The Weston Beach Race which has been held in Weston-super-Mare for 37 years, was due to take place between Friday 9th October and Sunday 11th October but has now been axed this year.
RHL Activities, the organisers behind the event have worked closely with North Somerset Council to host the event, with major investment in additional infrastructure and services to comply with COVID guidelines, unfortunately despite all the organisers efforts and working with the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) and the Council, North Somerset Council has reluctantly now made the difficult decision to postpone the event, under the current pandemic we are all in and the need to protect residents and visitors against spread of the virus.
North Somerset Council and RHL have secured the new date for the 38th Beach Race on October 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2021. Cllr Don Davies, Leader of the Council, said that postponing an internationally renowned event had been a difficult decision.
Cllr Davies said: “We appreciate that local business will be disappointed to lose such a major event, but we felt we had no choice. The council’s priority is to keep people safe and reduce the spread of infection.
“We fully recognise the importance of the Beach Race and the benefits it brings to our local economy and look forward to hosting the event in Weston again next year.”
Cllr Mike Bell, Deputy Leader of the Council commented, “As a previous volunteer with the Beach Race, I am very sorry that this year’s event cannot go ahead. However, in the current situation it is the right decision and I look forward to seeing the event back, better than ever, in the future. I am grateful to RHL for their continued support and understanding this year and over so many years previously.”
Director of RHL Activities Gareth Hockey said: “I am devastated, the work that has gone into the preparation for this Beach Race, both by my team and all our contractors, to have the event postponed now, has completely floored me. With the will power and determination of all concerned, from Contractors, North Somerset Council and RHL, we have managed to secure the new date in 2021, to be able to announce when having to deliver such bad news.
“This pandemic we are all in will hopefully pull us all together working as a team, both riders, council and organisers alike, in delivering the 38th Beach Race in 2021.”
Rider entries will be carried over to next year, so riders please look out for an updated email enclosing new documentation for next year’s Beach Race coming soon.
All information on the 38th Weston Beach Race can be found on www.rhlactivities.com