European Champs Called Off

Rob / 18.05.2004

After a statement last week which said the race would go ahead, but without a title sponsor, the organizers of the European Championships have been forced to cancel the event.

Stan van Jaarsveld and Gerard de Graaf had hoped to pull together the best teams from a series of qualifying races around Europe, and had 24 teams ready to race in Austria in June. Their original plans were for an Alpine spectacular in Carinthia, lasting a week and including horse riding, whitewater rafting and canyoning. Last week, with no sponsor secured they still expected the race would go ahead, but without these disciplines.

It wasn’t to be though. Not all the Austrian event partners were happy with the changes and the race could not be staged. Teams have been informed and this announcement of the cancellation has gone on the event web site.

“Last week we announced some changes in the European Championship Adventure Race 2004. With the changes as explained in the newsletter we were confident it would be possible to go on with the race as planned.

Unfortunately some of our event partners are, in the end, unable to cooperate with these changes. We respect their decision but this creates a situation with problems which we can not solve prior to the event and it is inevitable for us to cancel the European Championship Adventure Race 2004.”

Stan van Jaarsveld
Gerard de Graaf

Disappointed teams are to be refunded any entry fees paid, but it’s not clear if they will have a chance to race a similarly organized championship again. Gerard de Graaf said it was too early to think about using the race plans they had begun to prepare for 2005, though he didn’t discount the idea.

First, he has to help make a success of the Dutch Championships, which are happening this week. Once that is completed he will return to consider the future of the European Championships.