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Muscling in on the business of triathlons
29 November 2009 By Nicola Cooke
Solicitor Angela Lang and accountant Arthur Lynch decided to turn their passion for sport into a business three years ago, when they set up a sports management and event agency.
The headline event for the business is the annual TriAthy triathlon in Athy, Co Kildare.
Lang said that race events were growing in popularity. There were 700 entrants in the first TriAthy event in 2006, but that grew to more than 2,000 entrants this year.
There has been a 50 per cent increase in entries in each of the last two years, and theTriAthy event is now ranked in the top five in Britain and Ireland in its category, according to Lang.
There are two events - a sprint race that is made up of a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre cycle and five-kilometre run; or an ‘Olympic’ race, which comprises a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre cycle and ten-kilometre run. The event costs about €50 to enter and there is a lot of work involved in organising and running the triathlon, according to Lang. The major costs involved are public indemnity insurance, administration, legal fees, safety checks and apparel.
‘‘We have to decide the structure of the event, then market it with photography and online videos," said Lang.
‘‘We sort the apparel and equipment for hire for new people coming into the sport. We have a lot of information on our website, including preparation and dietary tips, and we also provide e-zines and newsletters to members."
Lang and Lynch have other interests outside the business for extra income, but plan to expand beyond TriAthy with other races around Ireland.
Lynch said the best asset of the company was that its work could be done anywhere, over a mobile phone or on a laptop.
He said there was scope for small ‘‘virtual enterprises’’ like theirs to succeed and grow, particularly with word-of-mouth referrals from participants, and a boom in running, triathlon and marathon events in Ireland.
Next year’s TriAthy is likely to be held on the June bank holiday weekend, and more international competitors will be targeted for participation.
The business partners hope to double the participation in 2010 to 4,000 competitors.
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