To All,
It is with great regret and sadness that I personally inform you that there will be no Colac Six Day Event in 2008 and beyond.
As you know I took over the event 12 months ago after it had collapsed in 2006. My vision was to return one of Australia's best Ultra Marathon events back to the forefront again but along with a festival of sport to really celebrate the event.
There had been numerous hurdles along the way from the change of venue which was forced upon us, to debate about bitumen versus grass and then the embankment of the velodrome.
Once athletes understood the reasoning behind the new venue, I then had to face disappointed athletes in regards to entry standards and daily cut-offs and it is obvious with 5 weeks to entries closing, that the ultra marathon runners have not embraced the change and therefore the event cannot go ahead.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jodie Fincham (Colac Otway Shire), Ian Seuren (Regional Development Victoria), Federal Minister Darren Cheeseman, Ian Cornelius (AURA), Phil Essam (Historian), Sam Schmidt (Quadrumedia), South Colac Football and Netball Club, Pat Heffernan, our media partners, sponsors, volunteers and the few athletes that did enter the race.
Another group that I would like to thank is the people of Colac. I was told that the people of the town did not want the event and when I started with this project it seemed that there was that sentiment, but the turn around six months ago has been phenomenal. I would like to thank you also for your support and backing.
Please accept my sincere apologies and understanding that I did everything I could do make this a great event. I am really shattered that all my hard work has not come to fruition and I have no understanding why the athletes did not support THEIR event. I think athletes were fearful of change but when something has failed, change is eminent and without change how can any people or events move forward?
The Colac Six Day Race was one of the world's premier events back in the 1980's and early 90's. And despite the event coming to its full demise in 2008, I am sure Cliff Young would not have dreamed that the race would have achieved what it did. To all that have had some involvement with the event over the last 25 years, the tradition may be over but I hope your memories will last forever.
Yours Faithfully,
Lee Troop
