2023 -2024 HK50 Series
Oct 21, 2023 - HK50 – Hong Kong Island 50
Dec 2, 2023 - Bupa Global Lantau 50 - HK50 Series - Asian Skyrunning Championship
Jan 13, 2024 - Hong Kong 50 WEST
Mar 2, 2024 - Sai Kung 50
HK50 series starts with a 3 way tie for Men while Hedou takes Women’s 50
24k records fall with Ixel and Leng
HONG KONG, October 21, 2023 – The 13th edition of the HK50 kicked off Saturday morning as race 1 of the Hong Kong 50 four race series with cool and humid conditions sparking a close nit fought race in the 50km and records in the 24km distance with close to 600 participants competing.
Representing Canada at the Trail World Champs 2023, Canadian Jeff Campbell (Joint Dynamics / Gone Running) had a very narrow lead of just over 1 minute thru most of the 50 km race with 3 of Hong Kong’s top talented ultra marathon runners hot on his heals with Chan Ka Keung, Wong Wai Hung and Rex Lo deciding to work, support and motivate each other almost in a team tactic sense to try and close the gap on Campbell. But it was easier said then done as after surge, Campbell pushed harder at a phenomenal pace with numerous technical sections to punish the runners.
But Campbell’s experience knows all to well to never give up and just kept pushing thru almost 5 hours of relentless trail sections including the Mount Parker contour trail with its added technical tree routed rock boulder section which punished many before an uphill further technical trail section of Boa Vista just before the final 3 peak section of Mt Butler, Jardine Lookout and Violet Hill just to squeeze every ounce of any last energy in the runners legs. Eventually on the final narrow catchwater Chan Ka Keung (KC) and Wong Wai Hung dropped Rex Lo in the last final stretch, closed the gap on Campbel with all in the final couple hundred meters before the finish and a road crossing in front of them, decided to not try to outrun each other and share the top podium prize together running down the stairs together into the finish line area holding hands and showing good sportsmanship. Luckily the prizes of Adidas sport headphones were for the top 3 for one less thing Action Asia Events had to worry about.
“What a race. Was leading most of the way and these 2 guys caught me at the end of the catchwater, I started sprinting, and they said ‘joint finish’ and I said oh that sounds like a great idea and lets run home together” said Campbell the joint overall winner finishing in 5 hours 1 minute 32 seconds over the 50km course.
Wong Wai Hung (DUO.HK) one of the other joint winners went in to the race quite mentally strong from a previous win. “I really liked that new part on the Mt Parker contour trail and ran with the 2 other really strong guys and spent some time there as so technical, but it was really hard as many sections so rocky or technical that were not runnable, but really liked as just so different compared to the whole course. I am trying to do more longer stuff in general this year in racing, but the humidity today was quite high as cool early, but changed fast I believe effecting many. I didn’t think I would finish podium as hard week leading up to race, but I did win the 24km distance at the HK50 last year so felt good mentally and with cool weather at first did my best to stay with others” said Wong.
Hong Kong’s “KC” Chan Ka Keung the 3rd of the first place joint finishers was just happy to finish after a long day. “That was hard. We pushed so hard, but it helped the 3 of us earlier in the race supporting each other. Then in the final catchwater section we could see Jeff and just gave it everything. Then he pushed harder and was with Wai Hung at the time as Rex was a little behind and we all just decided to run together into the finish after everything we’d been thru as all so close the whole day. A lot of technical sections as many were very hard and tiring, but excellent marking as even in the most remote areas signs and ribbons were excellent as thank you Action Asia’.
Hong Kong’s Rex Lo (TPH) came in just over 1 minute later in 5 hours 2 minutes 50 seconds with a very impressive time for the youngster who has won some races already and shows he can push the best out there.
In 5th overall was Yiu Po Kit of Hong Kong in 5 hours 29 minutes 23 seconds.
French national Sophie Hedou (Babs Team) put on an impressive display who has been putting in the training as moving higher on the podium over past Action Asia Event races with an impressive time of 6 hours 5 minutes 18 seconds to stay in front of the experienced ultramarathon and UTMB finisher Flora Ching Wing Yee (Canada) who came 2nd in 6 hours 16 minutes 57 seconds.
“Really happy to be here at the HK50 as fantastic event. I did run along with my fiancé and a friend who all enjoyed it. Quite difficult and very technical in some sections, but really enjoyed it a lot and the challenge as excellently organized by Action Asia. The staff and marshals were fantastic” said overall Women’s 50km winner Hedou.
“Almost my backyard as know many of the sections and very well marked. Very happy with 2nd place today and looking forward to the next Action Asia Event” said Ching with a big smile on her face.
Third in the Women’s 50km was Lee Wai Fong of Hong Kong in 6 hours 38 minutes 37 seconds. “So happy and beautiful course. Some hard sections but loved it. Thanks again to the friendly marshals” said Lee.
Hong Kong’s Alice Yung (Divonne Running) took 4th in the Women’s 50km in 6 hours 39 minutes 22 seconds with UK’s Alice Mcleod (Gone Runners) taking 5th in 6 hours 47 minutes 26 seconds.
Australian Vlad Ixel (BIX recovery) lowered the Men’s 24km course record to 1 hour 47 minutes 14 seconds. “I actually, did this race in 2014 so it’s nice to be back. Hong Kong trail which is absolutely amazing. Really good weather today, maybe a bit humid, but no sun, beautiful trails, great atmosphere at the finish line. So hopefully I’ll be back next year for a 10 year anniversary” Ixel said waving his winners trophy to all. Even more impressive was the fact that Ixel knocked another win to the CV after winning the CBRE Lantau 2 Peaks couple weeks ago.
Hong Kong’s Cheng Tsz Yeung grabbed 2nd in the Men’s 24km in 2:09:00, Jasper Van Der Ploeg from Hong Kong took 3rd overall in the 24km in 2:10:45, Hector Chan of France grabbed 4th in 2:13:29 with Canadian national Connolly Creighton (Gone Runners) taking 5th in the 24km in 2:13:58.
With the husband holding the baby and trading off after his team win at the CBRE Lantau 2 Peaks earlier this month it was time to see what the wife could do after giving birth and Veronika Leng (Slovakia) from the Uglow Team was all smiles taking home the Women’s 24km win in 2 hours 5 minutes 59 seconds.
“It was my first race since I become a mom. So I’m super excited to be back especially Action Asia on Hong Kong Island as feels like home turf and such amazing conditions to run. Just to be back today was cool, nice weather, no sun so perfect.” Said the overall Women’s winner Leng who also went under the course record for the Womens 24km.
Second on the 24km podium was Hong Kong’s Katherine Lim (Greenobo) in 2:32:34, third was Swiss national Ellen Montanari in 2:32:43, fourth was Ingrid Lim (Australia) in 2:34:57 and fifth being Tamara Weissenbach (Switzerland) filling the podium in 2:39:44.
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 last minute change due to a massive landslide on the Boa Vista track, the route dropped down the Wilson trail towards Kornhill, before a massive climb back up to Hong Pak country trail, then a technical and rocky tree routed section contouring the Mt Parker contour trail to the beginning of Boa Vista trail before Quarry Gap Tai Fung Au, Mt Butler (436m), Jardine Lookout (433m), followed by a loop of Violet Hill (438m), finishing at Wong Nai Chung Gap for just over 1400m elevation gain and 1400m 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: Royale International, Watsons Water, BIX recovery, UFC Coconut water, Action X store, Tiger Balm, OCA, Fitz, New Life Plastics and Action Asia Sports Academy.
Race Result
Top 5 MEN – 50km
1 (415) Chan 陳 Ka Keung 家強 (HKG) - 05:01:32
1 (406) Campbell Jeff (Canada) Joint Dynamics / Gone Running 05:01:32
1 (357) Wong 黃 Waihung 偉雄 (HKG) DUO.HK 05:01:32
4 (153) Lo 羅 Rex 樂賢 (HKG) TPH 05:02:50
5 (242) Yiu 姚 Po Kit 寶杰 (HKG) - 05:29:23
Top 5 Women – 50 km
1 (361) Hedou Sophie (France) Babs Team 06:05:18
2 (369) Ching 莊 Wing Yee Flora 穎怡 (Canada) - 06:16:57
3 (226) Lee 李 Wai Fong 偉芳 (HKG) - 06:38:37
4 (332) Yung 翁穎彤 Alice 穎彤 (HKG) Divonne Running 06:39:22
5 (323) Mcleod Alice (UK) Gone Runners 06:47:26
24km
Top 5 MEN – 24km
1 (812) Ixel Vlad (Australia) BIX 01:47:14
2 (863) Cheng 鄭 Tsz Yeung 子洋 (HKG) - 02:09:00
3 (845) Van Der Ploeg Jasper (HKG) - 02:10:45
4 (821) Chan Hector (France) - 02:13:29
5 (687) Connolly Creighton (Canada) Gone Runners 02:13:58
Top 5 WOMEN – 24km
1 (801) Leng Veronika (Slovakia) Uglow Team 02:05:59
2 (841) Lim 林 Katherine 嘉琦 (HKG) Greenobo 02:32:34
3 (862) Montanari Ellen (Switzerland) - 02:32:43
4 (868) Lim Ingrid (Australia) - 02:34:57
5 (849) Weissenbach Tamara (Switzerland) - 02:39:44
Race Info
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Event Name |
HK50 Series - Hong Kong Island |
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Date |
Oct 21, 2023 (Saturday) |
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Start Time |
7:00 a.m. |
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Start Location |
Peak Galleria, The Peak, Hong Kong Island |
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Finish Location |
Wong Nai Chung Gap, Hong Kong Island |
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Distance |
24km, 50km |
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Category |
Trail Running and Hiking |
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Website |
About Action Asia Events:
Action Asia Events is the organizer of spectacular, extraordinary remote marathons for adventure travel seekers & trail running enthusiasts that inspire and push the boundaries of participants. Having organized over 290 events over the past 23 years Action Asia Events constantly keeps inspiring and pushes the boundaries of adventure travel, ultra-marathon and team building. Responsibilities range from designing courses, selection of the venue, dates and race format to raising the funds essential to run the race as well as liaising with NGO’s and non-profits for fund raising activities related to environment, education and health.
More Race Details at:
www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/
www.instagram.com/actionasiaevents/
www.twitter.com/ActionAsiaEvent
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