Bala bites the dust.

[NoTriBri]

Shocking news that it looks like there will be no triathlons at Bala next year. Numbers have been dropping and they are no longer viable.
Used to love racing there. The old Olympic course was a good test with a nasty hilly run, had some fantastic races on that course. Never raced the new course.
The middle distance race was epic. Still preferred the original loop for the bike course, but the out and back bike route was quite a tester. That run was just cruel. Raced it 10 times, sometimes got baked but also finished the hypothermia race.
Hopefully they will be resurrected at some future point.
_________________
Blaenafon triathlon - the longest continuously held triathlon in the UK, 35 continuous years up to 2018 Now called Y Fenni - Blaenafon Triathlon

Y Fenni Tri Club Abergavenny.

[PCP]

Really sad news. It was my first ever Middle and I planned on going back next year.

[JeffB]

Shame that, always hoped to do the middle distance one but it often clashed, maybe someone else will take them up at some point.

Race saturation must be peaking these days and the IM brand is taking a lot of numbers with their 4 70.3's (inc Dublin), even though they dropped Wimbleball.

Jeff

[hammerer]

Just shows that the sport has changed. The new kids and one and dones aren't interested in challenging events. It must have a brand and has either got to be a flat draftfest or something you can brag about on social media. The independents are slowly losing out and we'll be left with £250 half's full of the sort of people on the ironman journey group with their tattoos and complaints about the race goody bags. There was even complaints about the organisation of the New Forest Middle on there this year, and for me RNF are about the best organisation out there.
_________________
Blog

[stenard]

[JeffB]

I've done mostly club or smaller race orginsers races this year, they can be a bit rough round the edges but I think personally prefer them, they tend to be a bit less serious.

They are starting to be a dying breed though.

Jeff

[newarktricky]

[hammerer]

[Muriel]

Bala standard was the 2nd triathlon I ever did (Llanelli the 1st). I was in that I love this sport phase before I became a bit of a bell end and took it too seriously (whilst still being $hit).

I'm back in the I love this sport phase now and do nothing but look for the smaller races for sprints and Oly's. The bang for your buck is quite unbelievable.

In fact the drive to Bala from South Wales made it worth entering. And camping out to a sky like that. Something you don't see unless you're in a pigging desert right.

A real shame.

Not quite the same, but I think the Bodiam castle tri fell by the wayside this year. Not because of numbers but because of the national trust. £45 to swim round the moat of a castle, a buggery of a bike course and a great off road (but flat) run too.

[JamieMcP]

A very sad turn of events for an absolute amazing race.

I've done the middle 3 times over the last 10 years, and each time the field has gotten smaller. I agree that it's the cooperate events taking over, which is a shame. I had half thought about doing it next year but alas it's not to be.

Hopefully it will come back at some point, but thanks to Wrexham tri for putting in on all theses years.
_________________
Blogtastic My Athlinks PageTwitter

So many races so little time.

[Jan]

Yes a shame as it is a super event. I had also planned to do it next year. The best events are those organised by local clubs or smaller organisations. Deva is another brilliant one - lets hope that one doesn't disappear in the future.

[stenard]

[explorerJC]

[Jorgan]

[hammerer]