ChallengeCapeTown

Morning, Yesterday the office was in a meeting with the Mayor and hence the office was closed. Chances to meet with the Mayor over the race are far and few between. With other major events being cancelled/postponed in Cape Town of late, Saracens, Cape Town Bike festival amongst other the City is in a change period and there are changes and procedure which affect when we can go to announcement. Ultimately the City has its processes and we have to work within that. So when the City is ready to make an announcement then that is when that will happen and given the time of the year, the earliest will be mid-Jan 2012. With regards to Marketing Manager title, I simply responded to the email from our Marketing Managers email address as she was off sick. With regards to taking money and buying Christmas gifts. Apart from not having children, am afraid, my nearest and dearest won't be getting any gifts and personally not stepped foot inside shopping store for clothes or the like in the last 12 months. For those who actually have been working with us as partner/sponsor or in the office know where things really are at. We have sent an email last week to the athletes giving an open and honest update. If that is misconstrued as lies then there is not much more we can comment on. The capital investments for the race were already made and clearly having to re-gear the business going forward takes time. It is neither a straightforward process or quick. So there is little point in committing to refunds if we not working to that end.

Garfield, do you want an Argus entry?

Morning All, Garfield raised a point about the half. There is definitely merits in his thinking, but there are factors beyond just his points which make it impossible just to do the half. But we have been looking at a number of points in that regard. There have various comments with regards to Hermanus, and a bunch of other suggestions. Bottom line is our sponsors are involved conditionally in racing in CT. Yes,we have been fortunate that the sponsors see the longer picture which this race is and we accept it will take time to build trust. Refunds: We have had to wait for the final amounts due from payment provider and in there are two collections processes form the credit card companies which take 4-6 week respectively. Additionally we have had to put in other measures which have taken a little longer than planned to so we can conclude all refunds to put our efforts into 2012. We as anxious to close this out as you guys. An joint announcement will be happening in the week for the CoCT. Yours in Tri, Grant

Hi All, Guys if we don't race we don't have a business, so the option of postponing again is simply not on the cards... So if we have 300 numbers then so be it, but naturally we hope the athletes given that we put the confirmed routes, etc up signed off from the City of Cape Town then more will come and enjoy what we working our backsides off for, a special race in a pretty special location. As with any business, it typically takes three years before they make a profit, our now took a setback, if you don't trade in year 1, you can't trade in future years. We have taken a very long view on this going forward. Sincerely hope that answers that side of things once and for all. Our partners, sponsors and City of Cape Town definitely see a bigger future. With regards to half,s and the like, yes it is a Challenge thing but when we get all our thoughts in place for this we will let everyone know. We had alot of requests for this and we know Challenge as a format has been very successful with this format and is key feature of Challenge races. I can say we concluded a meeting with the City of Cape Town this morning that reconfirms Challenge and City of Cape Town as partners for 2012 and beyond. We have some groundwork before we make any announcements in this regard but we working that by end of November we can make announcements. As stated, CoCT is a beast which works at its own speed and so we at maximum putting the pieces of the revised puzzle. We also busy with some exciting sponsor arrangements to look at in detail. Will keep all posted, but for the moment we head down working to get these items in place to ensure 2012 meets expectation all round. Grant

Hi Texas Ranger, No need to me. Just inbox is running consistently at 500 emails a day. But will endeavor to as a minimum to responses back to all. Point taken. thanks Grant

Hi Domestique, Ensuring we don't have routes which will change and clarity on the management of them. People want to race in CT that is a given, but up to us to ensure we I've them confidence in the routes agreed. With that up front, should give the athletes the confidence they need. Ultimately, it was an issues of giving parity for age-groupers and pro's, not one different form the other. Alot of people have been able to claim back through travel insurance or failing that through their credit card companies. All our sponsors have recommitted and in fact got two news ones, so they are see the race as a great additional potential for success, so hope the athletes do aswell. As stated previously, CT is complex but beautiful, it would be dead easy to take a lesser/easier location but know there is something here the athletes will love and we will have to deal with the Class 2011 one by one in winning their confidence back. Rollers have been good, so know it is working. At the end of the day, the athletes need to decide if they want more then just one iron-distance race and brand. Variety is spice of life and given a chance we know the athletes will love what Challenge do. Rest I am afraid is out of hands except to put on a great race. Grant

Hi All, We are processing refunds steadily guys. We had two payment systems to work through and they spoke different languages to each other and we have had to do things manually across the two, as there are more than just the race fee, it is the sub costings and prices like TSA day licences, pasta additional items, separating relay from solo, 4:18:4. In addition in getting monies back where we can given that shirts, etc have all been ordered and getting new dates, technical debrief's with COCT concluded in order to get new dates for 2012 and route conclusions. Last but not least, we might have a title sponsor going forward... So PROMISE we are on the case, please bear with us. Yours in Tri, Grant

Hi All, Put simply we never were planning shutting down the whole of Cape Town. Not only for a first time event would that be incredibly arrogant but ignorant. Coned lane closures allow for racing to happen and still for the City to function but to give the athletes the best of CT in a safe manner. The City understand the potential this has, locally and intentionally, and that first Oceans Marathon had a 100 athletes, so hence the agreement is long term. Rome was not built in a day and for us to reach the goals we have will take some time. Remember we not measuring ourselves against IM, we measuring ourselves against ourselves with the events we have, Copenhagen Roth, Barcelona, Cairns, etc who all have relays, halfs and full distance racing one the same weekend. Yes, it is different to IM but is a successful recipe, it might take a little to bed down in SA, but that is fine. This no doubt will change over time, and hence these projects are long term. People need to remember where IM started from humble numbers and beginnings.

Hi there, Please remember that Challenge does things a little differently to IM and putting a half on the same day is a well trodden and used path for Challenge events. If you have any doubts please speak to the Challenge Henley and Cairns guys. As said, we have learnt and will more time to realize Challenge 2012.

Hi there, Unfortunately each site has it challenges and getting buy in from all the residents for the all day/night commentating and music would require its own challenges. Was considered, but long term is not the solution as site will be too small and aforesaid resident issues. We want this to be something that grows and changing venues then goes against the basics of that growth as you want residents to adopt and grow with the race as residents as bigger consideration as lane closures, and the other aspects we need and like in tri. Win the residents over, then long term the success and growth of the race become alot easier and helps with sponsorship, etc.

Yes, route was approved in principle before we went to launch. It was what took so long to get launch. This normal to get agreement in principle and look to get into details. IM Wales launched without a route and did not publish one until two weeks or so before race day. Naturally the City and ourselves would not go to launch without an agreement in principle on the route. One needs to remember any event in cape Town is only given final sign-off just prior to the event. We might have to change that a little now going forward with the City.

Not at this point. Lots of factors to consider.. Let me know your thoughts on dates. But we definitely doing a half with the full in 2012.

Hi Zula, Many thanks, yes been tough but we getting chin up and got to dust ourselves off. We stacking around because we love this damn sport and want the best course. No question. Perhaps your response is more telling than you realize. It is very clear what we have in black and white. It is execution of that becomes the issue and as you say misinterpretation. As said, it is clear on we moving forward from this. Thanks for the fair space to comment appropriately. Grant

Hi Bradwentzel, Yes Durban was actually approached first, but lack of response moved us to CT which were open arms for it. All the recent pain aside we stand by that it is the right City for the full. Can't say alot at this point but discussions with Durban have ongoing for sometime. Timings, etc all need to resolved and naturally a few lessons applied in CT taken there.

Great news! We will do a half at the same time next on the same day, so maybe in for that??