RESCHEDULED DATE – BONAQUA AFRICA TRIATHLON CUP TROUTBECK
Dear All,
As you are all aware there have been many intensive meetings and consultations with our sponsors and all key and relevant stakeholders over the past 10 days regarding the BONAQUA 2021 AFRICA TRIATHLON CUP TROUTBECK and all associated Multi-sport events scheduled for the 20 February 2021 and subsequent Notice of Postponement that was issued earlier this week.
Following a final meeting held last night, we are pleased to announce that a new date for the event has been set for Saturday 25 SEPTEMBER 2021.
This decision was measured against many key considerations mainly centred around the current lockdown, ban on sporting events, restriction of 30 persons at gatherings, travel and quarantine regulations to name a few.
Several other dates in April and October were considered but these had some associated problems and it was decided that 25 September would be the better option. This date falls within the new Triathlon season (September 2021- April 2022), but is still relevant to the event being hosted within 2021 from an International, Continental, Regional and local perspective.
Added to this, is the possible rescheduling of an African Junior Development Camp hosted at the same time as the event (as in 2020) which can only improve the African Junior Elite field.
Racing conditions at this time of the year were also closely considered. Water temperature records at Troutbeck in September are between 18 – 22 degrees C, the weather will be warmer than February and with little to no chance of the rain.
Approval from SRC permitting, it will be the intention of Triathlon Zimbabwe to look at realigning the current 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons to facilitate athlete preparations for this event date as it will include the 2021 National Championships.
It is our full intention to continue hosting this flagship and prestigious event, and to deliver a professional and high-profile International event as we have done for the past 14 years.
We are hopeful that many of the current scenarios that have forced this postponement will no longer be in place for the revised date but we are all critically aware of the extreme level of this crisis that our beloved Zimbabwe is now facing.
Triathlon Zimbabwe is extremely grateful for your continued support and loyalty and we look forward not only to the 25thSeptember 2021 event, but to resuming our activities as soon as we possibly can.
