10/11/2024
THE GOLDRUSH 2025 - IMPORTANT UPDATE
It is with much heartache that I have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the returning upcoming 2025 The Goldrush multisport event, scheduled to be held 22nd -23rd March.
As you will undoubtedly understand, with costs increasing everywhere and people’s disposable income and free time lessening significantly, the current economic climate is becoming extremely tough for small business trading in non-essentials, particularly events that require a reasonable amount of commitment.
Ever optimistic and hopeful I could inspire people to be interested and enter into the revised Goldrush event, the initial registrations were frightfully low and sales since have unfortunately been dire. Despite a long passion for the sport, a massive amount of work and considerable financial outlay to date it is clear there is not the appetite nor a sound market anymore for an event of the nature I had designed. At this point in time the event sadly has fewer than a quarter of the acceptable entry target I had set to achieve for it to be viable.
The truth is, even with existing infrastructure of a long running event company behind it and having secured some helpful local and central government funding, after shaving the event budget to the bare bones and being real about the entries we might receive in coming months, I expect to be continuing to work for free with a high likelihood the event will incur a loss. Without better entries, and not confident we will receive a significant number more in the short term (based on the economy and thirst of this style of event), I am simply not prepared to take the risk and burden on myself any further. Sometimes there are more important things to consider.
I have made the decision now, with immediate effect, in order to cut my losses before any greater costs are incurred and so it has the least impact as possible on everyone involved (entrants, staff, contractors, venues etc.), allowing people time to reset their plans and open themselves up for other opportunities.
Irrespective of the time and expense outlaid, I have thoroughly enjoyed planning the event over the last year, and had what I felt was a winner of an old school multisport course with stunning scenery and challenge. However, it has become clear my efforts were both untimely and off target with market demand.
It hurts me to make this hard decision to cancel the event. I realize there will be some disappointment out there amongst those who have entered. I sympathise as I have been on the other side of a similar event cancellation recently as well. But please don’t let this put you off entering events. Rather I implore you to support those organizing events for the foreseeable future and urge you to enter early to give the organizers confidence they need they are on the right track and the market appetite is there.
I will be in touch with all those who have entered in the coming week to arrange a full refund of entry fees, X-Cover taken out and donations made.
As for the event, The Goldrush event will be shelved for now, at least until inflation comes in check and the economy is in a healthy state again. It is also clearly apparent I will need to further re-invent the event to appeal to a greater market audience in order to attract the interest of a wider population.
In the meantime, I wish you all a great summer ahead and hope one day/one year in the future (during more buoyant times), I can deliver a new The Goldrush event, and we see a revival of the sport of multisport with other events successfully popping up around the country with a strong following.
Kindest regards Neil
