They contested a five-kilometre adventure challenge climbing over obstacles, diving into mud pools and swinging across pits in the name of exercise and fun.

They also paid a $79 entry fee which the Outback Obstacles event promoter said would include a free T-shirt, hat, finishing medal and water bottle.

As it turned out, the biggest obstacle the athletes faced came later when the merchandise they all paid for did not turn up.

It led to people complaining to NSW Fair Trading which began an investigation into the event.

This week NSW Fair Trading renewed its call for people who had not received the promised items to contact them.

Three weeks after the Outback Obstacles event, the Beach Boys and the Temptations hit the stage at Wade Park for a Sunday night concert belting out the hits of the sixties.

But, the Good Vibrations were not spread to everyone.

According to a report tabled to Orange City Council this week, several businesses were left out of pocket after bills were not paid.

The report said there were seven partially-paid and unpaid accounts totalling $18,863.

Of that amount, about $12,000 was owed to three accommodation providers.

The promoter Southern Star Touring entered voluntary administration on June 2.

And it now appears there is an unpaid bill for a face painter from the Live Life Live Festival of music and family activities that was held at the Civic Square on January 21.

All of it is disappointing, particularly for people trying to attract events to Orange that will help out people wanting to go to them and businesses seeking to work with them.

Orange City Council deputy mayor Jason Hamling has already said he was “pretty cranky” about the non-payments and hoped it did not create mistrust among businesses for future events.

Orange Business Chamber president Mark Madigan said it was unfair and disappointing people had been left out of pocket.

They are sentiments we concur with.

Hard-working business people in Orange and punters who have paid for merchandise should not be left short-changed regardless of event attendance numbers.

Let’s hope all these matters can be resolved and not repeated.