Bath Festival Postponed for a Year
By Frank Stormont
August 5 2006
Two day rugby 7s event as part of the Bath Sports Festival has been posponed until next year.
Bath Sports Festival
Rugby 7s
29th and 30th July
PRESS RELEASE
Bath Sports Festival Postponed
After months of planning the multi-sport Bath Sports Festival, scheduled for the weekend of 29th & 30th July, the festival has had to be postponed because organisers have simply run out of time. Cath Humphries of B & Nes advised Thursday they were still considering the proposal and would give their view Friday afternoon, however it is now not a financially or managerial viable option for organisers to consider so close to the event, particularly with so many people involved, this was confirmed with B & Nes on Wednesday.
After months of submitting and amending the safety, management and logistics plans, it was discovered proposals were only sent out to the services last week which has resulted in B & NES not being able to now process the License for the Rec. Agreement could not be met for plans for the anticipated 5,000 members of the public who would have been in the Bath Football Club ground. Ironically more than double that number of spectators regularly attend matches at ’the Rec, all security and medical services were to provided by professionals who deal with all events that take place on the Rec throughout the year.
Although the cycling was not directly affected, it would not have been viable, either financially of logistically, without the support from the other sports, even though the Grand Prix had attracted considerable commercial sponsorship.
‘I am really disappointed for the clubs and hundreds of competitors and visitors who had intended coming to Bath for the weekend, it sadly means of loss of nearly £300,000 to the City, said Philip Challinor. However, we have to be realistic, time has simply run out. I am determined that all the time and effort of the volunteers for each of the sports will not be wasted and that we will run a magnificent event in 2007. Plans will be submitted to B & Nes one year in advance which will give time to overcome any constraints.
The Festival organisers have very reluctantly agreed to postpone the 2006 Festival, but, having meticulously planned this year’s event for months, will continue with the initiative in 2007. Furthermore, the organising committee have decided to apply to British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport, to run the 2007 Bath Grand Prix as the British National Circuit Race Championships alongside the Rugby 7’s Tournament.
14th July 2006