The P&O Ferries Tour of the North was set to have a huge 150-rider field this year; an increase of 50 on previously restricted bunches. It has always played host to UK pro teams and strong domestic riders and has often seen many emerging riders shine with the more established names. Felix English is seen here winning stage 4 in 2012 (Photo: Darren Crawford)
The organisers of one of the biggest and most prestigious races in the country, the P&O Ferries Tour of the North, have announced the cancellation of this year’s event due to funding shortfalls.
The race is usually held on the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend and has traditionally attracted a very strong domestic field and professional teams from the UK. It was dependent of local authority funding which has been delayed this year.
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Those behind the event said despite their best efforts in recent months to raise the funding needed to secure the 2014 race, they had unfortunately fallen short.
It is a blow to both the Ulster and national scenes and will be the second year in succession the event has not been held, with snow giving the organiser’s no option but to cancel last year’s race.
Speaking on behalf of the promoting NICF, race director Anthony Mitchell said the cancellation of April’s event had been an “extremely reluctant decision”, adding he and his colleagues felt they had exhausted all options to raise the additional money needed.
“We have been active since the summer in putting the necessary budget in place, and had secured a substantial amount of private sector sponsorship,” he said.
“We had additional support this year from of our unstinting title sponsor P&O Ferries. We normally require additional funding from the daily host councils. However, there have been delays with applications opening, with some councils due to announce their 2014 funding in April. This makes hosting an international event in April impossible.”
He added the matter had even been raised in the Northern Assembly at Stormont, with Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín stating there would be no funding shortfalls for major sporting events.
“Unfortunately this does not seem to apply to the Tour of the North on this occasion,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The Minister declined our request for a meeting, but we did meet with her representatives.”
That meeting between the race organisers and the sports branch of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was held before Christmas, with representatives of Sport Northern Ireland also in attendance. However, it simply confirmed there was no funding available.
The department recommended those behind the race take their search for funding to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. However, that department’s delivery agent in the North, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, also confirmed there was no available funding.
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Mr Mitchell said the tourism body noted the race field was a small one, usually restricted to 100 riders. However, he revealed PSNI approval had been secured for a field of 150 this year, which would have made the race a much different proposition and a more significant contributor to the local economy.
In a last gasp effort to save the race, the organisers went to RCS Sport for help; the Italian company that owns the Giro d’Italia which is starting in Belfast in May. However, Mr Mitchell said that “perhaps understandably” they were unable to help “given the 11th hour request”.
“We delayed this announcement over the weekend, to give time for yet another 11th hour discussion with a high-profile company, but as of 9am this morning, (Monday, January 20th), that door too was closed.”
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As well as being a blow to the Irish scene generally, the event's cancellation means the 50th running of the race which was due to occur last year has now been put back again. Mr Mitchell said it was always his intention to deliver that anniversary event and then step down.
He had postponed that decision last year when the elements beat the race, but now the event was off again he had decided to step down as race director.
“I can now confirm my departure, albeit not on the terms I would have wished,” he said.
Commercial director Andrew Duncan, an integral part of the small organising team for the last five years, had also announced his intention to stand down after this year’s event.
“Anthony and I devote a large chunk of our lives to organising this event to a professional standard,” he said.
“We do it for the love of the sport, and are volunteers and make no profit. We put our family and private lives on hold promoting the event and obviously it is disheartening when we`re repeatedly told by government bodies there's no money available, not even a penny."
Both men paid tribute to the committee that delivers the event as well as local sponsors and the PSNI. Mr Mitchell said it was ironic the race was off in the very year the Giro was coming to the North, with the Tour of the North due to be held as a test race for the PSNI in managing the Giro just three weeks later.
The organisers had expressions of interest from Irish, British, Dutch and French teams representing over 180 riders who had to be given as much notice as possible in order for them to make alternative arrangements for Easter competition.
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