*Friday 23rd March 2018 – EVENT CANCELLED – PLEASE READ – IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Lake Hayes has unfortunately been subjected to extremely poor water quality conditions unsuitable for swimming for several months. For more up to date water quality information please click on the following link LAWA. Warning signs are still in place around the lake informing the public that the water is unsuitable for swimming.

Similar circumstances arose in the few weeks leading up to the Christmas Triathlon at Lake Hayes; however the water quality was deemed safe to swim by the Otago Regional Council following further testing a few days before the event and the event fortunately went ahead.

As a result of the public being aware of the water quality at Lake Hayes ahead of the upcoming Easter event – event registrations have been at an all time low with participants anticipating that the event wont go ahead as a result of not being able to swim and not surprisingly not registering for the event.

Water testing will again take place next Monday 26th March and the Otago Regional Council will announce results on Wednesday 28th March – two days prior to the proposed event therefore the water quality is yet again uncertain and potentially unsafe for swimming and with this knowledge potential participants are still unlikely to register knowing the uncertainty of the conditions.

This in itself causes further complications as the triathlon component of the event makes up for 80% of the total event entries. Without the triathletes participating which naturally incorporates the swimming component of the event – it is sadly not feasible to host the event.

With the above information in mind and knowledge of the poor water quality and not wanting to subject anybody’s health to potential conditions as well as very low event registrations – it has been a very difficult, disappointing and sad decision to have to cancel this years Good Friday Triathlon Event.

Hopefully over the next few months the water quality will improve so we can all look forward to the annual Christmas Lake Hayes Triathlon Event…