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03 Jul, 2021

Campbell and Wong take Bonaqua Action Sprint 21k Half marathon

Splash station added to Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon

Hong Kong - Sat July 3, 2021 - the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon was successfully held this morning with slight overcast and eventually blue skies in Sai Kung after being postponed a week earlier due to thunderstorms.

Canadian elite runner Jeff Campbell dominated the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon Men's 21km, winning overall with 1:33:57 while Hong Kong’s Wong Mei Yan won her 3rd Action Asia Event this year taking the overall Women's title in 1 hour 56 minutes 35 seconds (1:56:35).

“Wow, the splash station was such a great gift from Action Asia Events as 4 marshalls at the 21km route were dumping water over runners’ heads in both directions. What a great addition to Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon. I absolutely loved it and felt very safe as good safety measures in place, ” said Wong Mei Yan after crossing the finish line in 1:56:35 grabbing the Women's overall title.

“Once again a very well organized race by Action Asia, safety measures are well in place with all runners being fully vaccinated. The two water stops helped big time in such hot weather! The course is very runnable and I truly enjoyed it. Gotta train harder on road running though! Look forward to the next actual race!” said 2nd overall Flora Ching finishing in 02:03:27.

“It was really hot. I was with Paul for a while then I pulled away. The race was very well organized. The route was well marked and marshals were doing a great job. It was my first racing experience in a long time as over 1 year of no racing,” Campbell shared after winning the race in 1:33:57 grabbing the Men's title.

Paul Fornier grabbed 2nd overall hanging on to Jeff for around 40 minutes, but chose to play it safe in the heat. "I didn't prepare the best I could, what can I say. Super well organized. Good to have a little battle with the fastest runner in Hong Kong, Jeff Campbell, but with the heat going up after 40minutes to an hour, I stuggled, didn't want to push it, wanted to stay steady, but really enjoyed it as such a great feeling seeing so many passionate runners carrying about the health conditions showing we can do this and prove running can be done in a safe way. Thanks so much again Action Asia Events for making this happen" said Fornier who finished 2nd in the 21km in 1 hour 38 minutes 3 seconds. (1:38:03)

As for the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon 12km category, Japanese runner Masashi Shirotake won the overall Men's title in 00:59:26 while British runner Rachel Sproston took the 12km women’s title in 1:16:44.

British runner Rachel Sproston 12km women’s champion gave thumbs up for the race. “Hot day out, but it was fantastically well organized and so happy for the first race in such a long time. Well done to Action Asia Events and to the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon. I felt very safe with all the safety rules including wearing face masks and keeping social distance at the start & finish line. I look forward to more races to be approved,” said Sproston.

Both distances of 12km & 21km take runners and hikers on the road from the Pak Tam Chung gate to the Lok Wu Country Trail entrance on Pak Tam Road, following Lok Wu Country trail around 6 km with mixed terrain of dirt trails, stone steps and a small river crossing with a few uphills and the highest elevation of 298m before arriving a Sai Wan Road. Then the event turns into a road run with a water checkpoint and continuing 5km on Sai Wan road along the scenic and quiet reservoir to the 11km mark at the junction of Sai Wan Road & Man Yee Road where the 21km runners will do a left turn following the MacLehose on Man Yee Road for another 4.3km to a second water checkpoint around the 15km mark before returning to the same location and all following Tai Mong Tsai Road to Pak Tam Chung finish for both 12km & the 21 km Half Marathon. Elevation gain on the 12km is around 507m and on the 21km elevation gain around 539m.

Race organizers Action Asia Events started participants in 4 waves of roughly 50 with participants at 630am wearing their face masks and social distancing at the start area before given permission to come forward to the start of the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half marathon that was only open to fully vaccinated participants.

The event could not have happened without the kind support of Bonaqua as the official water with additional support of Walch, Amcham, Royale International, Action X Store, Nectar, Hydro, SportBiji, LR masks, Bix, Herbalgy, C3fit, New Life Plastics.

Results

21km

Top 5 Overall Men

1. Jeff Campbell - Canada - 01:33:57

2. Paul Fournier - France - 01:38:03

3. Matthew Jack - Australia - 01:45:36

4. Jeremy Ritcey - Canada - 01:47:08

5. Ferdinand Airault - France - 01:55:13

21km

Top 5 Overall Women

1. Wong Mei Yan - Hong Kong - 01:56:35

2. Flora Ching Wing Yee - Canada - 02:03:27

3. Stephanie Pezot - France - 02:03:47

4. Ainhoa Mombiela - Spain - 02:07:42

5. Veronica Llorca - Spain - 02:16:24

12km

Top 5 Overall Men

1. Masashi Shirotake - Japan - 00:59:26

2. JP Martenet - France - 01:01:52

3. Wan Ho Yuen - Hong Kong - 01:05:59

4. Hang Hang Hang - Hong Kong - 01:06:09

5. Hui Siu Tung - Hong Kong - 01:08:10

12km

Top 5 Overall Women

1. Rachel Sproston - UK - 01:16:44

2. Lee Sze Wing Vivian - Hong Kong - 01:20:49

3. Fely Bejuna - Philippines - 01:28:22

4. Olivia Bracklehurst - UK - 01:31:57

5. Elaine Hall - UK - 01:33:55

Full details can be found on the organizers website at www.actionasiaevents.com

end

Race Info

Event Name	*Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon*
Date	3rd July 2021 (Saturday(
Start Time	6:30 am
Start & FinishLocation	Pak Tam Chung, N.T. Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Distance	(12km & 21km)
Category	Trail Running and Hiking
Website	www.actionasiaevents.com