AFTER backing four previous Super League Triathlon events in Jersey with a total of almost £1.1 million in taxpayers’ cash, the government has agreed a “value for money” deal for the 2025 staging.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel confirmed that funding of £100,000 would be provided for the event, now rebranded as the Supertri League, as it returns to the Island on the third weekend of September.
Deputy Morel said that in reducing the extent of public funding, and with Supertri organisers securing significant backing from private sponsors, it had been possible to agree a deal that will see professional triathletes racing in St Helier for the first time in four years.
“We were approached again for this year with an investment proposition that has improved and was therefore one we were able to get behind,” he said.
“We know and recognise the benefits of the event in terms of bringing high-profile athletes to Jersey, the boost to tourism and getting Islanders involved in the sport, and we feel the 2025 event is one we can back strongly from a value for money perspective.”
Supertri was first staged in Jersey in 2017, with a grant of £200,000 from the Tourism Development Fund. As part of a “two-plus-three-year” deal, further events were held over the next two years, and also in 2021 after the 2020 staging was called off as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Freedom of Information response published in July 2022 showed that while financial support amounted to £150,000 for 2018, this funding rose sharply to £430,000 the following year, with a further grant of £300,000 being made in 2021.
It is understood that the government decision not to provide financial support in 2023 came as a result of the failure of Supertri organisers to secure adequate private backing, leaving a situation where ministers were being asked for more cash than they felt able to allocate.
Deputy Morel added: “Support from the private sector has been key to bringing Supertri to Jersey this year, and the event complements our work to strengthen Jersey’s global reputation.”
Jersey triathlete Ollie Turner described the 2023 decision as “devastating”.
“The amount of uptake in the sport locally since Super League Triathlon first came to Jersey has been incredible,” he said in January 2023. “Many kids, who may have never had exposure to the sport had we not have hosted to event, have now fallen in love with it.”
There was also disappointment in 2023 from former Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham, who was a key player in bringing the event to Jersey for the first time in 2017, but was no longer part of the government at the time. Deputy Farnham was subsequently elected as Chief Minister in early 2024.
“The event was gaining momentum – Jersey was one of the very first partners,” he said in January 2023. “Had it not been interrupted by the pandemic there would have had great sporting and economic returns to the Island.”
