Businesses have spoken of their pride at showcasing North Yorkshire through a major sporting event aiming to boost the county’s vital visitor economy.
The Long Course Weekend has chosen the county for the first time the internationally-recognised multi-sport event has been staged in England.
The event is based on the principles of the triathlon, but tailored to open up the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running to as wide an audience as possible.
It is hoped that the sporting competition will bring in as much as £2m to North Yorkshire’s economy by attracting thousands of competitors and visitors.
Council leader Carl Les said: “We know how important the visitor economy is in North Yorkshire, especially in areas such as the Yorkshire Dales.
“The Long Course Weekend will give us the opportunity to showcase Masham and North Yorkshire to thousands of people who will be visiting, bringing a welcome economic boost for local businesses.”
Business owners in Masham say they believe the sporting event will be a major showcase for the area.
Richard Welford, owner of the family-run Beavers Butchers on Silver Street in the town, said: “It’s a real privilege for us to be hosting the Long Course Weekend, and it will bring so many people to the area. It is not just about the weekend, though, as we know people will come back. This has happened before when people have said they loved the area while visiting and decided to book another stay.
“The organisers have engaged with the local community and have held meetings in the Town Hall to answer any questions people may have. I am really looking forward to it, and I am sure we will be able to show Masham and North Yorkshire in the best light possible.”
The Long Course Weekend will be held in Masham from Friday, 6 September, to Sunday, 8 September.
The swim distances range from 1.2 miles to 2.4 miles, cycling routes will be from 56 miles to 112 miles and the run will start at five kilometres to a full marathon. There will also be a children’s running event to encourage all members of the family to get involved.
The event was established in Wales in 2010, and now has annual competitions taking place across the globe including in Holland, Belgium, Mallorca, Australia and New Zealand.
