Challenge Family notes that a key part of Australian long course triathlon tradition will continue with the announcement of Challenge Shepparton, taking place in Greater Shepparton, Victoria, on 16 November 2014.
The inclusion of Challenge Shepparton takes the Challenge Australia calendar to five races, adding to Challenge Gold Coast, Challenge Melbourne, Challenge Forster and Challenge Batemans Bay.
With the Shepparton Triathlon Club unable to stage a race this year, a new partnership with Challenge Family and local stakeholders has brought the event under the Challenge Family umbrella ‘so all triathletes, local and regional clubs and the wider community don’t miss out on this first-rate event on the national tri calendar.’
The new organising partnership is made up of Challenge Family, McPherson Media Group (Shepparton News), Greater Shepparton City Council and local race organiser SuperSprint.
‘The 1.9K swim, 90K ride and 21.1K run triathlon will build on Shepparton tradition, but will offer a completely new course, with the event being held at the iconic Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton.’
Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said he was delighted to welcome another important part of Australia’s triathlon legacy to the Challenge Family.
“Shepparton has a long history of triathlon with legendary support from the community and athletes. It’s an honour to be able to continue this tradition and announce Challenge Shepparton on an exciting new course working with a community that is clearly so passionate about triathlon,” he said.
“Shepparton joins Forster, also a key part of Australia’s triathlon legacy and home to Challenge Forster alongside Challenge Batemans Bay, Challenge Melbourne and Challenge Gold Coast.”
Following the single-lap swim in the beautiful Victoria Park Lake, the fast, flat bike course is two 45K laps through Shepparton’s iconic rural landscapes. The run course consists of three laps of lake, river and bush trails with the finish, complete with legendary Shepparton crowds, on the banks of Victoria Park Lake in the centre of town.
“Through the endeavours of the McPherson Media Group, with support from Council, it is exciting to announce that not only will a long course race continued to be offered in Shepparton, but it will be held in a brand new location,” explained Mayor Jenny Houlihan. “Finally competitors will have the opportunity to race in and around our beautiful iconic Victoria Park Lake.”
McPherson Media Group and Council recognise the magnitude and importance of such an event to the Shepparton community, and this newly formed partnership is seen a positive step in securing the long-term future of a long course race in Shepparton.
“When we heard the Shepparton Triathlon Club was unable to stage an event this year we at the Shepparton News knew we had to do what we could to help secure the 2014 event,” explained McPherson Media CEO, Damian Trezise.
“We’re really pleased the new event has been accepted into the Challenge Family global series. We’re working with Council and SuperSprint, the professional race organiser behind the sell-out Challenge Melbourne race, to deliver a first-rate race that everyone expects in Shepparton. We will work with local athletes and businesses keen to help the Shepparton tradition of running successful triathlon events,” Trezise explained.
There are currently 27 Challenge Family races around the world in 15 countries, including ‘the world’s largest long distance triathlon’, the iconic Challenge Roth in Germany, and now five races across Australia.
www.challengeshepparton.com.au
www.challenge-family.com
