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24
Jul
What is happening to the Harrogate district's new £2m sports tourism event?
A major new sports event that aims to boost the Harrogate district economy by £2 million is due to be held in Masham in just six weeks' time.
North Yorkshire Council has paid the organisers of the Long Course Weekend £75,000 to host the event annually for the next three years.
The Stray Ferret and other media were told at last year's launch event it would attract crowds of people to the area and inject £2 million into the local economy.
But with the event on September 6 to 8 looming, many people remain unaware of its existence — or what impact it will have on local roads and communities.
The Stray Ferret, which has not been sent any media information about the event since last year, tried to find out more.
What is Long Course Weekend?
The Long Course Weekend sports tourism event, which originated in Wales in 2010, is loosely based on the triathlon disciplines of swimming, cycling and running. According to the organisers' website, the three-day Masham version "is expected to bring over 5,000 athletes, 20,000 supporters from 30 nations".
The Masham competition includes various triathlon options, a marathon, a half-marathon, a 10k, a 112-mile bike ride and a 2.4-mile swim in Grimwith Reservoir. Participants can pay to enter as many of the events as they like.
The routes cover a huge section of the Harrogate district – and yet no road closures have been announced.
Route maps on the Long Course Weekend website indicate events will pass through Ripon city centre, surrounding villages and much of Nidderdale.
The council originally planned to set up a host village for the event at Nidderdale Showground in Pateley Bridge – before a disagreement with showground owners Nidderdale Agricultural Society in February saw the host location moved to Masham.
The Stray Ferret last week contacted the council about the road closures, including whether they had yet been finalised.
A spokesperson confirmed the event will definitely go ahead, and added road closures will be finalised in 'the next couple of weeks'. But no further details were revealed.
(left) LCW founder Matthew Evans, Flo Grainger, Ian Johnson and Cllr Derek Bastiman in Masham.
Andrew Murday, a Lib Dem councillor who represents Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale on North Yorkshire Council, has expressed concerns about road safety for those taking part.
In a question to Cllr Mark Crane, the council's executive member for open business, Cllr Murday said he was "anxious to know" what measures were being taken.
Cllr Crane replied to say routes have been "carefully selected" to limit disruption to residents and businesses during the event, whilst still trying to "showcase the amazing scenery".
He told Cllr Murday:
The event organisers have met with several parish/town councils and have shared information with all those that are impacted by the event.
They are working particularly closely with Masham parish council as the host town.
Participant numbers are capped at 1,000, Mr Crane added.
He also said the organisers offer a "variety of financial incentives to encourage community participation", adding:
This includes awards for the best supporting village or town, as well as rewards for local groups that support by volunteering at the event.
These arrangements are directly managed and at the discretion of the event organisers. North Yorkshire Council has no role in the administration of these funds.
The 112-mile bike route. Credit: Long Course Weekend Yorkshire
‘All on track’
The Stray Ferret contacted the organisers of Long Course Weekend Yorkshire earlier this month.
A spokesperson for the company said at the time "all focus had been on a similar event in Wales", which took place at the end of June.
They told the Stray Ferret a team was "on the ground in Yorkshire" that week, adding everything was "all on track".
But the spokesperson also did not disclose the number of sign-ups for the event, nor reveal the recipients of the financial incentives.
We contacted the organisers several times for an update last week, but did not receive a response on either occasion.
However, Neil Pickard, chair of Masham parish council, shared a little more detail with the Stray Ferret.
He said:
The organisers certainly pay for local volunteer groups to assist with event organisation on each of the days.
I am aware that Masham Sports Association has volunteered to assist. As of yet, I am not aware of any other legacy projects.
When we asked Mr Pickard about sign-up levels, he said:
They indicate that it is progressing well, but that since covid many people do not enter until the last three to four weeks before the event.
It is therefore likely to be late August before we know final numbers.
He said the organisers hope to get up to 500 swimmers, 1,000 cyclists and 1,500 runners to take part.
The Long Course Weekend Wales is said to attract 11,000 competitors from 56 countries.
Up to 33,000 people travel to support the competitors, bringing the total audience to 44,000 people for the event, the council said last year.
It remains to be seen how popular the Yorkshire event will be over three days from September 6 to September 8.
You can view the course maps here.
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