2022 Tim Gates Classic to go virtual

FAIRHAVEN’S Tim Gates Classic is the latest major event forced to go virtual due to COVID-19 concerns, with organisers deciding days out from this Sunday’s planned run that the risk of exposure to local community and entrants was too high.

In a statement issued this afternoon (Wednesday, January 5), Fairhaven SLSC noted an escalating impact of COVID over the Christmas and New Year period, with many in the community either directly or indirectly impact by the recent surge in cases.

The club had estimated up to 400 competitors were to take part.

It’s the second year in a row an in-person Tim Gates Classic has had to be cancelled.

“it’s a tough decision to once again move to a virtual format, however, we saw last year this event can happen virtually and so we encourage all entrants to stay involved and continue to support our local sponsors and supporters,” Fairhaven SLSC president Nancy Joseph said.

“In recent weeks with the increasing impacts of COVID-19 across our volunteers and the broader community, we feel we will not be able to properly support the event to maintain safe conditions for all if it was held in its current format,” she said.

The news came 24 hours after Lorne’s Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf were similarly called off for this weekend.