Race Media

2017/18 MSIG HK50 Series

Oct 21, 2017 - MSIG HK50 – Hong Kong Island

Dec 1, 2017 - MSIG Lantau VK – Lantau

Dec 3, 2017 - Asian Skyrunning Championships - MSIG Lantau 50

Feb 10, 2018 - MSIG Sai Kung 50 – Sai Kung 

MSIG HK50 course record smashed by one-two finishers Andrews and Chou
Pair separated by only 20 seconds after racing 50km neck and neck 

HONG KONG, October 21, 2017 – It was a nail-biting finish at this morning’s MSIG HK50 - Hong Kong Island, with just 20 seconds separating the top two finishers of the 50-kilometre trail race. American Justin Andrews made a late surge in the final kilometres to pip Taiwan’s Chou Qing to the tape in 4 hours 41 minutes 36 seconds. Both men annihilated the previous course record of 5:17:26 by about 35 minutes.

Women’s champion Marie McNaughton, a Hong Kong-based Kiwi, won by a far bigger cushion in 5:56:19, over 30 minutes ahead of her nearest rivals. Taiwan’s Kuo Wan Ting was second (6:33:38) and Hong Kong-based Frenchwoman Emilie Saint-pé third (6:42:00).

Taiwanese elite Chou had led for most of the race, which flagged off at 7am on the Peak. Andrews, who is based in Chengdu in mainland China and is part of the WAA Team, said he had actually given up chasing his rival around midway.

“I felt okay during the first half of the race, then I worked hard to try to catch up with Chou Qing.  But the second half of the race is technical, so I actually had given up by 23 or 24km. I thought finishing second would be pretty good,” Andrews said. “If it wasn’t for one hiker who told me that Chou Qing was only one minute ahead of me, I would not have pushed myself so hard like I did.”

Chou, one of Salomon Taiwan’s rising stars, said Andrews caught him in the final three kilometres of the race and set a very fast pace for the final two kilometres up and down Violet Hill to the finish at Wong Nai Chung Gap. “The race was very exciting because of the neck to neck competition with the champion throughout the whole course. I didn’t eat enough food during the race, so I was feeling a bit dizzy at the end and couldn’t pass him again,” said Chou.

Irishman Kevin Scallan claimed the third podium spot in 4:52:33, also under the course record. Scallan said: “The scenery was amazing; blue sky, clean air and not too humid. I really liked it.” In fact the top six men in the race all went under the record, set in 2016 by Taiwan-based New Zealander Ruth Croft, who then had beaten all men to the overall title.

McNaughton, though unchallenged by her rivals, said the win was not easy. “I enjoyed the first half because it was familiar. The second half was really tough and painful, so I just managed to get it finished and am very happy with my result,” she said.

Women’s runner-up Kuo was also very satisfied with her race, which she trained three months for. It was her first MSIG HK50 experience, having raced mostly in Taiwan. “The last 10km, especially the uphills, was the most challenging part for me. I was quite relaxed during the first 25km. Trails in Taiwan involve more technique, while this race’s course needed speed and stamina, in addition to technique.”

In addition to the 50km race there was also a 24km event. American Sam Fletcher and Briton Lauren Gibson won the men’s and women’s champion titles in 2:00:59 and 2:28:23 respectively.

Fletcher said: “I have been in third place twice and finally got the victory today. I am really happy. The weather was perfect compared to the last two years; it was less humid and the temperature cooler, which certainly made it much easier running out there.”

Gibson, who was participating in only her second trail race, was excited about her win. “I have only done trail running for about one month, but I did triathlons before so I think that helped a lot. The course was a little bit technical, but it gave you breaks. The scenery was amazingly beautiful, perfect weather, perfect course. Such a well-organised race! I will definitely come back next year and maybe try to challenge the 50km course.”

Local runners also performed well with excellent results. Lee Wai Kin from The North Face Hong Kong and Cheung Man Yee had made themselves one of the top 10 runners in men and women category of the 50km race. The two will be given free entry and accommodation to Chiang Mai and participate in MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 on December 17.

An official race of the International Skyrunning Federation, the 50km event was also one of the scoring races for the recently-launched MSIG Action Asia Development Programme, which aims to develop local trail running talent for the world stage. The top-placed male and female Hong Kong-born runners in the MSIG HK50 Series will be sent to Europe to compete in the Skyrunning World Championships in 2018.

Similar to previous editions, the classic and challenging course started from the Peak Galleria and covered some of the most technical hilly trails along Hong Kong Island. The first 24km followed the Hong Kong Trail from the Peak to Wong Nai Chung Gap, with the exception of an additional loop of Mount Bennet in Aberdeen Country Park. The course then became more technical and challenging, with a big loop around and up Mount Parker, followed by a loop of Violet Hill, finishing at Wong Nai Chung Gap.

The event is possible thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited and supporting partners: Action X Store, Skyrunner National Series China, Hoka one one, Bonaqua, Plantronics, C3fit, Camelbak, Royale International, Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, AroundDB, Oldham Li & Nie Lawyers, ITRA - International Trail-Running Association, UTMB Qualifying Race 2017, East Bali Cashews, Del Monte and Action Asia Foundation.

 

Race Results

MSIG HK50 Series - Hong Kong Island

50km Ranking

Top 5 MEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Justin Andrews – America – WAA Team - 04:41:36

2. Chou Ching – Taiwan – Salomon Taiwan - 04:41:56

3. Kevin Scallan – Ireland – 04:52:33

4. John Ellis – Australia – Gone Running-Joint Dynamics – 05:06:31

5. Brian Mcflynn – Ireland – GR/JD - 05:10:18

 

Top 5 WOMEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor – Time

1. Marie McNaughton – New Zealand – Gone Running – 05:56:19

2. Kuo Wan Ting – Taiwan – 06:33:38

3. Emilie Saint-pé – France – 06:42:00

4. Cheung Man Yee –  Hong Kong – 06:55:43

5. Ngar Ting Denise Ying – United Kingdom –07:19:41

 

24km Ranking

Top 5 MEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Sam Fletcher – USA – 02:00:59

2. James Park – New Zealand – 02:03:05

3. Tsui Chi Kin – Hong Kong – 02:07:38

4. Thomas Kitwood – United Kingdom – VSA – 02:12:07

5. Christian Secci – Italy – 02:13:05

 

Top 5 WOMEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor – Time

1. Lauren Gibson – United Kingdom – Team UGlow Asia - 02:28:23

2. Angelika Hahn – Germany – 02:29:25

3. Kae Nozaki – Japan – 02:33:27

4. Juliane Lacroix – Canada – 02:34:23

5. Shirley Gill – Canada – 02:43:39

Race Info

Event Name	MSIG HK50 Series - Hong Kong Island
Date	Oct 21, 2017 (Saturday)
Start Time	7:00 a.m.
Start Location	Peak Galleria, The Peak, Hong Kong Island
Finish Location	Wong Nai Chung Gap, Hong Kong Island
Distance	24km, 50km
Category	Trail Running and Hiking
Website	http://www.actionasiaevents.com/

More Race Details at:

www.actionasiaevents.com 

www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/

www.instagram.com/actionasiaevents/

www.twitter.com/ActionAsiaEvent

www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents

www.weibo.com/actionasiaevent

About MSIG Action Asia Development Programme

Sponsored by insurance giant MSIG, the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme is the first-ever custom training programme for local Hong Kong trail runners. The highest-ranked male and female runners at the end of the MSIG HK50 Series will also be rewarded with a five-month comprehensive professional coaching programme that will prepare them for the 2018 Skyrunning World Championships in Europe.

For a chance to win a place in the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme, runners have to be Hong Kong-born and must participate in at least two 50-kilometre races in the MSIG HK50 Series. The highest-scoring male and female runners at the end of the series will win the slots.

About MSIG

With a network of operations dating as far back as 1855, MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (“MSIG”) has been providing general insurance solutions and products to customers in Hong Kong for more than 150 years.

MSIG is backed by the solid foundation and rich heritage of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, an established insurer that has received strong financial ratings from leading rating agencies, including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Today MSIG is one of the few foreign-based general insurers to have representation in every ASEAN country, a testament to its strength and reach. MSIG also benefits from being a member of MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world.

Leveraging on the multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries and extensive geographical network, MSIG offers a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. MSIG builds and nurtures enduring relationships, forging close partnerships, through good times and bad.