11/01/2023 - Important information.
It is with great regret that we must tell you the 255 Triathlon Festival of Endurance will no longer take place in 2023. We appreciate this will be very disappointing news for you.
Firstly, let us reassure you that all competitors will receive a full refund within 7 days.
We want to provide you with a clear explanation as to why we have been forced to cancel the event. To put it simply, the number of people entering the event is nowhere near enough to make the event financially viable.
In 2021 we had 96 solo athletes and 71 teams take part. In 2022, despite having been voted South East Event of the Year, we only had 28 solo athletes, with the number of relay teams increasing only slightly. Despite introducing additional race options and offering significant early-bird discounts, we have so far only had 10 solo entries and 9 teams for 2023. These numbers are significantly lower than we had at this time in previous years, and predict final numbers up to 50% lower than last year.
The event made a financial loss in both 2021 and 2022 which is to be expected with any new event, but in 2023 the losses are projected to be significantly higher (in the tens of thousands). The costs associated with delivering high-quality triathlon events are increasing and hiring a motor racing circuit makes them even higher.
The truth is we just don't know why numbers at the 255 Triathlon have declined so significantly. Although many events across the country, including free events such as Park Run, have also seen a decline in recent years, our other TriBourne events at Eastbourne, IronBourne and Brighton & Hove are very healthy and continue to grow. To put this into perspective, in the last 2 weeks we have seen over 350 athletes enter TriBourne events, but only one of those entries was for the 255 Triathlon.
This has been a very difficult decision for us. We are both athletes and passionate about the sport and the concept of the 255 Triathlon Festival of Endurance. Our ethos has always been to deliver high-quality events whilst always putting the athlete first, but we simply can't sustain an event with a loss of tens of thousands of pounds and no sign of long-term growth.
Once again, we are very sorry to disappoint you with this news. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Yours sincerely
Mat and Dale
An exceptionally fast, flat, traffic-free course awaits those lucky enough to secure a place at the inaugural ‘Festival of Endurance’ at Goodwood on 31st July. The new races will run alongside the existing 255 Triathlon and the hugely popular 255 Triathlon Relay.
With only 150 places available (minimising the potential for drafting), those wishing to secure an entry should be ready to register at 9am on Monday 4th April when entries open.
An exceptionally fast course and a unique race experience
With a perfect road surface, minimal elevation changes and no tight turns, this will almost certainly be the fastest full and middle-distance courses in the country. The fast course combined with the complete absence of traffic means competitors will not need to back off the power at any point (unless slowing for aid stations).
Added to this, the multi-lap race format makes for a unique and exciting experience for both competitors and spectators. Competitors will be able to access an aid station on every 3.8km lap on the bike and twice per lap (every 1.9km) on the run. In addition, competitors will be able to access their own ‘special needs’ box in the pit lane at any point during the race.
Competitors will receive cheers of encouragement from spectators on every lap, offering a uniquely engaging triathlon experience for spectators, with constant action and the opportunity to cheer on athletes at regular intervals throughout the race.
Race director Matthew Dowle said, “Following the success of the inaugural 255 Triathlon at Goodwood last year, it was clear that racing on the perfect surface of the motor racing circuit, with no traffic to worry about, is hugely appealing. Including these new distances give more people the opportunity to race at the historic Goodwood circuit, and also meets the demand for more event options in the UK at a time when the cost of racing abroad is a concern for many.
“With no traffic and a very flat circuit, this will almost certainly be the fastest full-distance course in the country.
“Alongside the existing 255 Triathlon, which is the world’s longest single-day triathlon, and the very popular 255 Triathlon Relay, the ‘Festival of Endurance’ now opens up this unique and exciting event experience to a wider audience of triathletes.”
Three distances plus a unique relay format
The Festival of Endurance at Goodwood will now include three endurance triathlon distances. As well as the classic middle (70.3) and full (140.6) distance races, solo 255 Triathlon competitors will be taking on the world’s longest single-day triathlon; a 5km swim, 200km bike and 50km run. In addition, the event offers a unique, flexible relay format for teams of up to 4 competitors. The 255 Triathlon Relay attracts teams from across the country, with a format which makes the event accessible to any triathlete.
The flat, traffic-free course also makes the event exceptionally accessible for athletes of all abilities, with several para-triathletes already confirmed to be racing.
Entries will open 9am on Monday 4th April at www.festivalofendurance.com and places are expected to sell out very quickly.
