An internationally recognised multi-sport event is returning to Masham for a second year.
The Long Course Weekend invites competitors from across the country to take part in various sporting events from 29th until 31st August.
The event is based on the principles of triathlon but is tailored to open up the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running to as wide an audience as possible.
It will bring in as much as £2 million to North Yorkshire’s economy and looks set to attract thousands of competitors and visitors.
The event was established in Wales in 2010, and now has annual competitions taking place across the globe including in Holland, Belgium, Mallorca and the flagship event in Tenby, Wales.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, whose portfolio includes the visitor economy, said:
“To host such a well-respected and internationally-renowned sporting event is a real coup for us.
“The Long Course Weekend has become a very popular date in the sporting calendar in countries across the world, and it will be a privilege for North Yorkshire to host the event again next year.
“It will give us the chance to showcase to a global audience what we can offer here in what is one of the most beautiful and diverse parts of the country.
“We are looking forward to welcoming all the competitors (new and old) and their friends and family across the three days of the Long Course Weekend, and I am sure that this will be another extremely successful event.”
The Long Course Weekend is one of only a few sporting events that encompasses swimmers, cyclists, runners and triathletes of all abilities over one weekend.
Competitors have the choice to participate in one of the individual disciplines or choose all three to take part in the full LCW competition.
With a strong focus on inclusivity, community and family values, 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.
With new swim and run courses for 2025, the event will be staged from Friday 29th until Sunday 31st August, and again will be centred on Masham and the surrounding areas.
Applications for competitors are now open.
The Long Course Weekend
The flagship Long Course Weekend is the largest annual multi-sport event in Wales and attracts 11,000 competitors from 56 countries.
Up to 33,000 people travel to support the competitors, bringing the total audience to 44,000 people for the event which is now in its 15th year.
The Long Course Weekend’s founder and chief executive, Matthew Evans, said:
“The Long Course Weekend has grown from strength to strength since we first staged it back in 2010, and it really has become a global brand.
“We have wanted to bring the Long Course Weekend to England for a long time now, and North Yorkshire is the perfect location as the county has a proven track record of staging major sporting events, such as the Tour de France’s Grand Départ.
“It is one of only a few sporting events that encompasses swimmers, cyclists, runners and triathletes of all abilities over one weekend.
“We have built a huge following with the events we organise across the world so far, and year 1 in North Yorkshire was warmly received by the local community, businesses and athletes.
The visitor economy brings in more than £1.5 billion a year from domestic visits alone to North Yorkshire.
Tourism in North Yorkshire accounts for 10 per cent of the county’s overall economy, and 41,200 workers are employed in the sector.
Find out more about the event and book your place here.
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