The Bowral Classic has been nominated as a national finalist for three Australian Event Awards for 2017 – Best New Event, Best Community Event, and Best Achievement in Marketing, Communication and Sponsorship. 

Now in its ninth year, the prestigious Awards aim to recognise the nation’s best events and event-related goods, services and innovations.

Chosen among hundreds of entries for each category from around the nation, it is understood that The Bowral Classic is the first Highlands-born event to be nominated as a finalist for more than one award.

Premiering in 2016, the one-day cycling tournament garnered more than 3000 participants from home and abroad, who raised over $100,000 for various charities.

The Gran Fondo-style event, routed through the villages of Bowral, Berrima, Mittagong and Kangaloon, was conceived by Sydney-based Yaffa Media, publisher of the national cycling magazine Bicyling Australia. 

Event founder, James Yaffa, said they were “thrilled” to be nominated after a hugely successful first round last October.

The organisers calculated the event injected $1.5 million into the local economy, with nearly half of the riders bringing along their families for the weekend event.

The annual tournament will be held again this October 22, with plans already in place for a bigger, better ride off. Classic rides have also expanded to Noosa and the Clare Valley for 2018. 

Voting for the finalists is now open to the public on the Australian Event Awards website. 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland on September 13.