The future of the Latrobe Carnival has been decided after members of the Latrobe Bicycle Race Club unanimously voting for the club to go into recess.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club, which hasn't staged a carnival for the past two years, had previously attracted cyclists, runners and woodchoppers from across the region and the state, as well as interstate and international competitors, for the past 126 years.
The decision to go into recess comes after AusCycling deemed the track unfit for purpose ahead of the 2021 TasCarnival series.
Club president Dennis Clarke was saddened by the decision made at the general meeting, with the club's rich history no longer on show.
"The efforts of all our committee and volunteers over the decades (has been) brought to an end," Clarke said.
"Where once winning the LBRC Wheel Race was sought by track riders from all parts of the cycling world, that opportunity will no longer exist."
The Latrobe Carnival was one of seven carnivals staged across the state throughout the Christmas/ New Year period.
In a statement, members of the LBRC said it considered the actions taken by the governing body to be "totally unreasonable".
The absence of the carnival was one Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney believed the community would feel, and highlighted the challenges community sporting bodies face.
"Unfortunately it is the end of an era and a sad reflection of the times and difficulties facing many sporting organisations with an ageing volunteer base and the ever-increasing compliance regimes associated with running sporting events, and particularly cycling events on outdoor arenas," Cr Freshney said.
"The LBRC is a credit to all those involved over many decades of its existence and the loss will no doubt be felt by the wider sporting community and the cycling and athletics fraternity in particular."
While the Latrobe Carnival won't go ahead this December, the LBRC will support a full woodchopping program on December 27 at the George Foster Memorial.