Race Media

2019/20 HK50 Series
Oct 26, 2019 - HK50 – Hong Kong Island 50
Dec 1, 2019 - Lantau 50 - Asian Skyrunning Championship
Jan 11, 2020 - Hong Kong 50 WEST
Feb 15, 2020 - Sai Kung 50

Last 4 climbs punish many, but still the easiest of the HK50 series

Leung and Marchant show their strength at HK50

HONG KONG, October 26, 2019 – Hong Kong Island 50, the first race of classic trail running series HK50 series including four races organized by Action Asia Events kicked off on Saturday (26 Oct). Nearly a thousand international and local trail running elites joined the HK50 with Hong Kong’s Leung Ying Suet in front of Marie McNaughton to grab the overall Women’s 50km title while Tim Marchant’s trailwalker training helped when others cramped to take the Men’s title on a slightly cooler day compared to past years on record.

Local runner Leung Ying Suet, the 50km women overall champion showed her strength on the final climbs pushing herself to finish in 5 hours 33 minutes 28 seconds and will be awarded by Air Asia and Tourism Authority of Thailand to travel to Thailand Action Asia 50 end of November. “The first 40km of the race has a lot of fairly flat undulating sections and you are forced to run a fast pace which was hard on my leg muscles so when the final hills that require strength I was already quite tired as you are changing speeds,” She said, "I thought, it would be nice if I could have some uphill’s to walk. The hill paths are all within the last 10km with the Boa Vista section, Mt Butler, Jardine Lookout and Violet Hill. I love the uphills as I believe I’m suitable for this kind of course”. Leung also thanked the clear course markings and helpful marshals as she was not familiar with the route.

Trailwalker training helped the 50km overall male champion British runner and HK resident Tim Marchant a local investment banker at Nomura take the crown in 5 hours 10 minutes 47 seconds, “I have been living in Hong Kong for 12 years. I’ve done some training for preparation, like I running around 100km a week on average, but regretted not checking the route map beforehand and got confused at the Mt Bennet loop and had to double check with the marshal who sent me the correct way, then again at the Mt Butler section figured out there was a loop running Boa Vista uphill and was happy the course was well marked making it easier. My friend Mark was in the lead after CP3 and he yelled out that he was starting to cramp and caught him in Boa Vista section where he wished me luck as I passed him. Was happy Mark recovered and grabbed 2nd. Also happy it wasn’t that hot of a day as I usually suffer and have used ice packs before, but held it together on the last 3 big climbs. For advice to new runners taking on the 50k would say this is one of the best introductions to the 50ks out there as the Action Asia Lantau 50 is a completely different course all together in December.

New Zealander and HK resident Marie McNaughton grabbed 2nd overall in the women’s 50km in 5 hours 55 minutes 10 seconds. “This course just does this too you as so runnable and with new Mt Parker section running so fast when you hit Boa vista, it’s a place where I ran some of it and running ok with the 1st half pacing really good and comfortable, but it just the hills and even keeping the momentum on the last Butler, Jardine, Violet Hill sections as if that’s not hard enough, its coming up the contour which is not easy as still uphill and you’re just a few kilometers from the finish, but overall it was a pretty good run for me and happy with 2nd. You just can’t run slow after the first half, but recommend just taking it easy on the first 24k and try running your own pace if this is your first 50km” said McNaughton.

Leung Kwok Hang from Hong Kong grabbed 3rd overall in 5 hours 32 minutes 7 seconds winning the top local Hong Kong trip to Thailand Action Asia 50 in November. “My wife ordered me to run this 50k. She heard that there was a chance to win and go to Thailand and she said you’re not coming home unless you win this. So yes a lot of pressure as had to push hard. There were a lot of people and ran well and after cp3 there was a short out and back section and I saw the other runners coming back and saw the 2 Westerners and figured hey I have a chance and just wanted to go home to see my wife so that motivated me to push hard to keep the lead. Just told myself keep running, use my poles as a great decision on the tough sections like Jardine Lookout and really loved the design of the course and marking was fantastic. This was much tougher than the Korea race I just did which was similar distance” said Leung.

For the 24km category, Luke Rowland from United Kingdom with 2 hours 4minutes 55seconds won the overall male champion. “It’s my first time to try the race. It’s a great day with great conditions. I’m based in Hong Kong, so I ran through the course last week to see what it’s like and get a feel for it. The course is great. I guess the final hill up the switchbacks, about 2 to 3km to the end is tough,” Luke said.

Katrina Gottschalk from Germany has just moved to Hong Kong recently. It was her first time to join the trailing running race here. “I have run parts of the course, but I didn’t know the whole route. That’s why I was a bit anxious about the trail. I’m not a confident trail runner, so I enjoyed the track sections. It was not too technical and I really enjoyed it. Trail bits were good to run, but I have to walk the second uphill. That was tough because you’re about 12km in. The trail was not too technical, so that was good. And the views were amazing.” She won the 24km overall women champion with 2 hours 19 minutes 59 seconds.

HK Island 50 is the first race of the HK50 series, while some people have registered for the whole series. Jeff Holcombe from United States is one of them. “I have enjoyed trail running for more than 10 years in US and HK participating in many races. I also ran the 27km category in Lantau 50 by Action Asia Events last December. I decided to participate in all four events this year because of the motivation of taking my trail running to a higher level,” this passionate runner said.

The classic and challenging course starts from the Peak Galleria (396,) and covers some of the most technical hilly trails along Hong Kong Island. The first 24km follows the Hong Kong Trail from the Peak to Wong Nai Chung Gap, with an additional loop of Mount Bennet in Aberdeen Country Park. The course then becomes more technical and challenging, with a big loop following Sir Cecil Ride and up Mount Parker Road to Quarry Gap Tai Fung Au, Boa Vista trail, Mt Butler (436m), Jardine Lookout (433m), followed by a loop of Violet Hill (438m), finishing at Wong Nai Chung Gap for just over 2200m elevation gain and 2400m elevation loss in the 50km trail race.

The event is organized by Action Asia Events and is possible thanks to the generous support of all supporting partners: Action X store, Pizza Hut, Royale International, Skyrunner National Series, Bonaqua, Camelbak, Cathay Pacific, Salonsip, Nectar Hydro, Theragun, Plantronics, Herbalgy, Hong Kong Chiropractors Association, Bu sunscreen, New Life Plastics and Horizon Sports. Special cash prizes and a trip for the Hong Kong passport holders to Thailand by Air Asia and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Race Results
Name - Nationality –Time

50km

Top 5 MEN - 50km
1. Tim Marchant – United Kingdom – 05:10:47
2. Mark Iandoli – United States– 05:27:20
3. Leung Kwok Hang – Hong Kong – 05:32:07
4. Justo Lei – Australia – 05:34:39
5. Jack Chan – Hong Kong – 05:37:50

Top 5 WOMEN - 50km

1. Leung Ying Suet – Hong Kong – 05:33:28
2. Marie Mcnaughton – New Zealand– 05:55:10
3. Angelika Hahn – Germany – 06:02:18
4. Nicole Lau – Hong Kong –06:07:09
5.Sabrina Ettedgui – France –06:22:16

24km

Top 5 MEN - 24km
1. Luke Rowland – United Kingdom – 02:04:55
2. Alan Zagury – France – 02:08:48
3. Aaron Hollingshead – United States – 02:11:22
4. Higgins Stephen – United Kingdom– 02:11:39
5. Andrew McGirr – United Kingdom – 02:12:31

Top 5 WOMEN - 24km
1. Katrina Gottschalk – Germany – 02:19:59
2. Nicky Inge– Hong Kong – 02:35:37
3. Martine Botha–Australia –02:53:43
4. Nozomi Gaffney – Japan – 02:54:52
5. Justine Leforestier– France – 02:58:08

Race Info
Event Name: HK50 Series - Hong Kong Island
Date: Oct 26, 2019 (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 www.actionasiaevents.com

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