Tsang Blasts 21km While Williams Grabs Women Title At Hysan Healthy Hike & Run
News Release / 23.03.2015
The 6th annual Hysan Healthy Hike & Run 2015 had 1,500 hiking and running enthusiasts took part this Morning (22 March) in Tai Lam Country Park, New Territories. The race offers three distances: 5km easy route, 13km intermediate route, which passes the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir MacLehose stage 10 section and 21km, a more technical course that goes all the way around the reservoir involving total 1583m gain/loss elevation. Tsang Siu Keung Stone blasts 21km while Zein Williams grabs women title.
Stone Tsang Siu Keung, also called as the fastest local trail runner in Hong Kong finished in 1 hour 51 minutes and 7 seconds and grabbed the overall champion of the 21km race. “Very nice course and nice weather. I have been running in Tai Lam a lot since I live nearby. Therefore I am quite familiar with the course and know when I should make every turn. I’m so happy with my result and I think it's a very good warm up for long distance races that I will take part in later this year.”, said Tsang.
“This course is not particularly technical compared to other Action Asia Events races. I guess it's because Hysan Healthy Hike & Run is a family- friendly race. Very nice course and also very well marked. Speaking of my preference of trail running courses, I do enjoy both short and long distance races. Maybe because I truly enjoy running through roughly.”, said Santosh Tamang from HKNTRA. The Nepalese runner finished in 1 hour 56 minutes and 52 seconds and placed second in 21km category.
Third place in men's 21km goes to the British runner Maurice Devlin. Devlin finished the course in 1 hour 58 minutes and 11 seconds. “Great race, great atmosphere. I started trail running from last November and I really like this running community. I meet new friends in every races I participated. Therefore, I really hope that the government and race organisers can do more to encourage more people to know about trail running in Hong Kong. Not much hilly terrains for today’s race, the course is pretty flat, which is a good thing for me as I ran lots of marathons in the past.”, said Devlin.
There was also a fierce competition in women’s 21km category. Zein Williams took the title with Charlotte Henry and Justine Clark rounding the top 3 Women.
British runner Zein Williams crossed the finish line in 2 hours 10 minutes and 20 seconds and became the winner in 21km women's. “I haven't done this race for 5 years and almost forgot how amazing it is. It's a bit humid but luckily we did’t get heavy rain today. I love running around the reservoir and the view is very nice up there. I will definitely come again next year!”, said Williams.
The second place of women’s 21km goes to French Charlotte Henry of Lafuma Ultim8. Henry finished the race in 2 hours 19 minutes and 24 seconds. “I enjoyed the race a lot especially racing with my boyfriend. Cross training has helped me to improve my performance. Usually I do running, swimming and cycling alternatively. I’m so looking forward to the next Action Asia Race!”, said Henry.
Justine Clark, another runner from the Great Britain crossed the finish line in 2 hours 26 minutes and 24 seconds placed third in 21km women's. “Feeling good. I won the 13km course last year so I want to challenge myself again by joining the 21km category, a longer distance. The hardest part of the race is always the stairs. I guess I need to train harder on that. I only run three times a week since I need to take care of my two children. I will bring them to run with me in the near future so we all can enjoy the beautiful scenery together.”, said Clark.
“The course is so well marked this year, thanks to Action Asia Events! The organiser must have paid a great effort in it. The hardest part of the race would be the last 1km where runners still have to go uphills before passing the finish line. It's so convenient to me as I live very nearby the course, so I have been training on the race course for around a hundred times before the race day. Will definitely come again next year!” said Chung Tak Lun, the overall winner of the 13km course, who finished the race in 1 hour 5 minutes and 7 seconds.
French runner Marie Gaschignard won the first in women's in the 13km course, finishing in 1 hour 22 minutes and 53 seconds. “I feel tired but great. It’s my first time joining the Hysan Healthy Hike &Run. The course is amazing. I have started trail running this year so I'm considered as a newbie in this form of sport. I play rugby quite often and that’s how I keep fit. Being in the nature side in Hong Kong is probably the most enjoyable thing to do here.”, said Gaschignard.
30 years old local runner Long Ki Mo Leon accomplished the 5km course in 26 minutes and won the 5km overall champion. “I’m so glad that I took the title two years in a roll and so lucky to see my face on this year’s event backdrop banner! I love short distance races and the Hysan Healthy Hike & Run 5km is the perfect choice. However, I might try 13km course next year to challenge myself. It's so humid and a bit hot for me to run this morning. I think the weather slightly affected my performance today.’”
Eleven years old Japanese Yuka Nagano won the champion in 5km women’s finishing in 30 minutes 48 seconds. ‘So happy that I won this race two years in a roll. I think the course is very challenging. I started trail running since I was eight. My training routine would be hiking and running in the mountain in Shatin. I want to be a professional trail runner in the future!’
Just 18 seconds later, Nagano’s friend Chan Hiu Yee crossed the finish line and placed second. Chan congratulated Yuka but also expressed her ambition later. “I feel a bit disappointed because I didn't win the champion title. Words for Yuka? I will win you next year!”, said the thirteen years old Chan.
The Hysan Healthy Hike & Run started in Tai Lam Country Park on Sunday, 22th March at 8:30am. Participants hiked along parts of the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, winding through peaceful bamboo forests and the route also offered both hilly and flat terrain with the 5 km and 13 km on one side of the reservoir and the 21 km going all the way around the Tai Lam Reservoir.
The event could not happened without the valuable support of Hysan Development Company Limited, Otterbox, Action X, Watsons Water, Oregon Scientific, Hoka One One, AG Natrual Health, Herbalgy, Salonpas, Walch, Pearl’s, Acti-Tape, Choi Fung Hong, OL&N, Arcobrau beer, OtterBox, and the Action Asia Foundation.
SleepMonsters
