POST Event Sports Release – Trail Running

Dumont knocks off 2 Peaks first - Price breaks Women's record

3rd annual mountain trail run reaches almost 900 entries

Salomon Lantau 2 Peaks – 15km / 21km trail run race - Hong Kong – Sunday Oct 9, 2011

Hong Kong – Mountain runners came out in force literly for the 3rd annual Salomon Lantau 2 Peaks with almost 900 runners competing in 2 categories of 15km and 21km with over 700 doing the 21km and 190 the 15km.

Frenchman Clement Dumont from the Chiru Raidlight team pushed himself to the limit literally collapsing at the finish line and almost barely able to put his wrist on the time board reader.

“I went out quite fast. Jeremy slowed down on Lantau Peak which was smart, but I kept pushing hard on the last peak and Nei Lek Shan which really dehydrated me badly. I was very lucky to win today” said overall winner Dumont finishing just a minute off the course record in 2 hrs 31 minutes 07 seconds.

Salmon Bonaqua Racing member Jeremy Ritcey came in only 30 seconds later finishing in 2:31:37. “Great race today. I’m really happy with my performance. I managed my energy really well and felt like I was able to finish strong. I loved the steep technical downhills and the contour after coming down Lantau Peak that was fantastic” Ritcey said.

Last years winner Champion Systems team member Stone Tsang Siu Keung was next in 2:35:36. The first hill was fast paced and I pushed hard, but Clement pushed harder on the 2^nd hill Lantau Peak. It was hot and I didn’t want to push as hard as him, but did my best and happy with 3^rd”said Keung.

In the women’s category Claire Price winner of last weeks Action Asia Nepal 100km stage race, broke the 2 Peaks record after a strong performance against the men. “Last week I finished the Nepal race and wasn’t sure if I was going to race as didn’t know if I had recovered, but surprised I did so well today. It was hot and not an easy race though” said Price winning in 2:53:24.

New to Hong Kong’s running scene was Kami Semick a very experienced trail runner with many wins under her belt grabbing 2^nd overall in 3:03:07. “First time on this race and very beautiful course, but tough and technical at the same time. Will see what’s next” said Semick.

Wun Ming Tsang rounded the top 3 overall women just over 1 minute later finishing in 3:04:58. “Very tough, very challenging, but very rewarding. Looking forward to the next challenge” said Tsang.

There were a lot of happy faces as the top 5 men and top 5 women each took home Suunto watches valued at over HK$35,000, with all the top category winners taking home Salomon prizes making the total prizes on race day at close to HK$80,000 making it one of the biggest prize races for trail running in Hong Kong.

The 21km course took runners from Tung Chung up Sunset Peak reaching just over 800m before descending to Pak Kung Au (331m) before hiking up Lantau Peak (Fung Wong Shan) hitting the summit at 934m, descending to Ngong Ping (458m), contouring the Nei Lak Shan  trail back up to 561m before descending the 360 cable car trail back to Tung Chung for one long day with the last teams taking close to 8 hours, putting tremendous stress on the quads, calfs and heals for even the elite field.

More information on the upcoming trail races can be found at www.actionasiaevents.com.

The race could not happen without Salomon, Suunto, The Overlander, Cosman Physio, Coors Light, Citygate Outlets, Sportsoho, Action Asia Magazine, Action Asia Foundation, China Amateur Radio Study Club and all the 70 volunteers.

21km – Top 3 Overall

Full results on Salomon Lantau 2 Peaks page under EVENTS on toolbar up top.

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