Race Media

Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series 2019

April 07, 2019 - Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series – Sai Kung

April 28, 2019 - Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series – Discovery Bay

May 05, 2019 - Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series - Repulse Bay

 Ixel takes a fall being chased by Skobierski, gets up and wins by 10 seconds - William's takes Women’s title

Bonaqua Action X Action Asia Trail Running Series Discovery Bay 

HONG KONG, Sunday, April 28, 2019 - Over 300 runners entered theBonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail series 2^nd race at Discovery Bay with rain just holding off after thunderstorms rattled Hong Kong the day earlier. Both 12km and 9km races kicked off at 8 am with sunshine, fog, mist, and breezes over Lo Fu Tau (465m) the highest point of the 12km race with a total elevation gain of almost 600m. The main 12km premier event started out fast with a pack of 10 runners in the lead pack for the first 3km which started to open up on the Lo Fu Tau (Tigers Head) climb into the fog. Breezes must have been strong as many runners opted to not have any drinks at the 6km water food station and blasted by.

Australian runner Vlad Ixel came thru the 6km water check point at 33 minutes with a fast technical downhill helping with Michael Skobierski,over a minute down clearly not happy with his race at that point and determined to close the gap. A large gap of around 5 minutes until the next pack of over 5 runners including the series leader Nepalese runner Limbu Yamanath looking strong with Natalie Webster from United Kingdom in hot pursuit.

Runners had the next 3 km around the golf course on a lower technical slippery trail with sections of overgrown bush in their face to bring out full concentration or fine themselves on the ground face first. At the 10km mark runners entered the final ocean coasteering section with rules to stay off the main path and rock scramble along the coastline. It was here Ixel took a fall after being pushed by Skobierski and after Ixel checked to make sure his ribs were not broken pushed to get back into the hunt and realized when both were neck and neck on the final climb that Ixel confidence grew that he might have him, but it was still 1km to the finish.

“I was hoping to finish easy and Skobiersk had to push it,” Ixel said after laughing off the blood under his arms saying they were more like scratches. “The course had everything, coastline running, a big steep uphill, technical downhills, it was perfect as a little bit of everything. Definitely one of my favorite races due to the nice design incorporating so much’ Ixel said after winning in a blistering 1 hour 7 minutes and 20 seconds crowned the overall champion of the 2019 Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Discovery Bay race, also winning the 2015 same race.”.

In the past 10 years, 5-time winner of the women’s race at Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series Discovery Bay, Hong Kong resident Zein Williams from UK once again took the women’s champion trophy. Williams crossed the finish line in 1 hour 23 minute and 40 seconds and enjoyed the race immensely. “Races in Discovery Bay are normally very hot, but today is a bit cool with breeze. While the wet ground can grip my shoes and prevent slipping down, it allows me to run faster,” she said. William’s favorite parts of the run was definitely the Tiger’s head (Lo Fu Tau 465m) and technical downhill. She loved the climbs and running downhill as gave her the feeling of freedom.

British runner Katrina Hamlin came second 10 minutes after Williams (1:33:21) who was raving about the final coasteering section in the trail running race, “I wasn’t expecting the coastline section and that was such a nice surprise!” Current Bonaqua Action X Action Asia Trail Running Series leading female British runner Natalie Webster rounded the 12km women’s podium in 1:37:41 seconds and mentioned the uphill part of the course was her favorite due to the mist and cool temperatures to start the race and set the mood.

Other than the 12km race, Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series - Discovery Bay also provided a 9km option. Hong Kong elite runner Cheng Tsz Hong took the highest podium in 57 minute and 28 seconds. “I think the marking of the race is very clear as was so surprised an organizer could do such a good job marking a course, Cheng also found the design of the route very interesting, “there are not many races with such design, it’s really special and well organized so I’d love to come back for more Action Asia Events,” Cheng said giving a big thumbs up.

British runner Eva Parry-jones just moved to Hong Kong 6 months ago and grabbed the women’s title of the 9km race in 1 hour 14 minute and 20 seconds. She did her first 12km race in UK and started her trail running journey. “This was my first time racing in Discovery Bay. The course was nice with a good mix of the flat, hills and trail. The trails were quite technical. The coastline section was memorable too as we had to walk through the water and it was very rocky. It was also very interesting that we all had to pick up a piece of litter,” Eva Parry-jones said. The outstanding course marking also left her a great impression. Action Asia Events had requested runners due their best on the final coastline trying their best to pick up a small piece of litter and bring to the finish to add a little bit of care for the environment which many runners did filling up at least 2 bags of trash.

All Participants started at the Discovery Bay Plaza with 400m beach run, then into Discovery Bay Road and Discovery Valley Road. 12km runners continued to hike up to Lo Fu Tau (465m), technical downhill to the reservoir checkpoint before a 3km technical rocky trail around the golf course and 1km ocean coastline to Cheung Sha Lan and Nim Shue Wan Tsuen finishing running the promenade back into the South Plaza in Discovery Bay, Lantau. The 9km race did the same route except skipped the Lo Fu Tau climb cutting out 3km.

The Bonaqua Action X SPRINT Trail Series is now in it’s 17th year of running with the first edition in 2003. Action Asia Events is dedicated to creating diversified and challenging routes, and giving runners the opportunity to set foot on less-trodden trails and explore the suburbs away from the concrete jungle of Hong Kong. “The original goal was always to get runners off the main trails into areas that people hadn’t seen or experienced, putting them a bit outside their comfort zones, which is more difficult under new AFCD guidelines for Hong Kong country parks with a new silly rule saying organizers can’t hold an event on a trail with no name. After hundreds of complaints to the AFCD govt department nothing still has ever been done and the trail running community is still hoping this rule will be overturned by popular support and organizers allowed to use trails with no names to show off some of the beauty of Hong Kong while helping spread out the hikers and runners and making it more safe for everyone with less congestion on the main trails of Hong Kong”, said Michael Maddess the Course Designer of Action Asia Events.

The 3 race series is the best 2 out of 3 for points and the final race 3 will be held May 5, 2019 at Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Island to decide the winners of the Bonaqua Action X Sprint trail series.

The event is possible due to the generous support of presenting sponsors Bonaqua and Action X Store with supporting partners: Royale International, Lion Rock Brewery, CamelBak, HOKA One One, C3fit, Herbalgy, Salonsip, HKRI, Lorence & Company and HK Living Magazine.

Race Results

12km - Top 5 Men

Name - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1. Vlad Ixel – Australia- 01:07:20

2. Michael Skobierski – Austria - 01:07:30

3. Limbu Yamanath – Nepal- 01:15:08

4. Nicolas Philippe - France - 01:16:35

5. Marco Muller - Switzerland- 01:16:46

12km - Top 5 Women

Name - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1. Zein Williams -United Kingdom - 01:23:40

2. Katrina Hamlin - United Kingdom- 01:33:21

3. Natalie Webster - United Kingdom - 01:37:41

4. Joyce Edmonson - Canada- 01:38:30

5. Karys Logue –United States- 01:41:00

9km - Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1. Cheng Tsz Hong – Hong Kong- 00:57:28

2. Lee Kwok Ming – Hong Kong- 01:01:31

3. Lucas Whitworth – United Kingdom - 01:04:49

9km - Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1. Eva Parry-jones – United Kingdom- 01:14:20

2. Aska Asakura- Japan- 01:24:30

3. Joanne Alaoen – Philippine- 01:25:40

Full results

http://www.actionasiaevents.com/results.html

Race Info

 

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