Challenge Family CEO Zibi Szlufcik has confirmed that five races in North America will lose their prize purses, describing it as a ‘necessary’ decision made after long consultation.
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The announcement comes just three months after the organisation set their 2015 prize purse for the Americas, pledging to pay out across all 15 races, with $50k on offer at full distance triathlons.
The races which will no longer offer prize money to the pros are:
– Challenge Atlantic City Full
– Challenge Quassy Half
– Challenge Pocono Mountains Half
– Challenge Maine Half
– Challenge Cedar Point Full
“While we have of course received messages from disappointed pro athletes, we have also been overwhelmed by messages of support and understanding, expressing frustration at the current state of the North American triathlon market that necessitated these changes,” says Szlufcik on Challenge Family’s Facebook page.
“What we hope will come out of this decision is a strong Challenge Family race series in North America that continues to provide an outstanding athlete experience to all athletes, all ages, ability and gender. Some races will focus on strong quality pro fields, celebrating the pinnacle of our sport. Others will deliver a world-class age group experience.”
Prize money will still be available at a number of Challenge races in the US however, including Challenge Penticton, Challenge St Andrews, Challenge Knoxville, Challenge Williamsburg and Challenge Florida.
All Central and South American races will also offer a pro purse, including Challenge San Gil, Challenge Maceio, Challenge Florianopolis and the newly announced Challenge Puerto Varas.
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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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Challenge Family CEO Zibi Szlufcik has confirmed that five races in North America will lose their prize purses, describing it as a ‘necessary’ decision made after long consultation.
Advertisement
The announcement comes just three months after the organisation set their 2015 prize purse for the Americas, pledging to pay out across all 15 races, with $50k on offer at full distance triathlons.
The races which will no longer offer prize money to the pros are:
– Challenge Atlantic City Full
– Challenge Quassy Half
– Challenge Pocono Mountains Half
– Challenge Maine Half
– Challenge Cedar Point Full
“While we have of course received messages from disappointed pro athletes, we have also been overwhelmed by messages of support and understanding, expressing frustration at the current state of the North American triathlon market that necessitated these changes,” says Szlufcik on Challenge Family’s Facebook page.
“What we hope will come out of this decision is a strong Challenge Family race series in North America that continues to provide an outstanding athlete experience to all athletes, all ages, ability and gender. Some races will focus on strong quality pro fields, celebrating the pinnacle of our sport. Others will deliver a world-class age group experience.”
Prize money will still be available at a number of Challenge races in the US however, including Challenge Penticton, Challenge St Andrews, Challenge Knoxville, Challenge Williamsburg and Challenge Florida.
All Central and South American races will also offer a pro purse, including Challenge San Gil, Challenge Maceio, Challenge Florianopolis and the newly announced Challenge Puerto Varas.
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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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Triathlon’s definitely being picked up by growing numbers of students around the UK, as shown by the record number of entries to this year’s British Universities, College and Schools Sprint Championships.
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With that in mind, we had a quick chat (via email) with the fundraising officer of Birmingham University’s tri club, Tom Powell.
Can you tell us a little about the club?
We’re the triathlon club based at Birmingham University and have members with a wide range of experience.
Some have been competing since young ages and have international experience, others have transferred from individual disciplines, as well as a fantastic crop of upcoming talent who are now addicted to this amazing sport!
How many members do you have?
We’ve had consistently around 100 members for the last few years, with the vast majority of these being active members and we always have big numbers in all the training sessions.
We’re lucky enough at Birmingham to have the best University Cross Country team in the UK and we’re constantly inspired by their success and feel we definitely have the potential to match it.
Is there a club A-race?
The main races we target are the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) events of which there’s four events throughout the year. A duathlon, a biathlon, a sprint triathlon and a standard triathlon.
Tabby Rodgers racing at the British University, College and Schools Sprint (BUCS) Sprint Championship
Our women’s team managed to secure a bronze medal in the Duathlon and Biathlon and were narrowly pipped to third place in the BUCS sprint champs last weekend.
We have some fantastic endurance athletes at the club and feel we have a great chance with both individual and team medals in the men’s and women’s categories at the standard tri.
What’s the best thing about Birmingham University Triathlon Club?
The best thing about us is the friendly nature of the club, unlike other sports there aren’t too many big egos in triathlon and it’s very much team orientated.
Elliot Packham acting as guide for blind club member Jack Garner
On a personal level prior to October I was solely a runner, however following a lengthy hamstring injury I took up triathlon as cross training. I soon fell in love with the sport and have never looked back since!
What I love about the club is the way that I’m able to train with the same group of people and receive quality coaching despite being a good county level runner yet never having previously received a swimming lesson.
The coaches and committee were fantastic at encouraging me through my early sessions and are a credit to the University.
On top of this Jodie Stimpson often trains with us during our early morning swimming session, and provides the team with a great moral boost – it’s definitely needed at that time in the morning.
Most recent victories?
The biggest victory by a club member recently was Rosie Davies who won the European standard distance duathlon championships.
The club currently has 10 UK age-group athletes, and with many more of our members being inspired by Rosie’s example, we are hoping for an additional five over the coming season.
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Are you part of a university triathlon club? Let us know in the comments below!
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Triathlon’s definitely being picked up by growing numbers of students around the UK, as shown by the record number of entries to this year’s British Universities, College and Schools Sprint Championships.
Advertisement
With that in mind, we had a quick chat (via email) with the fundraising officer of Birmingham University’s tri club, Tom Powell.
Can you tell us a little about the club?
We’re the triathlon club based at Birmingham University and have members with a wide range of experience.
Some have been competing since young ages and have international experience, others have transferred from individual disciplines, as well as a fantastic crop of upcoming talent who are now addicted to this amazing sport!
How many members do you have?
We’ve had consistently around 100 members for the last few years, with the vast majority of these being active members and we always have big numbers in all the training sessions.
We’re lucky enough at Birmingham to have the best University Cross Country team in the UK and we’re constantly inspired by their success and feel we definitely have the potential to match it.
Is there a club A-race?
The main races we target are the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) events of which there’s four events throughout the year. A duathlon, a biathlon, a sprint triathlon and a standard triathlon.
Tabby Rodgers racing at the British University, College and Schools Sprint (BUCS) Sprint Championship
Our women’s team managed to secure a bronze medal in the Duathlon and Biathlon and were narrowly pipped to third place in the BUCS sprint champs last weekend.
We have some fantastic endurance athletes at the club and feel we have a great chance with both individual and team medals in the men’s and women’s categories at the standard tri.
What’s the best thing about Birmingham University Triathlon Club?
The best thing about us is the friendly nature of the club, unlike other sports there aren’t too many big egos in triathlon and it’s very much team orientated.
Elliot Packham acting as guide for blind club member Jack Garner
On a personal level prior to October I was solely a runner, however following a lengthy hamstring injury I took up triathlon as cross training. I soon fell in love with the sport and have never looked back since!
What I love about the club is the way that I’m able to train with the same group of people and receive quality coaching despite being a good county level runner yet never having previously received a swimming lesson.
The coaches and committee were fantastic at encouraging me through my early sessions and are a credit to the University.
On top of this Jodie Stimpson often trains with us during our early morning swimming session, and provides the team with a great moral boost – it’s definitely needed at that time in the morning.
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Most recent victories?
The biggest victory by a club member recently was Rosie Davies who won the European standard distance duathlon championships.
The club currently has 10 UK age-group athletes, and with many more of our members being inspired by Rosie’s example, we are hoping for an additional five over the coming season.
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Are you part of a university triathlon club? Let us know in the comments below!
As if a 180km bike leg in an iron-distance race wasn’t hard enough, The Bastion course has been designed by a former Royal Marine – and with just under 2,000 metres of ascent it represents one of the toughest long courses in the UK.
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>>> Chrissie Wellington on prepping for a hilly Ironman
Starting and finishing at Hever Castle in Kent on 12 July, this is a three-lap affair with each lap counted as 60km long and taking in some of the stunning sites of the Weald and Ashdown Forest – an area of outstanding beauty.
The circular route itself will take competitors out of Hever Castle, up through the High Weald of Kent before passing through and over the Ashdown Forest and into the village of Maresfield.
Those familiar with the various bike courses at the Hever Castle Triathlon will know all about the sharp climbs out of the Castle and the longer drags past Hartfield and up into the forest. Gear selection, fitness, pacing and nutrition will all play a big part in successfully completing the challenge.
After a quick tour of the village, competitors retrace their steps to the top of the forest before returning to Hever via the historic and quintessentially English villages of Groombridge, Fordcombe and Penshurst. There is plenty of support for the riders on the course, particularly whenever they pass Hever Castle and see their friends and family.
Forewarned is forearmed and a recce of the bike course is very much recommended. Despite the fearsome looking course profile, competitors from the 2014 event rated it as one of the best cycle courses they had taken on with many returning for 2015. The event has a few remaining spaces and it is well worth adding this iron-distance race to your calendar this year.
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For more information on this year’s race head here.
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Will you be racing The Bastion? Let us know in the comments below!
As if a 180km bike leg in an iron-distance race wasn’t hard enough, The Bastion course has been designed by a former Royal Marine – and with just under 2,000 metres of ascent it represents one of the toughest long courses in the UK.
Advertisement
>>> Chrissie Wellington on prepping for a hilly Ironman
Starting and finishing at Hever Castle in Kent on 12 July, this is a three-lap affair with each lap counted as 60km long and taking in some of the stunning sites of the Weald and Ashdown Forest – an area of outstanding beauty.
The circular route itself will take competitors out of Hever Castle, up through the High Weald of Kent before passing through and over the Ashdown Forest and into the village of Maresfield.
Those familiar with the various bike courses at the Hever Castle Triathlon will know all about the sharp climbs out of the Castle and the longer drags past Hartfield and up into the forest. Gear selection, fitness, pacing and nutrition will all play a big part in successfully completing the challenge.
After a quick tour of the village, competitors retrace their steps to the top of the forest before returning to Hever via the historic and quintessentially English villages of Groombridge, Fordcombe and Penshurst. There is plenty of support for the riders on the course, particularly whenever they pass Hever Castle and see their friends and family.
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Forewarned is forearmed and a recce of the bike course is very much recommended. Despite the fearsome looking course profile, competitors from the 2014 event rated it as one of the best cycle courses they had taken on with many returning for 2015. The event has a few remaining spaces and it is well worth adding this iron-distance race to your calendar this year.
For more information on this year’s race head here.
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Will you be racing The Bastion? Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome back Non! Britain’s 2013 World Triathlon Series winner makes her long-awaited return to competitive racing at WTS Yokohama this weekend, facing up against current series leader Gwen Jorgensen, while in the men’s race a resurgent Alistair Brownlee will go head-to-head with Spanish duo Javier Gomez and Mario Mola.
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Non Stanford was forced to sit out the 2014 season due to injury, but left the ITU circuit on a high as she beat Jorgensen for the 2013 World Championship title in front of a home crowd in London’s Hyde Park. Stanford is one of the few women that can rival Jorgensen down the finish chute, making their meeting highly anticipated.
Jorgensen has been simply unstoppable this season so far, and is undefeated since her victory in Yokohama last year. The only other British athlete on the start line will be Heather Sellars, with Vicky Holland having a rest after her impressive victory in Cape Town.
Jorgensen’s teammates Katie Zaferes and Sarah True will also miss this race, but Americans Chelsea Burns, Jessica Broderick and Renee Tomlin will look to keep the US winning streak alive. Other rivals include Emma Moffatt (AUS), Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Barbara Riveros (CHI).
The women’s race will get underway at 10:05am local time (2:05am UK time) on Saturday (16 May), full start list here.
Americans currently dominate the WTS leaderboard, with Zaferes top on 2905 points, followed by Jorgensen with 2400pts and True third with 1947pts. The highest-ranked British athlete is Vicky Holland in 17th position with 800pts.
Men’s race
Alistair Brownlee is looking to make up for lost time after injury and currently stands in 16th position with 800 points, all of which he gained at WTS Cape Town a few weeks ago.
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Younger brother Jonathan (2186pts) won’t be racing this Saturday, meaning that Alistair’s main rivals will be the Spanish trio of Javier Gomez (2707pts), Mario Mola (2273pts) and Fernando Alarza (2221pts).
Others in the top-10 on Saturday include Brits Tom Bishop and Adam Bowden, and some lesser known names looking to break through like Crisanto Grajales (MEX), who has posted two top-10 results already this season.
Ryan Bailie (AUS) posted a career high fifth in Auckland and has raced consistently this season. Portugal’s ITU veteran Joao Pereira (1175pts) will also be racing.
The men will get underway at 13:05pm local time (5:05am UK time), full start list here. Brits can watch the action live on BT Sport 2 or triathlonlive.tv (£), and there will be repeats on BBC Two from 4:30pm on Sunday 17th.
We’ll be carrying full reports of both races right here on the 220 website shortly afterwards.
(Images: Delly Carr / Janos Schmidt / ITU)
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Who do you think will win this WTS Yokohama? Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome back Non! Britain’s 2013 World Triathlon Series winner makes her long-awaited return to competitive racing at WTS Yokohama this weekend, facing up against current series leader Gwen Jorgensen, while in the men’s race a resurgent Alistair Brownlee will go head-to-head with Spanish duo Javier Gomez and Mario Mola.
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Non Stanford was forced to sit out the 2014 season due to injury, but left the ITU circuit on a high as she beat Jorgensen for the 2013 World Championship title in front of a home crowd in London’s Hyde Park. Stanford is one of the few women that can rival Jorgensen down the finish chute, making their meeting highly anticipated.
Jorgensen has been simply unstoppable this season so far, and is undefeated since her victory in Yokohama last year. The only other British athlete on the start line will be Heather Sellars, with Vicky Holland having a rest after her impressive victory in Cape Town.
Jorgensen’s teammates Katie Zaferes and Sarah True will also miss this race, but Americans Chelsea Burns, Jessica Broderick and Renee Tomlin will look to keep the US winning streak alive. Other rivals include Emma Moffatt (AUS), Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Barbara Riveros (CHI).
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The women’s race will get underway at 10:05am local time (2:05am UK time) on Saturday (16 May), full start list here.
Americans currently dominate the WTS leaderboard, with Zaferes top on 2905 points, followed by Jorgensen with 2400pts and True third with 1947pts. The highest-ranked British athlete is Vicky Holland in 17th position with 800pts.
Men’s race
Alistair Brownlee is looking to make up for lost time after injury and currently stands in 16th position with 800 points, all of which he gained at WTS Cape Town a few weeks ago.
Younger brother Jonathan (2186pts) won’t be racing this Saturday, meaning that Alistair’s main rivals will be the Spanish trio of Javier Gomez (2707pts), Mario Mola (2273pts) and Fernando Alarza (2221pts).
Others in the top-10 on Saturday include Brits Tom Bishop and Adam Bowden, and some lesser known names looking to break through like Crisanto Grajales (MEX), who has posted two top-10 results already this season.
Ryan Bailie (AUS) posted a career high fifth in Auckland and has raced consistently this season. Portugal’s ITU veteran Joao Pereira (1175pts) will also be racing.
The men will get underway at 13:05pm local time (5:05am UK time), full start list here. Brits can watch the action live on BT Sport 2 or triathlonlive.tv (£), and there will be repeats on BBC Two from 4:30pm on Sunday 17th.
We’ll be carrying full reports of both races right here on the 220 website shortly afterwards.
(Images: Delly Carr / Janos Schmidt / ITU)
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Who do you think will win this WTS Yokohama? Let us know in the comments below!
Ironman have agreed to forfeit the amount after the US Department of Justice decided that the Kona lottery system, whereby potential entrants can pay a fee and potentially get an entry by ballot rather than qualify on merit, fell foul of US lottery and gambling laws. The 100 successful entrants from the lottery would then have to pay the original $850 entry fee, but the $50 fee was non-refundable for unsuccessful entrants.
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This means that as things stand the only way to get into Kona will be by achieving a qualifying time or through the ‘Legacy Program’, which grants 100 places to entrants who have previously raced in at least 12 Ironman-branded events.
Ironman are looking at other models with which to open up the 100 slots that can’t be given out through the lottery from 2016 onwards; although it is unlikely they will make a similar arrangement quickly because of the risks with falling foul of their agreement with the US Government.
Ironman cooperated fully with the investigation and the settlement was arranged out of court; however Ironman Chief Executive Andrew Messick stated that they believed the lottery system was legal but were forced to bow to pressure. It was reported that ironically Jimmy Muench, an Assistant US Attorney in the case against Ironman, is an 8-time Ironman Florida finisher.
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Do you think the system was fair? Let us know in the comments!
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Ironman have agreed to forfeit the amount after the US Department of Justice decided that the Kona lottery system, whereby potential entrants can pay a fee and potentially get an entry by ballot rather than qualify on merit, fell foul of US lottery and gambling laws. The 100 successful entrants from the lottery would then have to pay the original $850 entry fee, but the $50 fee was non-refundable for unsuccessful entrants.
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This means that as things stand the only way to get into Kona will be by achieving a qualifying time or through the ‘Legacy Program’, which grants 100 places to entrants who have previously raced in at least 12 Ironman-branded events.
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Ironman are looking at other models with which to open up the 100 slots that can’t be given out through the lottery from 2016 onwards; although it is unlikely they will make a similar arrangement quickly because of the risks with falling foul of their agreement with the US Government.
Ironman cooperated fully with the investigation and the settlement was arranged out of court; however Ironman Chief Executive Andrew Messick stated that they believed the lottery system was legal but were forced to bow to pressure. It was reported that ironically Jimmy Muench, an Assistant US Attorney in the case against Ironman, is an 8-time Ironman Florida finisher.
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Do you think the system was fair? Let us know in the comments!