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14
Aug
Expected numbers for Masham sports tourism event revealed
The number of athletes expected to take part in a major new sports tourism event in Masham has been revealed.
The Long Course Weekend, which originated in Wales and is now coming to Yorkshire for the first time, anticipates between 2,000 and 3,000 athletes to descend on the town next month.
A document, seen by the Stray Ferret, also says about 4,000 spectators are expected.
The figures are considerably lower than those advertised on the Long Course Weekend website, which says more than “5,000 athletes and 20,000 supporters” could attend.
The actual number of sign-ups so far, however, has not yet been revealed.
North Yorkshire Council has paid the organisers a total of £75,000 to host the event annually for three years. It has said it expects the event to generate around £2 million for the local economy in return.
The three-day event, which will take place from September 6 to 8, is loosely based on the three disciplines of the triathlon. It includes running, cycling and swimming but participants can choose to enter as many events as they like.
You can find more details on each event below.
Swimming
There will be two swimming events held on Friday, September 6, at Grimwith Reservoir.
People can choose between a 1.9km or 3.8km swim.
The number of swimmers is capped at 1,000 due to the location of the swim, the document says, adding parking will be provided on site.
It says there will be “limited to no” disruption expected, with a full traffic management plan in place to control access to the reservoir.
Cycling
On the Saturday, a 56-mile and 112-mile bike ride will be held.
The cycling events will take place on open roads, which the Stray Ferret reported last week, and will also be capped at 1,000.
The document says "whilst there will be no road closures in place, there will be a large number of bikes on the highways". It adds:
The course will be comprehensive[sic] signed for cyclists and other road users. There will also be a large number of marshals in attendance.
It adds the route is structured around “quieter side roads” to “minimise disruption”, but also to showcase the area.
Councillor Andrew Murday, a Liberal Democrat for Nidderdale, expressed concern about the safety of cyclists riding on open and rural roads to the Stray Ferret.
He said at the time he was “keeping everything crossed that there won’t be an accident”, adding:
People will have to just be very careful on the roads. I'd urge people to be patient with cyclists.
I'm particularly worried about Lower Wath Road. Lots of people going to Middlesmoor, How Stean Gorge and the Sportsman's Arms use that road.
The bike route starts in Masham, but covers roads running through Lofthouse, Ramsgill and Pateley Bridge, then to Fountains Abbey, Ripon and back up to Masham to finish.
The 112-mile bike route. Credit: Long Course Weekend Yorkshire
Running
Donned the blue riband event by organisers, the run day will include a 5k, 10k, half marathon and a full marathon.
These will all take place on Sunday, September 8, on closed roads. The Stray Ferret published a full list of road closures last week.
The Long Course Weekend said the run day has been designed to showcase the area, involve local communities and provide athletes with an “attractive and safe course”.
But the document did not say what number the running events would be capped at.
However, emergency services can use the closed roads and course at any time and will take priority, the document says. Due to the rural location, this also includes vets, who can email info@lcwyorkshire.com for a vehicle pass.
The map of road closures. Credit: LCW
The document adds groups of 10 or more volunteer marshals can earn £400 for charity.
Those interested can email sarah@longcourseweekend.com for more details.
There will also be a £500 prize awarded to the ‘best supporting village’. The organisers said every athlete that takes part in the Long Course Weekend will be asked to vote on the best supporting village.
The village will then be given the money to put towards a project of their choice.
The document also said the response to the event has so far been "remarkable" and "nothing comparable to any other event that we deliver worldwide".
Despite this, the Stray Ferret has not received any media information since the event was announced last September, as reported last month.
The council originally planned to set up a host village at Nidderdale Showground in Pateley Bridge, but a disagreement with showground owners Nidderdale Agricultural Society in February meant it was moved to Masham.
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