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
Zone3 and TriBourne Multisport Events have announced a new partnership which will see the leading outdoor swimming and triathlon brand, Zone3, become the Official Swim Partner for TriBourne’s series of multisport events.
The partnership includes all events within the TriBourne series, including the Eastbourne Triathlon (12th June), IronBourne Long Distance Triathlon (10th July), 255 Triathlon – The world’s longest single day triathlon (31st July) and Brighton and Hove Triathlon (18th September).
TriBourne Multisport Events, deliver four main events each year with distances ranging from children’s triathlons and adult sprint races to ironman distances, plus the world’s longest single-day triathlon. The events, hosting over 4,000 triathletes each year, receive stunning reviews and have twice been awarded the Triathlon England Event of the Year.
Co-founder of TriBourne Multisport Events, Mat Dowle, comments: “Our ethos is to give the participant the best possible race experience. As triathletes ourselves we know exactly what really matters to athletes, allowing us to deliver exceptional events. Having Zone3 on board will help us do exactly that, enhancing all aspects of the swim portion of our races. Their athlete-focussed approach aligns perfectly with our own values, as does our shared commitment to growing the sport through the diverse community of participants at our events.”
The two-year partnership will add value to athletes and swimmers by offering training advice from Zone3 experts and sharing swim gear recommendations and offers. Zone3 are also offering all TriBourne participants exclusive discounts on all their swim gear and equipment.
Zone3 Founder, James Lock, comments: “TriBourne are a very exciting new partner allowing us the chance to engage, support and connect with committed triathletes through a diverse portfolio of events. They have a strong reputation with athletes and are a team passionate about growing the industry, which meets our own values. Mat and Dale are clearly dedicated to delivering professional, athlete-focussed event experiences and we can’t wait for the season to begin!”
Sign up for one of the TriBourne Multisport Events and enjoy the ultimate triathlete experience in 2022:
Eastbourne Triathlon (12th June)
IronBourne Long Distance Triathlon (10th July)
255 Triathlon – The world’s longest single day triathlon (31st July)
Brighton and Hove Triathlon (18th September)
Founded in 2007, Zone3 has organically grown to become Europe’s most trusted triathlon and outdoor swimming brand. From world championship podiums to first open water swims; from marginal gains to regaining headspace. No matter where you are in your sporting journey, Zone3 create products to enable you to achieve the feeling of being your absolute best.
