Citing a dispute with Surrey County Council, Brave Events, the organiser of the 2014 Vachery Triathlon and XTERRA England, has ceased trading. This has sadly meant the cancellation of both events, which had both appeared to be building a strong momentum in South East England.
Brave Events had come into conflict with local residents surrounding road closures for the bike leg of its events. This had, in turn, brought about friction with Surrey County Council.
First getting under way in August 2012, the Vachery Triathlon offered up a festival of multisport events held around Vachery Pond, one of Surrey’s best kept secrets and the jewel in the crown for the Vachery Triathlon Festival. The lake itself is a 12th century private spring fed lake almost 900m long and covering over 50 acres.
Also organised by Brave Events, the XTERRA England off-road triathlon, was first held in Surrey on 7-8 September 2013, again making use of Vachery Pond and the surrounding area. XTERRA England was the last of eight majors on the XTERRA European Tour and offered up to 40 qualifying spots to age group competitors interesting in racing at the XTERRA Worlds in Maui at the end of October.
A statement from Brave Events has been released, shedding some light on the company’s closure…
We are very sorry to have to inform you that Brave Events has ceased trading and neither of the 2014 Vachery Triathlon or XTERRA England events will now take place.
We have had to cease trading following a dispute with Surrey County Council which leaves us in the position that we are unable to deliver these events in 2014. In summary, Brave Events ran the Vachery Triathlon in 2013 on the understanding that the event was approved by the Council to run again in 2014 on the same basis (since it was not viable to run it otherwise). However the Council doesn’t now accept that position – perhaps in recognition of the highly vocal anti open-road cycling furore from local politicians and protesters that we experienced last year – which leaves Brave Events regrettably unable to deliver these events.
It has not been possible to find a practical solution to this problem. A legal challenge would be prohibitively expensive and in any event it would not be possible to continue organising Vachery and XTERRA pending the outcome of such a challenge.
We have instructed insolvency practitioners to assist with this matter and you will be receiving communication from them shortly.
Since 2012 when we first shared our plans for a world class closed road triathlon with Surrey County Council’s Olympic Legacy Team we have worked tirelessly towards that goal. It is saddening to disappoint the triathletes, spectators and volunteers who shared our vision and contributed to the short but stunning sporting success of the Vachery Triathlon and XTERRA England.
