HENLEY could host one of Britain’s biggest long-distance endurance events.
About 1,500 competitors would take part in Challenge UK, a triathlon consisting of a 3.8k swim, 180k cycle ride and 42k run.
The organisers claim the event would generate £4.5million for the town and attract international media attention.
Alan Rose, director of sports event management company Just Racing UK, gave a presentation on the event to members of Henley Town Council’s town and community committee.
He said: “The area suits the competition wonderfully. Competitors can swim the regatta course, cycle in the Chilterns and run on the Thames Path.
“This is a flagship event that excites the expectations of competitors and the public. We want to create an event in a premier location, with the support of a premier local authority to work with and share the excitement.
“Our fastest competitors would finish in around eight hours and our slowest in around 16.”
He hopes to stage the Henley event in September next year and said he already had the support of South Oxfordshire District Council and the Environment Agency.
However, negotiations with Peter Ronald, traffic engineer at Oxfordshire County Council, over the cycle route had stalled.
Mr Rose said: “We are very mindful that we need to allow the area to function as much as possible as normal. The operation of an event like this necessitates road closure and some inconvenience.
“We need to consider whether there’s an acceptable balance between what the race will bring to the town and the disruption it will cause.”
Just Racing has been working with traffic management company Trafeco in an attempt to combat any concerns raised by Mr Ronald but discussions have been put on hold until after a meeting with senior council officials on Tuesday.
Mr Rose said: “It feels like they’ve stopped talking to us. We don’t know where the problems lie, so we don’t know how to progress.”
Councillor David Nimmo Smith said he and fellow county and town councillor Peter Skolar supported the event.
He said: “The officer’s issue is simply that he doesn’t want to see gridlock. If permission is given for the job, he will do as he is told. Personally, I welcome the event and will do my best to see it happen.”
The event HQ would be at Henley Business School, where the swim section of the race would start and finish. Boat taxis for spectators would be provided by Hobbs of Henley.
A route for the run is not finalised but it would start and finish at Henley Rugby Club, where the cycle race would also end.
Mr Rose said he estimated that 50 per cent of the athletes would stay in the area, benefiting hotels, restaurants and shops, and he wanted to see the surrounding villages supporting and benefiting from the event, with crowds on the streets to cheer competitors.
The event would require between 500 and 1,000 volunteers to help with marshalling and water stations.
Councillor Allan Follett said the town would struggle to cope with a large influx of spectators and suggested the involvement of groups such as the Henley Lions.
He said: “If we are supporting this, then we need to bring the residents along with us. The disruption of a weekend could be a big negative for a lot of people.”
Cllr Nimmo-Smith pointed out that the Henley Show would be taking place on September 11.
Councillor Elizabeth Hodgkin said: “I think it’s a fantastic event that will take some doing.”
The Challenge competition began in Roth, Germany, and is now the world’s biggest long-distance triathlon and described as “the ultimate sporting challenge”. Events take place around the world, including Barcelona and Copenhagen. For more information visit www.cha llenge-roth.com
Just Racing UK organises a number of similar events. For more information, visit www.justracinguk.com
Published on 12 July 2010
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