Challenge Shep cancelled

[Ironnerd 883]

18 hours ago, The new guy said:

They run Port and Busso on the same weekend. Operationally they will be fine. 

Actually they don't. TWA runs Busso and IM run Port.

[more 819]

11 minutes ago, Triatx said:

As I said above there are not enough non Sheep people for private stuff to survive.

Well in my very limited experience IM and Challange experiences was like comparing Jet star with Singapore Airlines. 

I had a ball at Challange Melbourne but it just didn't have the polish. The website was still referencing stuff from 2017 and gave the impression the event wasn't even on , no emails or notifications leading up to the event up until a day or two before (again given the impression is the event even on), even on race day they were calling out over the PA that they were 25 volunteers shorts and were asking for people to step up etc

Just gave a very odd feel overall, but was still great and would have raced it again. 

[more 819]

6 minutes ago, willie said:

that's just 100% laziness on part of the race organisers, unfortunately. 

Oh I also forget to mention the CEO of Challenge sent an email out talking about the Kiwi hospitality of Melbourne lol, just all in all a bit of a dogs breakfast

[Greyman 675]

1 hour ago, willie said:

that's just 100% laziness on part of the race organisers, unfortunately. 

It could have to do with the Fairfax event staff not knowing week to week if they would have a job after the end of March. Some staff received letters of notice when they returned from their Christmas break in January. Seems the culling started way back then. No wonder things were a little half arsed.

[Peter 4,228]

I did shep and then Ironman Geelong 703.  

Geelong shit all over shep.  

I enjoyed shep and went faster at shep but it lacked feeling and life. 

It had been years since I had done an Ironman event and they did an awesome job.  

If I could only do one event (if both were still run) I’d easily pick Geelong over shep.  

[Jezza78 6]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

I did shep and then Ironman Geelong 703.  

Geelong shit all over shep.  

I enjoyed shep and went faster at shep but it lacked feeling and life. 

It had been years since I had done an Ironman event and they did an awesome job.  

If I could only do one event (if both were still run) I’d easily pick Geelong over shep.  

Shepp has gone downhill since it moved to Challenge. I’ve raced it the past 10 years and definitely noticed a change in the overall ‘Polish’ of the race. That and numbers are way down! 

[MackaEvo2 108]

3 hours ago, willie said:

Nah the problem in WA is numbers, you just don't have the population to support many more races. It's a lot different on the East coast. I can drive to a few long course race in less time then it takes to fly to Perth, without the drive down to Busselton. 

If you had the population of Sydney you'd be able to sustain one or two more without a hassle, but sadly three long course races on the same course are never going to work. I personally would be more likely to do the 70.3 on same day as ironman because of the amount of my buddies in the full and being able to race and spectate all at once. 

 

 

 

What if they decided to do Ironman Perth

[Greyman 675]

57 minutes ago, Jezza78 said:

Shepp has gone downhill since it moved to Challenge. I’ve raced it the past 10 years and definitely noticed a change in the overall ‘Polish’ of the race. That and numbers are way down! 

Can't disagree. The first two years of Challenge Shep were good but hampered by weather. The downturn started at year three. At no point did the value for money and quality of event production match the Shepparton 70.3 race. 

For mine, The only thing better at Challenge Shepparton to The 70.3 race was the course. 

[Tyno 2,403]

Counting Individuals with a time recorded in the results:

2019 Tweed Enduro: 335

2019 HOTW: 219

Yeppoon 2018: 74 (!)

HB100 2018: 285

913 Total

 

2018 Sunny Coast 70.3: 1141

 

 

[Peter 4,228]

8 hours ago, Peter said:

Because the total number of athletes for the 4 above wouldnt even match up with Ironman sunny coast.

People want the Cole / Woolworths version not the IGA/Corner store

 

11 minutes ago, Tyno said:

Counting Individuals with a time recorded in the results:

2019 Tweed Enduro: 335

2019 HOTW: 219

Yeppoon 2018: 74 (!)

HB100 2018: 285

913 Total

 

2018 Sunny Coast 70.3: 1141

And that’s low for sunny coast.  

Ironman are just more professional and polished.  

[Toolish 426]

28 minutes ago, Greyman said:

Can't disagree. The first two years of Challenge Shep were good but hampered by weather. The downturn started at year three. At no point did the value for money and quality of event production match the Shepparton 70.3 race. 

For mine, The only thing better at Challenge Shepparton to The 70.3 race was the course. 

 

Maybe I am naive, but I did every Shep from 2010-2016 and other than the course change I did not notice a massive difference when it went to Challenge other than the course (better) and the swag bag ( worse).

I was looking to make a come back at Shep this year, might do Murray Man instead then look at Geelong.

[Cat Lady 828]

Glad I live in Queensland.  Especially as a shorter distance preferred athlete.  So many races to choose from you could probably race nearly every weekend if you wanted to (slight exaggeration).  As an aside, Enduro and HOTW cannibalised  each other by being so close together.

 

[Infinit Jase 85]

18 hours ago, Peter said:

 

And that’s low for sunny coast.  

Ironman are just more professional and polished.  

Thanks guys.  I thought the country races would have added up to more than that.  

I guess I'm not into the Razzle Dazzle of Ironman and I like racing friendly low key races.  

[trilobite 279]

7 hours ago, Cat Lady said:

Glad I live in Queensland.  Especially as a shorter distance preferred athlete.  So many races to choose from you could probably race nearly every weekend if you wanted to (slight exaggeration).  As an aside, Enduro and HOTW cannibalised  each other by being so close together.

 

Agree that the closeness in timing of HOTW and Enduro events is unfortunate.

[trilobite 279]

So to summarise the last couple of pages, Challenge are cactus in Oz?

[Peter 4,228]

9 minutes ago, trilobite said:

So to summarise the last couple of pages, Challenge are cactus in Oz?

Seems so 

[JenS 5]

On 05/06/2019 at 12:13 PM, micka said:

Yah. Thankfully we could cancel our accommodation without a fee and we hadn't booked flights yet for our babysitters (grandparents).

There doesn't appear to be any other half distance options other than Ironman Geelong or challenge Melbourne which are all next year. Although I'd be hesitant to sign up for challenge Melbourne now.

There’s another race called Murray Man in November running in rural town of Barmera in South Australia. I’ve done the last 4 or so and it’s a fun flat race.

[Turts 2,977]

1 hour ago, JenS said:

There’s another race called Murray Man in November running in rural town of Barmera in South Australia. I’ve done the last 4 or so and it’s a fun flat race.

It's a little more of a trip tho. 

Long drive from Melbourne, and still a drive if u fly to Adelaide. 

Being in SA, pretty much on the Vic border. 

Great race, but not super accessible for all but SA and western Vic peeps 

[Peter 4,228]

1 hour ago, JenS said:

There’s another race called Murray Man in November running in rural town of Barmera in South Australia. I’ve done the last 4 or so and it’s a fun flat race.

My understanding is that Ironman are actually trying to do a deal to take it over. 

Being discussed in cairns this week. 

From a pretty good source.  

I don’t know who the rd for mm is but he is in cairns and was meeting with ironman today. 

[trilobite 279]

1 hour ago, willie said:

I might be wrong but it's the only long course race in SA isn't it? 

Wasn’t there a long course on Kangaroo Is?

[Turts 2,977]

17 hours ago, Peter said:

don’t know who the rd for mm is but he is in cairns and was meeting with ironman today

Then how do u know who was talking to ironman? 

I think the RD for MM is Bill. 

Edited June 8, 2019 by Turts
It's not really Bill

[Turts 2,977]

1 minute ago, trilobite said:

Wasn’t there a long course on Kangaroo Is?

Yep, Sufferfest I think 

[BarryBevan 1,551]

Can they just tske over this years shep and tell us

[trilobite 279]

10 hours ago, Turts said:

Yep, Sufferfest I think 

Just looked it up - apparently the 2018 event was canned due to lack of entries

[Bored@work 4,093]

6 minutes ago, trilobite said:

Just looked it up - apparently the 2018 event was canned due to lack of entries

The 2017 event had very low numbers. I think it was a full Ironman distance.

Peter is correct. 

[Bored@work 4,093]

13 hours ago, Turts said:

Then how do u know who was talking to ironman? 

I think the RD for MM is Bill. 

Person 1: “who’s the race director on race day?” 

Person 2: “I’m the race director” 

 

[Jezza78 6]

18 hours ago, willie said:

I might be wrong but it's the only long course race in SA isn't it? 

At present yes. There was a Sufferfest in Murray Bridge that is unlikely to be raced in the 19/20 season. Plus the KI sufferfest is no longer happening. 

I know MM - ‘owned’ by Adelaide Tri Club, and they would like to sell it to either Ironman or Challenge - the latter very unlikely now though. They pay for a race director to run the event. 

I was of the understanding Ironman Aust were not interested in MM though. 

[The new guy 289]

1 hour ago, Jezza78 said:

At present yes. There was a Sufferfest in Murray Bridge that is unlikely to be raced in the 19/20 season. Plus the KI sufferfest is no longer happening. 

I know MM - ‘owned’ by Adelaide Tri Club, and they would like to sell it to either Ironman or Challenge - the latter very unlikely now though. They pay for a race director to run the event. 

I was of the understanding Ironman Aust were not interested in MM though. 

Hmm - but imagine if the same group put in a race in Adelaide - swim/gun around Glenelg, ride up and into the hills - it would be like Nice in Aus. I’d travel for that.

[Bored@work 4,093]

Ironman have wanted to run an event in SA but the bike leg has been the major problem. I have heard this from several people in Ironman. One of the guys said they had travelled over multiple times trying to work something out. 

[Peter 4,228]

31 minutes ago, Bored@work said:

Ironman have wanted to run an event in SA but the bike leg has been the major problem. I have heard this from several people in Ironman. One of the guys said they had travelled over multiple times trying to work something out. 

Its a real shame they don’t run the HARDEST IRONMAN 70.3 in the World and us the hills in Adelaide.  Promote the hell out of it saying there will be no PB here. 

 

[Greyman 675]

17 minutes ago, Peter said:

Its a real shame they don’t run the HARDEST IRONMAN 70.3 in the World and us the hills in Adelaide.  Promote the hell out of it saying there will be no PB here. 

 

It would be good to have MM continue. Particularly for SA athletes. 

I think Victor Harbour is the sleeping giant for this. Plenty of roads down that way used for cycle racing/ training, pick your location for the swim and run and get on with it. 

everybody raises the old accomodation situation, however, applying a bit of lateral thinking, organisation and business acumen could provide a new income stream for ironman, tri travel or the like. They could run their own Airbnb service for competitors and families for the duration of the event and skim a nice fee off the top. Reducing stress around obtaining accomodation in new race locations would attract more competitors. By providing more info about accom and a way to secure it, would be a big bonus for a lot of would be competitors at a new race venue. 

[-H- 1,238]

6 minutes ago, Greyman said:

It would be good to have MM continue. Particularly for SA athletes. 

I think Victor Harbour is the sleeping giant for this. Plenty of roads down that way used for cycle racing/ training, pick your location for the swim and run and get on with it. 

everybody raises the old accomodation situation, however, applying a bit of lateral thinking, organisation and business acumen could provide a new income stream for ironman, tri travel or the like. They could run their own Airbnb service for competitors and families for the duration of the event and skim a nice fee off the top. Reducing stress around obtaining accomodation in new race locations would attract more competitors. By providing more info about accom and a way to secure it, would be a big bonus for a lot of would be competitors at a new race venue. 

You mean like the old Normanville half?  It was held at a resort so accommodation sorted (plus plenty nearby), swim in a marina, hilly bike and run.  All within an hour of Adelaide.

[Bored@work 4,093]

Hey -H- could u imagine all the ppl walking if the bike went up the corkscrew 

[JenS 5]

3 hours ago, The new guy said:

Hmm - but imagine if the same group put in a race in Adelaide - swim/gun around Glenelg, ride up and into the hills - it would be like Nice in Aus. I’d travel for that.

It could be awesome.. swim at Moana/Sellicks, ride up Sellicks hill, along Page’s Flat road and back, then along Hindmarsh Tiers road and back the down Sellicks again, then run esplanade on the old Silversands oly bike course. Tough 70.3 would be fantastic!

[Andrew #1 1,262]

On 06/06/2019 at 1:18 PM, Infinit Jase said:

Why does it have to be Challenge or Ironman?

QLD has 5 long course races and only 1 of them is Ironman.

Goodiwindi HOTW

Tweed Enduro

Yeppoon Kracken

70.3 Sunny Coast

Hervey Bay 100

I think that the country races are better as well as half the price.  

I hope that Shep keeps going to for you guys.

Ummm. Cairns and Cairns 70.3?

And tweed is NSW. 

What is Yeppoon Kracken? I thought the resort had closed down years ago ...

[Andrew #1 1,262]

15 minutes ago, Andrew #1 said:

What is Yeppoon Kracken? I thought the resort had closed down years ago ...

http://yeppoontriathlonfestival.com.au/

wow!

[more 819]

58 minutes ago, Andrew #1 said:

http://yeppoontriathlonfestival.com.au/

wow!

Dam that looks great!!! July might be a bit short notice though 😢 next year though, why the heck not! 

[Andrew #1 1,262]

1 hour ago, more said:

Dam that looks great!!! July might be a bit short notice though 😢 next year though, why the heck not! 

I reckon I’d be up for an “aquabike” version of the Kraken. Or an Emo style “classic” (1/60/10)  by the end of July. But a 20k run is a bit beyond me at the moment. Sad but true.

Edited June 9, 2019 by Andrew #1

[Toolish 426]

So is this thing back on next year?  Sounds like some sort of rebirth is coming.

[markso1077 1]

http://www.challengeshepparton.com.au/

Would appear so. 5th April 2020. Fantastic. Was such a good race. Good to see it's back on.

[Peter 4,228]

Super impressed by the date selection.  I was a bit worried they might pick the traditional November.

And given the Ironman announcement on Thursday, that could screw them up.

Congratulations to the shep locals getting this back on the list.

Now promote the hell out of it.

[MickyC 22]

and from their website....

"Five reasons to enter Challenge Shepparton:
A unique flat, fast course, ideal for beginners or those chasing a PB!
The fresh water lake swim in Victoria Park Lake is regarded as one of the best open water courses in Australia
Our community comes out in force to support the athletes
Shepparton is a picturesque and easy two hour freeway drive from Melbourne or under two hours from Melbourne Airport
Free beer at the finish line..."

You had me at 🍺🍺🍺

[Gilliga 75]

Well done to all involved in this. I raced this event 2 x when it was an IRONMAN brand and it was a great.

[Toolish 426]

I wonder if April will be a bit cold?

 

 

There is also this on the traditional date?

https://www.facebook.com/events/462238951065050/

[Peter 4,228]

1 hour ago, MickyC said:

and from their website....

"Five reasons to enter Challenge Shepparton:
A unique flat, fast course, ideal for beginners or those chasing a PB!
The fresh water lake swim in Victoria Park Lake is regarded as one of the best open water courses in Australia
Our community comes out in force to support the athletes
Shepparton is a picturesque and easy two hour freeway drive from Melbourne or under two hours from Melbourne Airport
Free beer at the finish line..."

You had me at 🍺🍺🍺

And it's not the no alcohol beer like sunday at Penrith 70.3

1 hour ago, Toolish said:

I wonder if April will be a bit cold?

11-23 the old data says.  Thats PB weather in my opinion.  Mind you, I doubt it will be draft legal like Ironman events are.

[Greyman 675]

This is great news. Two trips to Shep next year! 

[dazaau 481]

Very glad to see it back! 

[BarryBevan 1,551]

29 minutes ago, Peter said:

And it's not the no alcohol beer like sunday at Penrith 70.3

11-23 the old data says.  Thats PB weather in my opinion.  Mind you, I doubt it will be draft legal like Ironman events are.

snort, shep always has been one of the biggest draft festivals

[Peter 4,228]

36 minutes ago, BarryBevan said:

snort, shep always has been one of the biggest draft festivals

It wasn’t last year when I did it. Didn’t see even 2 bikes together 

[BarryBevan 1,551]

18 minutes ago, Peter said:

It wasn’t last year when I did it. Didn’t see even 2 bikes together 

2010