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David Markham, Ralph Markham, and Dave Robinson started the duathlon series at Birds Hill Park (Chickadee) in autumn 1983. They initially called them biathlons (bike / runs), but they received a threatening ultimatum from Biathlon Manitoba. After that they called it the "Call it what you will but don't call them Biathlon series. P.S. Leave all skis and rifles at home".
- After a few years, David took over the series exclusively. They were moved to East Beach in 1987 when the numbers became too large for Chickadee.
- The name was changed to Prestige Duathlon Series in 1990 when David and Andrew Klatt started Prairie Events Group.
- After Andrew left Prairie Events Group, David's next partner was Theresa Hyrich, and after her it was Felicia Kriegl. In addition to three short and long duathlons, events included the Couples Duathlon and the Bike Tie & Run.
- In spring 1998 the Birds Hill Park road and the East Beach parking lot were repaved for the 1998 Canadian Triathlon Championships and 1999 Pan Am Games, so the series was cancelled.
- From 1999 to 2001 Anita Miller and Brent Miller assisted David with
organizing the series.
- Kevin, Anita, Brent, and Amber Miller organized the series from 2002 to 2004. The new run course was measured by Laurent Lacroix, with most of it out-and-back on the hilly limestone path between the lakes. There were three duathlons, one run-bike-skate, and one Bike Tie & Run.
- David Markham, Ralph Markham, and Dave & Sara Desharnais organized it between 2005 and 2007. They moved the transition zone to the east half of the East Beach parking lot (to avoid contention with the public's parked cars in the west half closer to the beach), and they also changed the run course. There were four duathlons in the series.
- In 2008, the 26th year, the Tri-Force Triathlon Team, led my Mark & Maureen Van Schepdael, took over the race. The course and races remained the same. The Kids of Steel became a true duathlon in 2009, with short initial runs added.
Some notes:
- 1990 Tri MB newsletter:
- Categories were: male youth, male open, male masters, female youth, female open, female masters, as well as relays.
- May 8, 1990: 75 participants in -3C weather.
- May 29, 1990: 90 participants.
- 1991 TriMB AGM:
David Markham said that the 1991 Prestige Duathlon Series was "a total failure and will not be held again due to very low entry levels."
- Average attendance for the four races in 1992 was 70 participants. This dropped to 54 by 1997 because of the very poor quality pavement on the road. In 1999, the year after the series was cancelled, it was still only 56, but then it began a very fast rise --- to 131 in 2004 ... to 240 in 2007.
- Kevin & Anita Miller began producing the race results in 1994.
Race Wizard software and Time Tech Sprint 8 watches were used starting in 1999.
- Chip timing by Results Canada was used in 2009.
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