MSIG HK50

Racing Across the Peaks of Hong Kong

News Release / 29.10.2014

Hong Kong, 26 October 2014; Hong Kong Island 2014 has been overwhelming with almost 1000 runners who battled the sweltering heat today to complete the first race in the 2014 MSIGHK50 Series. Setting off from the Peak on Hong Kong Island at 7:30am, runners traversed a technical course that ended with a steep ascent and descent over Mt. Parker, Mt. Butler, Jardines Lookout and Violet Hill before the finish. 

After a day’s fierce competition, Yan Longfei from China (Salomon and Red Bull) grabbed the overall title in the 50 km race, finishing in 5 hours 40 seconds. “The first half was quite easy. Facing this situation, my strategy was first to follow the flow. When the second half of the course became more technical I started to pass other racers. I have never been to Hong Kong before so I didn't expect to get dehydrated so easily here. I'm so glad to have volunteers at checkpoints and other runners support along the race.” said Yan.

Nicol Boyd came second in the Men’s 50 km race 3 minutes 8 second behind, after leading more than half the race at with a blistering pace. “It was good fun, but I slacked off a bit in the last 5km. There was a competition between me and Yan during the race. We ran together at the Mt. Parker, and we were so close to each other. Yan was such a powerful runner that he passed me on the way downhill. I also did MSIG HK 50 last year and I placed second two years in a row. Such a coincidence!' Said Boyd.

The third place of the Men’s 50km goes to Justin Andrews. “I am so pleased with my result this year. I took part in the MSIG Lantau 50k before and I placed eighth on that race. It was such a great improvement this time grabbing the second runner up. The course was not difficult to me as I have a road and trail running background. I met Yan, the champion of the MSIG HK 50 back in June when we had the same race together in Hangzhou. Yan was the overall champion at that time and now he has grabbed another title again. So great to see Yan and other familiar faces again in Hong Kong, loving the trail running community.” Said Chengdu resident Andrews, who finished the course in 5 hours 14 minutes 49 seconds. 

Mira Rai, a 23 year old Nepalese runner was a strong force coming first in the Women’s 50km, finishing in 5 hours 30 minutes 32 second. “This is my first time visiting Hong Kong. It is such a beautiful city. I am so excited about everything in Hong Kong and the race because it is such a rare chance to travel overseas due to my visa limitations. I am so happy that several Nepalese runners also had great performances in the MSIG HK50. The last bit of the course was the hardest, so I kept my spirits up by telling myself I'm reaching the finish line soon.” Said Rai with her country flag draped around her neck at the finish.

The first runner up of the Women’s 50km race goes to Joe Joe Fan Sui Ping of Joint Dynamics who competed recently representing China in the Skyrunning World Championsip. Fan finished the race in 5 hours 48 minutes 28 second. “I had a better performance this time compared to last year's. Learning from the past experience, I did a pre-race myself to get prepared for the MSIG HK50, so I feel more comfortable running both uphill and downhill sessions today.” Said Fan.

Following her was Marie A Mcnaughton of Joint Dynamics, finishing in 5 hours 53 minutes 57 seconds. “I did Sai Kung 2 Ridges and Lantau 2 peaks early this year. I really enjoyed every races organised by Action Asia Events. The course was very well marked, so I did not worry about the direction and truly enjoyed the race. The route is also my local training route, making it easier for me. I did the 24km course last year and I am more trained up this year. I wish I can sign up for a longer distance trail running race in the future.” Said Mcnaughton. 

The winner in the Men’s 24km went to a Beijing based Swedish runner Linus Holmsater of Heyrobics VS Joint Dynamics, who accomplished the task in 1 hour 50 minutes 22 seconds. “The scenery up there was very beautiful and I love going up and down the hill. I was a little bit surprised as I thought there was one more hill to go when I was about to reach the finish line. I'm training for a 100km championship lately so I didn't realise I just finished 24km in a fairly short time. MSIG HK50 is definitely a good preparation for my future races. Hong Kong is so nice, I would definitely recommend my Swedish friends to join races organised by Action Asia Events in Hong Kong next time.” Said Holmsater.

An Australian ultra-marathon runner Vlad Ixel supported by Asia Trail Magazine placed second in the Men’s 24km race, finishing in 1 hour 56 minutes 28 seconds. Ixel has won in 2014 TNF 100km in Thailand and Singapore. “Great course, well marked, and not much elevation compared to the SUUNTO Lantau 2 Peaks course. The weather is just perfect, cool and windy.” Said Ixel.

Seth Fischer came home third in the Men’s 24km, finishing in 2 hours 4 minutes and 9 seconds. “The course was not too technical. I would say it is an introductory course to me. However the last part of the course was quite energy consuming crossing the hilly terrain. Loving the combination of a road race and trail running race today”.

Grabbing the overall champion in the 24km Women’s was Aine O’Connell from Ireland. She accomplished the task in 2 hours 23 minutes and 27 seconds. “Good course and very well marked, really enjoyed it. I have been doing a lot of road running before but not for trail run. My feet are quite sore now as I am not used to run on those rocks and stones.” Said O’Connell.

Olya Korzh in the Women’s 24 km grabbed 2nd overall. “I tried to take it easy about this race because I just had a 400km 6 day race in China two weeks ago. The HK Island version in the MSIG HK 50 series is an easy course for me if doing the 24km. It has lots of downhills so it was quite relaxing.” Said Korzh, she finished in 2 hour 35 minutes and 5 seconds.

Next across the finish line was Natasha Buckley from New Zealand, who grabbed 3rd overall in the Women’s 24 km in 2 hours 37 minutes 18 seconds. “I was born in New Zealand but I have been working in Singapore for years. I came to Hong Kong last week to visit my friends and to take part in this race. Hong Kong is a great place for sightseeing and exercising. When I was in Singapore, I usually run on flat roads for exercise. Therefore, this 24km course was very challenging to me.” Said Buckley. 
 
We are grateful for the tremendous support from participants this year for the MSIG 50- Hong Kong Island. The MSIG HK50 could not have happened without the support of MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited, the ActionX Store, OtterBox, Bonaqua, Salomon, Key Sun Zinke, Skins, Herbalgy, Salonpas, Oregon Scientific, Oldham Li & Nie Lawyers, the China Skyrunning Association, Pearl’s, AroundDB and the Action Asia Foundation.

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