MSIG HK50 - Hong Kong Island

Kiwi Trail Running Star Ruth Croft Makes History at MSIG HK50

Press Release / 23.10.2016

New Zealander Ruth Charlotte Croft from Scott Running and Garmin team grabbed the overall champion and the female champion of the 50km race in a blistering 5 hours 17 minutes and 26 seconds. She is the first female who won the overall champion of the MSIG HK50 race so far. The overall champion title of the 24km category is taken by Australian the North Face runner Vlad Ixel, finishing in 1 hour 56 minutes and 52 seconds.

The MSIG HK50 Series - Hong Kong Island with over 1000 runners competing on one of Hong Kong Island's most stunning trail sections covering 24km and 50km distances. The course began with the PeakGalleria and finished at Wong Nai Chung Gap on Hong Kong Island. 2016 MSIG HK50 is also a Skyrunner® Series event.

New Zealander Ruth Charlotte Croft, from Scott Running and Germin made history by finishing the whole 50km race in 5 hours 17 minutes and 26 seconds and grabbing the overall champion. “I have participated in Hong Kong’s races for quite a few times, such as MSIG Lantau 50. I enjoy the course today since I always prefer runnable race rather than too technical ones. I have been doing some technical races earlier, but this race is different as it takes longer and comprises slower climbing, so it’s more runnable,” she said. When asked about the course, she continued, “The scenery was great although it is really hot today with humidity. The most enjoyable part is when I was up to the 40km from the start since it’s so runnable up to there, but the last 10km was tough. Comparing with the trail race in Taiwan, the route there was shorter, steeper and less runnable than MSIG HK50.”

Australian runner John Ellis came in second in the 50km race finishing in 5 hours 35 minutes 11 seconds. He has been living in Hong Kong for six years and this is his third time participating in MSIG HK50 series. He is surprised with his results, "The last two times I did this I usually paced pretty well but I blew up really badly both times. It's such a difficult race to pace. Today I went out slower, just to get an even pace and just got through the last 10km." Since its his third time competing, Ellis is quite familiar with the course. "I think that last trail just after half way downhill is slightly more technical than uphill. You knew you’d got to run, but you chose to walk because it was really tough." The most enjoyable part for him is the ending and he also loves the scenery, "the scenery was beautiful. I guess the only problem is that the best scenery is at the end when everyone is tired and looking at their feet. Overall it was a really nice trail."

The French runner Jonathan Thery came in third in the 50km race, finishing in 5 hours 42 minutes and 16 seconds. He has been running for 5 years. He shared his feelings with us, “I’m super happy because I came here to do the 24km last year, and I want to see the last parts of the 50km. I’m excited to finish the race and happy to have this result. Everybody told me the 2nd part of the course was very nice. But why? I just wanted to see it by myself so I came for that.” When talking about the course, he said, “I really like it. I would run faster, but I was tired and I didn’t know if the weather here was too hot for me to run, because you know when you run in Europe it’s cooler. Therefore, it’s more difficult for me to run in such a hot weather. But it’s fine, I like the course because it’s very likes-changing all the time: you’ve got small narrow trails, stairs and nice view sought, which is perfect. I like the scenery as well when being in the mountain and seeing the buildings. I enjoy being at the same level as all the tall buildings.”

Kenyan runner Gladys Jepchirchir Cheruiyot crossed the finished line in 5 hours 55 minutes and 55 seconds, and came second in the female 50km category. “This is my second time running in Hong Kong. I beat my own record in a 50km course and won a 2nd place. The course for me is tough, in the meantime, enjoyable because I really like running in the forest. The forest within the mountain is also what I want for training. As for the technical part, I think the downhill one is more difficult than the uphill route, which has nicer scenery. I am going to join again next time.”

New Zealander Marie McNaughton from Gone Running team won the 3rd place in the overall women’s category and completed the race in 5 hours 59 minutes 28 seconds. It was her third-time racing the MSIG HK 50 race. "I think this is the hardest time and it's really hot." said McNaughton. "I enjoyed the course. It's fun and it is a little flattered than before, but that's a nice technical trail to run on. The whole course is very flat, but runnable." She usually trains here and loves the scenery.

Australian the North Face Vlad Ixel won the champion for the 24km men category in 1 hour 56 minutes and 52 seconds. He was also the overall champion of the Lantau 2 peaks race. “I definitely feel the humidity. I think today is as humid as the Lantau 2 peaks race. It’s tough because the humidity takes away all my energy.” Since he competed in the 50km category last year, he made a comparison between the two races, “The 50km last year was a lot harder and it was hot as well. I remember struggling in the 50km when the race was falling on hot days. The first half was okay, and the second half was tough,” Vlad Ixel loves the scenery and told us that he is very familiar with the trail, “This is the trail that I run on as my training which I have run on for hundreds of times.”

Austrian elite runner Michael Skobierski won the second place in 24km category within 1 hour 57 minutes 39 seconds. “I haven’t been in Hong Kong for four years, and actually it’s my second or third race here. It’s a nice coincidence as I grabbed the second place both today and four years ago. The race is very nice with runnable route. I enjoy the greenery when cruising through the tropical forest. To be honest, it is a bit too hard for me, but I think it’s how the challenging MSIG HK50 series is like. It is easier for those who are used to the hot tropical weather. I was happy as I finally finished, because at start I was trying to follow Kevin who was going in a crazy pace and I was close to blowing up. Since I got into a rhythm, even though I was quite alone at most of the time, at the end I know this time I’ve speed off. It’s one of my favorite trail in Hong Kong which embedded in the forest with amazing views, not too steep up and down. This one is runnable,” He said.

The USA runner Samuel Fletcher got the 3rd place of the 24km in 2 hours 1 minute and 47 seconds. “I think the course is really well-designed. I live in Central area so I do lots of the trainings on Hong Kong trails, and I am very familiar with them. I like those runnable trails because they are flat in the meantime are a little bit technical.  I think people are worried about the typhoon last week but the trail is fine and it is not that wet. Overall it is very pleased running. As for the sceneries, when starting with the peak, which is kind of an iconic part of Hong Kong, I can enjoy the route because all the sunshine just jumped in the beautiful trail, that’s my favorite part about the sceneries,” said Fletcher.

Japanese runner Megumi Matsui crossed the finish line in 2 hours 25 minutes and 20 seconds, grabbling the 24km female overall champion title. “I have been living in Hong Kong for almost six years. This is my third time joining the race. Comparing with the last two times, I kept running the whole time today. I feel so great right now and don’t have much pain. My favorite part is section three, after the Peel Rise, because the scenery is so beautiful and I think it is kind of relaxing,” said Megumi Matsui.

43-year-old British runner Lucy Marriot came second in 24km women category in 2 hours 26 minutes and 50 seconds and she told us that she loved it. “I’ve done it before, in 2011, and I did it in 2 hours. I really enjoy the course especially because the first half of the route is very close to where I live.” The most challenging part for her she said was probably around the second stage, “it’s a bit uphill and it’s rocky, but overall it’s a very nice and runnable trail and I love it.” She is already excited about the next MSIG HK series race.

The 24km women’s third place was taken by the talented Taiwanese runner Chen Hsiu-Ching in 2 hours 36 minutes 53 seconds, who grabbed the champion of the Women’s 17km race in Action Asia X-trail race Taiwan this year. This is her first time joining in the 24km trail race. “I am so happy today because I went beyond myself successfully. Honestly speaking, my feet felt tired after I only the first few kilometers. I guess it’s the socks’ problem. I have never participated in such a long race before, so when I reached 21km, it was almost the edge of my limits. I felt drained and exhausted. Then I kept repeating to myself to not give up and following the front runner closely. Finally, I got it!” She was once a soldier working in air force, which can explain her strong mind and courage. “As for the trail route, this race has more concrete road and a normal undulation. Of course, every race has its own feature, which deserves our participation as a chance to improve our skills and endurance. In my opinion, the hardest part of this race is the rocky trails. I must be very careful with every step since any mistake may change the rhythm of my pace. What’s more, the scenery around is spectacular and I am eager to join again next time if it’s possible!”

In the 24km race, the route includes the Hong Kong Trail all the way to Wong Nai Chung Gap and a loop of Mt Bennet. It is a great introductory course for the longer MSIG HK50 series, as it is not high in elevation and rolling flat areas make up much of the distance. On the other hand, the 50km course has 5,792m of change in elevation (2802m elevation gain & 2990m loss) and will cover a climb up to the beautiful and challenging Mt. Parker.

The event could not happen without the generous support of MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited the presenting sponsor and the supporting partners ActionX Store, Skyrunner National Series China, Hoka one one, OtterBox, Bonaqua, Salonsip, C3fit, Herbalgy, UTMB Qualifying Race 2016, Key Sun ZINKE, AroundDB, Oldham Li & Nie Lawyers, Del Monte, Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Action Asia Foundation.