Race Media

Chou Ching and Chen Hsiu Ching crowned MSIG Taiwan champions

The two first-time winners earn spots to represent Taiwan at the Lantau 50 - Asian Skyrunning Championships in Hong Kong       

The MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50, a recognised Ultra Skymarathon race by the International Skyrunning Federation, finished this morning with a fierce battle for the podium. Taiwan’s Chou Ching and Chen Hsiu Ching grabbed the 50km Men’s and Women’s titles respectively, thereby earning the coveted spots to represent Taiwan at the Lantau 50 – Asian Skyrunning Championships in Hong Kong on Dec 2, 2018.

Chou crossed the finish line in a remarkable time of 5 hours 52 minutes and 14 seconds. Chou, an experienced trail runner, Chou said: “My goal was to complete the race within six hours. I’m satisfied with my performance since I have tried my best today. The course was a bit slippery and rocky, and was very technical and challenging. There were lots of turns and leaping over obstacles. I had to adjust and control my speed properly.

Chou added: “The course markings were very clear and could be followed easily - there was even flour sprinkled on the trail to make sure we didn’t get lost. It is obvious that Action Asia spent a lot of time to prepare the course. Overall the race was great and I will continue to participate in the MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 next year and try to better my time.”

Women’s 50km winner Chen clocked 8:31:02 seconds. She said: “The most impressive thing was the scenery along the way - it was very beautiful. It was very enjoyable to pass the beautiful Shihmen Reservoir on the way. My favourite part was the cobblestone track on the return journey. It was like having a foot massage while running. I am very delighted to have the opportunity to run such a great race.”

More than half an hour behind Chen was women’s first runner-up Kai Chang of Taiwan (9:02:36). Kai, who has participated in the MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 several times, said: “I think the most difficult part of the race was the Baishipo uphill. It is pity that my leg injury has not fully recovered. I will join again next year and fight for the championship.”

Third place in the women's 50km was another Taiwanese Sungli-chun (10:29:45). Sung was full of praise for the race organisers: “I felt that the organisers Action Asia were very caring. There were a lots of obvious directional signs for guiding the runners.”

In the 21km race, the men’s title was won by Chia Cheng Chen in 2:07:20. It was his first win in four attempts at the MSIG Taiwan Action Asia Taiwan 50. On the most challenging part of the course, he said: “The trail on Shihmen Mountain was extremely technical and challenging, you had to conquer lots of stairs, mud tracks and stone steps.”

Women’s 21km winner Chin (3:02:48), who was participating in her first trail race, said: “The route of was very good, very beautiful, and I felt like an elf in the mountains during the race. This is a landscape that cannot be seen during a road race. The track design was diversified, with up hills and downhills, gravel road, small bridges and mountain jungle. The different scenery brought me different moods. It was extraordinary!”

In the 13km event, Wei Fu Deng (1:27:20) won the men’s title and Yi-ping Liou (2:00:00) won the women’s title. Meanwhile in the 6km event, Shiu Chang Cheng (00:37:09) claimed the men’s title and American Shauna Mi Kulewicz (00:40:37) won the women’s - the only non-Taiwanese winner of the day.

The event is possible thanks to the generous support of our presenting sponsor MSIG Mingtai Insurance and supporting partners Skyrunner National Series China, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Action X Store, Cathay Pacific, TXG, Outside Magazine, Maxpure, Outdoor Channel, Royale International, Don 1 don, Chaiin Hotel - Dongmen, UTMB Qualifier, ITRA, Taipei Metro Hash House Harriers, China Hash House Harriers, Action Asia Foundation.

 

Race Info

Event Name	MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50
Date	Saturday, Nov 10, 2018
Start Time	50km - 5am (sunrise is 6:06am) 21km/13km/6km - 6:15am
Start Location	Shihmen Reservoir, Taoyuan County
Distance	6km, 13km, 21km, 50km
Category	Trail running

 

For more race details, please click below:

www.actionasiaevents.com

www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/

www.instagram.com/actionasiaevents/

www.twitter.com/ActionAsiaEvent

www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents

 

About Skyrunning

Since the first extreme races in 1992, the first World Championship in 1998 and the introduction of the Skyrunner World Series in 2003, Skyrunning has grown to become a globally renowned sport governed by the International Skyrunning Federation. The sport is practised in more than 40 nations and counts followers from 126 countries. The Skyrunner National Series were introduced in 2014 and today are held in 18 countries including Taiwan. The concept is based on the same principle as the World Series with a circuit of three disciplines, Sky, Ultra and Vertical, awarding titles and prizes at the finals.

 

About MSIG Mingtai Insurance

Established in 1961, MSIG Mingtai service bases throughout Taiwan, a total of 16 branches, 30 communications. In September of 2005, MSIG Mingtai became a member of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group(MSIG), which improved the overall financial strength. In Taiwan Rating, Mingtai insurance is ranked as twAAA as for Taiwan rating, and is an A-level property insurance company in the standard & poor's credit Rating (S&P Rating). Through integrating the enterprise strategies and resources of MSIG, Mingtai continues to take the effort to become the most thoughtful international property insurance company in Taiwan. For more information, please refer to the company website at http://www.msig-mingtai.com.tw/

 

About Action Asia Foundation

Since its inception in 1997 the Action Asia Foundation has promoted the idea that outdoor activities can play a crucial part in fostering an individual’s personal development. Proceeds from Action Asia events help the work of the Foundation. The goals of the foundation include: developing personal development opportunities for young people in Asia through organising outdoor adventure activities; raising the quality of life for disadvantaged young people in Asia by funding health clinics, schools and activity centres; promoting cultural interchange through adventure programmes and events; and developing permanent facilities for youth adventure training. The foundation’s achievements so far include funding a day-care and health facilities in Nepal, and organising kayaking, climbing and other outdoor activities for handicapped and underprivileged youth in Hong Kong.