Long-term purveyor of high-quality events to the South Central area, Richard and Joanne Iles of RaceNewForest (www.racenewforest.co.uk) have taken the undoubtedly tough decision to call it a day and have announced that 2019 will be their final season. Here’s their retirement notice in full; at both a sport and personal level they will be sorely missed.
On April 13th April 2003, RaceNewForest’s first event took place: a long duathlon based at Avon Tyrrell with a small but enthusiastic field.
Little did we know!
15 years and over 120 races later Joanne and I have decided that 2019 will be our last season of event management.
Over the years we have been fortunate to have been able to call on the best marshals; we’ve been grateful to have attracted the most loyal of competitors and raced at some of the most beautiful venues. We’ve made many friends and shared in any number of dramatic and emotional moments.
So, as those of you who were at SwashBuckler this year will already know, the 2019 season will be our last and the race programme will comprise SwashBuckler at Bucklers Hard on May 12th: ForestMan, BoskMan and ForestMan Middle Distance out of Moyles Court/Ellingham on May 26th.
Entries went live via the RNF website on Monday 11th June.
Since announcing our “retirement” we have been overwhelmed by the level of support and so grateful for so many kind wishes. It will be great to see as many of our regulars as possible at the races during the rest of this season and May/June next year so we can express our gratitude in person for your loyalty.!!
We have also had a couple of race organisers express an interest in keeping the events running once we’re gone and we are optimistic that this will happen, so will keep you all posted once we have news.
Hoping to see as many old (and new) friends at the races.
Thank-you so much for all the memories,
Joanne and Richard
