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Human Race has joined forces with Participate Sport to form what they describe as the UK’s largest mass participation events company.
The merged portfolio includes 16 triathlons, nine cycling events, 11 running events, ten open water swims, seven kid’s events and one Festival of Sport, bringing an active community of over 100,000 people together. Participants vary from first timers from eight to 80, through to World Champions. Collectively, the events raise millions of pounds for hundreds of charities, the firm said.
That portfolio features the Toshiba Windsor Triathlon, Cycletta, the Eton SuperSprint Triathlons, Festival of Sport Cornwall, Wiggle Dragon Ride, Etape Cymru, Off Road Winter Series, the Speedo Open Water Swim Series and a partnership with the British 10k Run powered by Nike+.
Merging under the Human Race moniker, new CEO Nick Rusling will head up the company. Rusling was formerly CEO at Participate Sport and was also MD at IMG Challenger World, the company behind the London Triathlon, Blenheim Triathlon, Etape Caledonia and Run to the Beat.
Human Race founder John Lunt will remain fully involved on a senior and a strategic level and on a day-to-day basis. Lunt has also been the event director for some major UK triathlons; the Commonwealth Games Triathlon in Manchester 2002, ITU World Cups in Salford and is currently the sport manager for Triathlon in Hyde Park this summer.
CEO Rusling enthused: “The mass participation industry has grown exponentially over the past decade and the opportunity to combine ambitions and passion with John Lunt and his great team is incredibly exciting. A new era under the Human Race brand will continue to inspire thousands more people to get fit, active and healthy through our events in what I believe is the most exciting time for participation sport in history.”
Lunt added: “The combined strengths of two great event delivery companies brings together a number of exciting benefits for our valued customers; the athletes, sponsors and partners. I am looking forward to staying fully involved and committed to help ensure we keep our passion and focus on delivering great Human Race events.”
