for Masham”.

Masham Parish Council 'delighted' about move


Ian Johnson, vice-chairman of Masham Parish Council, today told the Stray Ferret councillors were delighted the event was coming to Masham. He added:

"It will be a huge boost to the local and indeed the wider economy in the dales.
“Masham has a history of showing huge public support for cycling events, being on the route of the grand depart, and not forgetting several Tour de Yorkshire events also came through Masham largely because it worked for them, we saw huge visitor numbers at such times.
“Masham has always welcomed visitors to locally organised events such as the steam rally and the sheep fair.”


What is the Long Course Weekend?


The Long Course Weekend will take place from September 6 to 8.

It caters for cyclists, swimmers, runners and triathletes of all abilities. It is based on a triathlon, but competitors have the opportunity to take part in all three disciples or just one.

The swim in Grimwith Reservoir includes 1.2 miles and 2.4 miles options, cycling routes are from 56 miles to 112 miles, and the running races range from 5km to a full marathon. There will also be a children’s running event.

The council paid a £26,000 hosting fee to the company which runs the event and predicted it would generate £2 million for the local economy.

Events are still expected to pass through Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge, but Masham is set to host the event for the next three years.



Read more:



  • Major sports event moved from Pateley to Masham

  • Major new event aims to revive sports tourism around Harrogate