Why are Triathlons in Ireland so expensive to enter?

bryangiggsy

The average triathlon in Ireland costs around 50 to enter. For an athlete to compete in the National Series comprising of 6 races plus triathlon ireland registration fee cost's over €355. I don't know any other sport in Ireland that costs so much to compete in. Certain Triathlon clubs are raking in massive profits at the expense of athlete's. It's time this issue was brought to the fore. I understand there are commercial triathlons out there however i dont think club triathlons or memorial triathlons should be raking in the profits at the expense of the triathletes. Fair play to Nenagh tri club for trying to tackle this head on and reducing their triathlon entry fee to 26 euro for 2011. It's time other clubs should follow suit.

couerdelion

The clubs do make a profit, but from what I understand this is ploughed back into the clubs to subsidise training, kit etc. I have no problem with this.

Have you compared the cost with the UK?

£83 for the Windsor Sprint (Sprint)
£39 Rother Valley (Sprint)
£59 Yorkshire triathlon (Oly)
£40 Strathclyde (Oly)

Izoard

The market would suggest that pricing is not an issue.

The calendar is stacked with events and even still, many are selling out.

If IM70.3 in Galway can sell out at €200 - €240 each...

Some interesting stats from our friends at US triathlon as to how loaded triathletes are...:)

bryangiggsy

couerdelion wrote: »

The clubs do make a profit, but from what I understand this is ploughed back into the clubs to subsidise training, kit etc. I have no problem with this.

Have you compared the cost with the UK?

£83 for the Windsor Sprint (Sprint)
£39 Rother Valley (Sprint)
£59 Yorkshire triathlon (Oly)
£40 Strathclyde (Oly)

Windsor,Rother valley & Yorkshire are all commerical triathlons.

Stratclyde at 40 pounds (44 euro ) is a club run olympic tri. I dont know any olympic tris in ireland you can do for 44 euro

If you have 400 entrants in a triathlon at 50 a head..thats 20 grand less expenses of say 5k max that leaves 15k to subsidise traning and kits.....is that training in lanzarote?

bryangiggsy

BTF race one day race licence fee 5 pounds €6

TI one day licence fee €15

150% Price difference

couerdelion

bryangiggsy wrote: »

Windsor,Rother valley & Yorkshire are all commerical triathlons.

Stratclyde at 40 pounds (44 euro ) is a club run olympic tri. I dont know any olympic tris in ireland you can do for 44 euro

It's a national series event in the UK too, so the equivalent event would probably be the Blacksod at €52.50.
The exchange rate is good at the moment but the prices don't fluctuate as we don't have a currency fixed to sterling. Insurance is also a lot more expensive over here than in the UK which is (I would imagine in the case of public liability insurance) a large part of the cost of putting on an event.

I aren't sure what type of profit a club makes from an event but I would hope someone who is involved in the organising an event would be able to justify it better than just a particioant like me

Still, the high costs keep the riff-raff out

Peterx

bryangiggsy wrote: »

The average triathlon in Ireland costs around 50 to enter. For an athlete to compete in the National Series comprising of 6 races plus triathlon ireland registration fee cost's over €355. I don't know any other sport in Ireland that costs so much to compete in. Certain Triathlon clubs are raking in massive profits at the expense of athlete's. It's time this issue was brought to the fore. I understand there are commercial triathlons out there however i dont think club triathlons or memorial triathlons should be raking in the profits at the expense of the triathletes. Fair play to Nenagh tri club for trying to tackle this head on and reducing their triathlon entry fee to 26 euro for 2011. It's time other clubs should follow suit.

There's loads of expensive sports to race the NPS in, mountain biking and Adventure racing springs to mind immediately.
I think the cost of races will gradually come down from the heady madness of the boom years but organisers have to turn a profit unless they receive significant sponsorship or funding and that is increasingly rare.

mloc123

Short answer.... because people will pay it

bryangiggsy

couerdelion wrote: »

It's a national series event in the UK too, so the equivalent event would probably be the Blacksod at €52.50.
The exchange rate is good at the moment but the prices don't fluctuate as we don't have a currency fixed to sterling. Insurance is also a lot more expensive over here than in the UK which is (I would imagine in the case of public liability insurance) a large part of the cost of putting on an event.

I aren't sure what type of profit a club makes from an event but I would hope someone who is involved in the organising an event would be able to justify it better than just a particioant like me

Still, the high costs keep the riff-raff out

Ha!! I knew Triathlon was an Elitist sport !!!

bryangiggsy

mloc123 wrote: »

Short answer.... because people will pay it

Form what i cant gather thy have hot their peak and are on the decline with lots of races only being half full, other races not selling out and the cheaper ones selling out quickly. Try Athy i believe is only half full.

tunney

Simply because people are willing to pay the sums involved.

The line between club and commerical races is alot more blurred that people realised. Some major races that are perceived as club races are in fact commerical races with a club name tagged on.

Some years ago I said "this year is the peak in triathlon". I was ignored and I was ridiculed. I also think that I was right.

Races are not filling as fast, and it will continue to get worse. Quality races will probably survive, alot will not.

Poncherello

Ha ! David McWilliams called the top of the housing market in 2003, he eventually was right ....

bryangiggsy

Caroline Kearney triathlon is 50 euro to enter this year as opposed to 60 last year. However there is no race technical t shirt included for 50 euro..if you want one you have to pay 15 euro for..which makes the race 65 euro or more expensive than last year.
I do think its time for Triathlon Ireland to get involved to try bring the costs down of these..particularly races they have a foothold in..because of the National Series.

mloc123

Nenagh sprint was also a bargain this year at €28 I think?

aburke

What club are you a member of, and how much does it cost to enter your club's triathlon?
And if you're not a member of a club, what's stopping you joining one, organising a race, at a reasonable price [as you see it], and setting an example for others to follow?

bryangiggsy wrote: »

The average triathlon in Ireland costs around 50 to enter. For an athlete to compete in the National Series comprising of 6 races plus triathlon ireland registration fee cost's over €355. I don't know any other sport in Ireland that costs so much to compete in. Certain Triathlon clubs are raking in massive profits at the expense of athlete's. It's time this issue was brought to the fore. I understand there are commercial triathlons out there however i dont think club triathlons or memorial triathlons should be raking in the profits at the expense of the triathletes. Fair play to Nenagh tri club for trying to tackle this head on and reducing their triathlon entry fee to 26 euro for 2011. It's time other clubs should follow suit.

nomadic

The main reason I'm doing shag all tri's this year is the cost.

mloc123

Its not as black and white as money alone...

I paid €200 for Austria 70.3 and felt it was good value. I paid €28 for a 10k a few months back and felt it was a rip off.

I don't mind paying once the event is well run.

EC1000

bryangiggsy wrote: »

thats 20 grand less expenses of say 5k max that leaves 15k to subsidise traning and kits.....is that training in lanzarote?

Really????? Have you any evidence of this?

How much does insurance cost?
How much does a road closure application to the Council cost?
How much do you pay to the Gardai?
How much of a contribution to the Red Cross?
How much for the rental of portaloos?
How much for race referees expenses?
Food?
DJ?
Chip timing expensees?
A set of swim hats?

...and I've only just scratched the surface. I'm not saying things are not overpriced.... I'm saying your figures are ridiculous.

You mention memorial triathlons above also... I'm not sure which of the above expenses is reduced because a race is named after someone.... You also mention that CK is more expensive this year... I entered this year and last year and I think you'll find it has gone down by 10 euro.... ( the point being if money is an issue you dont need to go for the t-shirt option....)

tunney

TI events - TI insurance. Cost nothing, other races just don't bother
Road closures - when was the last Irish race you did without road closures on public roads?
Red cross - 200 euro
Portaloos - 100 per unit
Race refs - very very little
Food - not many races do free food
DJ - see food
Timing chips - 4 euro per heaed
Swim hats - very cheap

Some more - goodie bags? Donations, some races "run out" and don't have enough. T-shirts. Again those that give them its more and more commong to "run out" before half the competitors get them.
Medals? Those that give them - they're cheap

I'm sure our favourite race organizer will be along soon to point out what a dick I am and how I know nothing and understand less.

bryangiggsy

Gardai cost nothing. Road closure if sought costs the ad of the closure in the local newspapers so about 150 euro. sandwhiches 2.50 a head.
Your also forgetting about the money that club raise for sponsorship for the races which go into the thousands! and thats fact!
Will stick to my original estimate which is more than generous at 5 k....

RayCun

bryangiggsy wrote: »

Will stick to my original estimate which is more than generous at 5 k....

Out of interest, have you ever organised a triathlon or road race?

bryangiggsy

RayCun wrote: »

Out of interest, have you ever organised a triathlon or road race?

Yes

rovers_runner

Why is a VW Golf so expensive?
Why are the Oakley shades so expensive?
Why are the turbo trainers so expensive?
Why are the wetsuits so expensive?

It's because they saw you coming.

bryangiggsy

RayCun wrote: »

Out of interest, have you ever organised a triathlon or road race?

Getting away from the point of my OP. The money to be made in hosting triathlons is big and i believe the lines have indeed become blurred between clubs and commerical entities. Everyone is at it. Would love the sport to become more affordable to the lesser well off.

aburke

RayCun wrote: »

Out of interest, have you ever organised a triathlon or road race?

bryangiggsy wrote: »

Yes

Then name it, state the prices changed and show the accounts.

Pretty much everyone is looking for cheaper races, or at least better value races.
You claim it can be done, you reckon every race should cost less, you're stated you've organised one, which I assume must be cheap and good value, otherwise you wouldn't be on there asking everyone else to do likewise.
So share the knowledge.
I for one, won't mind you blowing your own trumpet.

airscotty

couerdelion wrote: »

Still, the high costs keep the riff-raff out

And the majority of young people also.....

bryangiggsy

airscotty wrote: »

And the majority of young people also.....

Which sucks for you guys. The majority of 20 to 24 yr olds that i know that race triathlon cannot afford to do 6 National Series races which is a shame. To join a club for the year, buy TI membership and do 6 National Series Races costs 400 euro. Not many lads that age have 400 euro knocking about.

aburke wrote: »

Then name it, state the prices changed and show the accounts.

Pretty much everyone is looking for cheaper races, or at least better value races.
You claim it can be done, you reckon every race should cost less, you're stated you've organised one, which I assume must be cheap and good value, otherwise you wouldn't be on there asking everyone else to do likewise.
So share the knowledge.
I for one, won't mind you blowing your own trumpet.

Do you believe it can be done?
Surely if you are looking for cheaper races you would row in behind rather than attacking the op? Do you believe triathlons make money? Have you ever organised a race? Finally your not by any chance the director of Eireman?

Fazz

@giggsy it's time to put up or shut up you've been called out so name your race or quit the lies...

20-24 yr olds don't have 400 per year? You serious??!!
I know when I was that age I spent more than that in the pub in a matter of weeks...

I agree that Triathlon is not a cheap sport, but mainly due to the gear and equipment more than anything.

I find races reasonable, with some slightly high and some quite good.
There is a lot of organising and planning to be done, and I have no problem contributing to races ran by Clubs especially who reinvest in the sport.

I've had races with nice t shirts, crap t shirts, decen goodie bags and no goodie bags. You pick and chose which you will return to if that's an issue for you.

I'm not saying it's not profitable, just that it's not a huge margin and is a pretty busy went to plan.

If it were as easy and profitable as you say, then After you did 1 race why didn't you continue and do many more and make loads???

bryangiggsy

Fazz wrote: »

@giggsy it's time to put up or shut up you've been called out so name your race or quit the lies...

20-24 yr olds don't have 400 per year? You serious??!!
I know when I was that age I spent more than that in the pub in a matter of weeks...

I agree that Triathlon is not a cheap sport, but mainly due to the gear and equipment more than anything.

I find races reasonable, with some slightly high and some quite good.
There is a lot of organising and planning to be done, and I have no problem contributing to races ran by Clubs especially who reinvest in the sport.

I've had races with nice t shirts, crap t shirts, decen goodie bags and no goodie bags. You pick and chose which you will return to if that's an issue for you.

I'm not saying it's not profitable, just that it's not a huge margin and is a pretty busy went to plan.

If it were as easy and profitable as you say, then After you did 1 race why didn't you continue and do many more and make loads???

How would i benefit from telling lies? I have no other motive other than trying to make triathlons more affordable?Do you believe yourself that triathlons can be run cheaper than what they are being run for now? If so then whats wrong with getting behind that?

aburke

No, I've nothing to do with Eireman.
I was race director of the Fields of Athenry 10km for the last 2 years.
€18 entry - Check race reviews elsewhere on this site to decide whether it was good value.

If you want cheap, I've been a race director at Athenry AC legs of the Galway 5km series. €30 for 6 races, fully chip-timed.

bryangiggsy, you are trolling, and I [like the fool that I am] have responded.
Name your race, and how how did it cheaply and at a high quality.

bryangiggsy wrote: »

Do you believe it can be done?
Surely if you are looking for cheaper races you would row in behind rather than attacking the op? Do you believe triathlons make money? Have you ever organised a race? Finally your not by any chance the director of Eireman?

Fazz

I believe some can be run cheaper, others not necessarily.

The very fact you haven't named your race or done many more appears proof to me that it's not easy, isn't easy to make a good profit margin, has a lot of competition at present making it harder etc..

Ive enjoyed cheap races and had incredible value races also so do appreciate value, but I understand big races can take a lot of hard work to get right.
We've all done races that were not organised well at all and as a result won't be re-entered simple as that.

I'm not against value, but do feel it's not as easy as you make it out to be.

Good organisation, value and management is key to success, repeat and profit of triathlons.