Just got an email that said the duathlon was cancelled. It seams this race has had a hard time getting going again. I loved this race as a great spring tune up and still remember when Heather Gollnick won it a few years back. Anybody have any idea why it is cancelled??
If this is true…that would be a damn shame. Nice event…great venue. This was always the kick-off to the multi-sport season for lots of Michigan folks.
To the organizers credit, he is giving either a refund or transfer to another duathlon a week later. It still sucks. Tom D needs to give some inside info here…
Tom is probably on the phone now w/ Jim & Joyce…
It would be sad to not have the BIKESPORT Duathlon Cup this year. Grosse Ile is part of it, along w/ Nankin Mills DU.
Hopefully things will turn around for good…
Actually, it is not cancelled, the race director’s wife won’t let him put on the race. Some family issue.
As a result, Jim, Joyce and I are putting the event on. We’ve been in contact with the city of Grosse Ile and Gault Timing is contracted to do the timing.
If you notice, the on line registration is up and running.
So no, the race isn’t cancelled, that is a rumor. What is true is that it has a new race director.
Hey Tom,
I started this rumor based on an email from the race director. The following is the email I recieved…
To all Grosse Ile Duathlon Registrants: 2005 Grosse Ile Duathlon Cancelled.
Gene Edwards, Race Director of the Grosse Ile Duathlon has made the decision to
cancel this event scheduled for Saturday May 14, 2005.
Mr. Edwards hopes that you will understand, as this was a difficult decision for him.
These are the two options in regard to this event cancellation:
-
You can request an automatic transfer of your entry to the May 22, Bikesport
Nankin Mill Duathlon in Westland, Michigan produced by Elite Endeavors. There will
be no transfer fee. -
Refund from Gene Edwards of your entry fee to the 2005 Grosse Ile Duathlon.
*** If a transfer is requested, Elite Endeavors must hear from you no later than May
6, 2005. Contact Elite Endeavors at: jdjp@sev.org or 419-829-2398
*** If a refund is requested, please contact the organizer Gene Edwards at:
734-675-9762
So there is some conflicting info going on. I hope it is still on.
Jeff S.
Hi Jeff,
Yes Sir, actually, I just got the same e-mail in my in box a moment ago. I beg your pardon Sir. My apologies.
The last conversation I had with Joyce and Jim was that the event was moving forward under their directorship. That was as of about 2:00 PM yesterday, and was the last I heard of it.
Apparently, I was out of the loop on this. Bad news. I was under the impression, based on what I was told yesterday, that the show was still on.
Thanks for the info Jeff, sorry for the confusion.
Tom, any more news? It’d be a shame to not have this race.
Well, this is the story as I know it:
About two days ago I received word from Jim Donaldson of Elite endeavors that Gene Edwards, the Race Director, was contemplating cancelling the race. I didn’t see this as a necessity and recommended we simply take over management of the event if Gene Edwards did not want to or was unable to participate at any level as an administrator.
No worries, to me, that was the strategy and the plan: Gene didn’t care to put the event on, The new race director would be (pick one) Jim Donaldson, Joyce Donaldson or (God forbid…) me. As of 21 hours ago and my last cell phone conversation before I went out to dinner last night that was the plan.
This morning I am in the store very early and see Ann Arbor Jeff’s post about the e-mail he received. Apparently Jim and Joyce had phoned me last night at 10 PM but I left my cell phone at home (I was out to dinner). They had phoned me to say the race had been cancelled.
I do not know why. No one has ever explained it to me, given me a reason or reasons or even hinted at one. Additionally, I was puzzled as to why the race direction couldn’t transition from Gene to another party.
I just don’t know the reasons. It isn’t fair to speculate and frankly, I have no ideas.
Hopefully more information will surface. It is disappointing for us since it is a big event for us and I personally enjoyed racing it. The venue was excellent too.
For what it’s worth, any other race production company willing to stage the event on the island can contact me for sponsorship. We would fully support the race going forward as we have in the past.
As an interesting aside, a the possibility of a cancellation became a topic of discussion during the last 24 hours I offered to pay the production costs of the race. No one seemed interested.
Odd. The whole thing is odd.
Here’s the official e-mail I (and other participants) received. There is no reason given for the cancellation:
To all Grosse Ile Duathlon Registrants: 13th Grosse Ile Duathlon Cancelled.
Gene Edwards, Race Director of the Grosse Ile Duathlon has made the decision to cancel this event scheduled for Saturday May 14, 2005.
Mr. Edwards hopes that you will understand, as this was a difficult decision for him.
These are the two options in regard to this event cancellation:
-
You can request an automatic transfer of your entry to the May 22, Bikesport Nankin Mill Duathlon in Westland, Michigan produced by Elite Endeavors. There will be no transfer fee.
-
Refund from Gene Edwards of your entry fee to the 2005 Grosse Ile Duathlon.
still have Willow, Nankin Mills, and Steelcase next month though. too bad Gene had an issue. that was a great event. wouldn’t be surprised if it returns in one fashion or another next year.
I agree.