One of the biggest sporting events on the Pembrokeshire calendar has been postponed for another year, with news that The Long Course Weekend Wales 2021 will not be able to take place as planned this year due to the pandemic.

Following the Government advice as per the control plan in Wales during the current Covid-19 crisis, the organisers of the event which attracts over 10,000 athletes to compete over three days have announced that they are ‘absolutely devastated’ that the event will have to be cancelled for the second year running.

Starting off with the Wales Swim which was due to kick-off the weekend on Friday, June 25 from Tenby’s North Beach, followed by the Wales Sportive cycle run the next day, and finishing with the Wales Marathon on the Sunday, the event would normally see around 35,000 supporters, some travelling from across the world, visit Tenby ahead of the summer season.

“After many conversations, deliberation and following the Government advice as per the control plan in Wales – The Long Course Weekend Wales 2021 will not be able to take place as planned this year,” a spokesperson for event organisers Activity Wales announced on Tuesday (March 2).

“The team are absolutely devastated as they have worked tirelessly to get the event on within the guidelines, but fully understand and support the Welsh Government plans, with our communities a priority and the public health position, there is still a long way to go before we introduce events of scale into Wales. To say the decision was tough is an understatement, but most definitely the right one.

“Our thoughts are with our athletes, volunteers, communities, charities and partners – all of whom were desperate to get the event happening this year.

“It’s a special week for so many - from the memories created, the friendships developed and the hundreds of thousands raised for charity with major support for Hywel DDA (Local NHS), Barnardo’s, Wales Air Ambulance and Shelter Cymru.

“The legislation of events in Wales are devolved and any decisions on the roadmap to recovery is made by the Welsh Government and not Westminster.

“After consultation with the Welsh Government and our local authority, they have made it clear that the re-opening of major events in Wales will be linked with the timings of the control plan.

“The timeframes within the control plan make it impossible to deliver an event of this scale in June.

“We are so lucky to have an incredibly passionate team who had; and will now continue to plan the very best comeback event for 2022.

“We will continue to innovate over the next 12 months to deliver what will be the best show Europe has seen on the Multisport circuit,” continued the spokesperson, who added that all athletes that had signed up, have been contacted by email and text.

Anyone who hasn’t received any correspondence is asked to please contact the office on: [email protected].

The Long Course Weekend Wales is now scheduled to return in 2022, over the weekend of July 1.