Race Media

Humidity strong - Oleksii stays in front of hard charging Lau while Dong holds off Wong in Women’s at Action Sprint Sai Kung

HONG KONG, April 12, 2025 - The weather held out with no morning rain at the Action Sprint Sai Kung trail race, the 1st of a 3-race series, but the humidity factory went into overdrive with participants coming out of the 7km mark Lok Wu trail section suffering saying it was like an oven.

The humidity didn’t stop Ukrainian national Melnyk Oleksii (T8 Run) who blasted the 18km course in 1:42:12, just ahead of a hard charging Hong Kong’s Disky Lau 劉Tsz Ho 梓豪 finishing 17 seconds behind in 1:42:29.

Canadian Connolly Creighton grabbed 3rd overall in 1:50:25 with the top 3 winners taking home some beautiful Sudio Bluetooth earphones and cash prizes. Hong Kong’s Leung 梁Son Keng 順敬 did the SAR proud taking 4th in 1:51:32, after a hard battle finishing just over a minute back of Creighton and just 6 seconds in front of British Daniel Crisp who finished in 1:51:38.

“The race was easy as always. No, I am just kidding as these races are never easy and today’s humidity made it extremely difficult. Sometimes fresh, sometimes hot, so 50-50 on weather. When I went up (Tai Cham Koi – 408m at start) I used a lot of energy. At 15km mark, I had given everything I had to hold the lead, but last kilometer or so was just trying to hang on as not sure what my body was doing as did take enough gels with this over pace, but maybe the high humidity and higher temperatures, but no appetite at all. I didn’t drink enough, and it was quite difficult. I just wanted to finish it. Was happy to finish as soon as possible and get an ice pack on my head as was under a lot of pressure. You can see the ice on my head is all I need at this moment at the finish. Usually I do long races, but this is very good training. Thanks very much Action Asia for well-marked course” said overall Men’s 18km winner Ukrainian national Melnyk Oleksii who finished in 1:42:12.

“More hot and wet with high humidity than I expected. There was some wind on top of Tai Cham Koi, with the rerouted course, which was welcomed after a much more challenging start with that huge climb. The remaining section in last 5km was quite nice as not too difficult, short technical sections, but could go a lot faster which I liked to the finish said 2^nd place overall in the Men’s 18km, Hong Kong’s Disky Lau 劉Tsz Ho  梓豪 finishing 17 seconds behind the winner in 1:42:29.

“Nice fast course as really enjoyed this Action Sprint as weather held out today. Well done Action Asia on good marking and well-organized race” said Canadian national Connolly Creighton finishing in 3rd in 1:50:25.

“It was a nice course to run on as no rain which was expected, wasn’t muddy or anything bad that rain brings, so a good fast track. Being in the top 5 was really good as set my target time and very happy with result due to such tough competition in the Men’s field. Volunteers and staff did great job as big thanks Action Asia Events” said 4th overall in the Men’s 18km Leung 梁Son Keng 順敬 of Hong Kong who finished in 1:51:32.

There was a great battle up front in the 18km Women’s field with Dong 董Chaoling 朝玲 (CHN) staying in front by just over a minute finishing in 1:57:43 with Hong Kong’s Wong 黃Mei Yan 美欣 trying her best to close the gap grabbing a strong 2nd in 1:59:16.

Dong Chaoling said after the race, “my body felt it on the first section as the humidity really hit me. I gave everything I had knowing many strong Women around me. Course was amazing and so well marked with marshals on all the junctions. Great race as always by Action Asia Events, thanks for the Sudio prizes and look forward to the next race in the series” said Womens 18km winner Dong Chaoling finishing in 01:57:43.

Hong Kong’s Wong Mei Yan said she did her best. ‘That climb at the start was hard. I did my best pushing as hard as could as very happy with result as very strong Women all around me. Great organization and thank you all the sponsors especially Sudio and all the drink sponsors like UFC Coconut water, Neon Tiger and Corona Beer making the finish enjoyable. See many of you soon again” said Wong after her 2^nd place overall in the Women’s 18km finishing in 1:59:16.

“Great race today. Very happy with performance as tough course. Warmer than expected. Thanks Sudio for the prize for 3^rd place. Thanks Action Asia as the course as always well marked”, said Hannah Bainbridge (United Kingdom) finishing in 2:09:49.

“I am so excited getting 4^th overall today. It’s my first solo trail race in my life. Thank you to my husband and my 3 kids who woke me out of bed to do this today as I love you all. I will be back!” said Petronella Harlin from Sweden finishing in 2:09:54.

In the Men’s 12km it was the Spartan athlete Chris Davis (United Kingdom) finishing 1^st overall in  1:12:28 who is a force to be reckoned with on the short circuit distances as continuing grabbing podium results.

The Womens 12km was won by Hong Kong’s  Lei 李 Tsz Ching 芷晴 in 1:36:21.

There was a surprise appearance in the Women’s 12km by Kuo 郭 Tsai Fei 采扉 from Taipei taking 2^nd in 1:40:23 who has been on the Taiwan Action Asia podium non stop over the past 10 years until she had children and now back racing so great to hear her positive words about Hong Kong. “I love Hong Kong so much as beautiful course, so well organized as so lucky to be treated on such a perfect well marked course as huge thanks Action Asia Events as will tell all my friends about this back home in Taipei” said Kuo.

Top 3 Men and Women in the 18km walked away with cash prizes together with the top 3 awarded Sudio Bluetooth earphones.

Since 2004 the Action Sprint Sai Kung has been an annual Hong Kong tradition for trail runners and adventure seekers interested in the outdoors and relishing the enjoyment of just having a good time in the outdoors with close to 300 participants entering both the 18km and 12km courses.

Due to a landslide forcing the entrance of Lok Wu closed, organizers had to make a minor course change at the start for both distances of 12 km & 18 km that took runners and hikers on the road from the Pak Tam Chung gate to the entrance of Man Yee Road and Sai Wan Road, hiking up the 408m summit of Tai Cham Koi, technical descent down to the Lok Wu Country trail, a short climb up to 298m on mixed terrain of dirt trails, stone steps, a small river crossing, before arriving at Sai Wan Road check point, reservoir views to the Pak Tam Chung finish for the 12km with a total elevation gain of around 593m (slightly over 13km due to small course change) while the 18km category continuing another couple kilometers around the reservoir, before a final 5km technical scenic dirt technical track on the Sheung Yiu country trail back to the Pak Tam Chung finish for a total elevation gain of around 700m.

The event could not have happened without the kind support of Royale International, Bonaqua, Aquarius, Action X Store, NeonTiger, UFC Coconut Water, Corona Beer, SIS gels, Fitz, St Johns Ambulance, Action Asia Sports Academy.

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Race Results

18 km - Top 5 Men

Position – Bib# - Name – Category - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1 (251) Oleksii Melnyk – Ukraine - T8 Run - 1:42:12

2 (163) Lau 劉Tsz Ho Disky 梓豪- HKSAR – 1:42:29

3 (141) Creighton Connolly – Canada – 1:50:25

4 (232) Leung 梁Son Keng 順敬- HKSAR - 1:51:32

5 (209) Crisp Daniel – British - 1:51:38

18 km - Top 5 Women

Position – Bib# - Name – Category - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1 (208) Dong 董 Chaoling 朝玲 - CHN- 1:57:43

2 (174) Wong 黃 Mei Yan 美欣 - HKSAR- 1:59:16

3 (108) Bainbridge Hannah - United Kingdom- 2:09:49

4 (117) Harlin Petronella - Sweden - 2:09:54

5 (151) Pao 包 Mandy 鎔銘 - HKSAR- 2:26:04

12 km - Top 5 Men

Position – Bib# - Name – Category - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1 (897) Davis Chris - United Kingdom- 1:12:28

2 (843) Hoi Hung 凱雄 Ho 何 HKSAR- 1:15:17

3 (908) Megan Kelly  -HKSAR- 1:15:45

4 (816) Ramsbacher Philipp - Germany - 1:16:32

5 (884) Souleyman Jan - United Kingdom - 1:18:45

12 km - Top 5 Women

Position – Bib# - Name – Category - Nationality - Team/Sponsor - Finishing Time

1 (847) Lei 李 Tsz Ching 芷晴 HKSAR- 01:36:21

2 (864) Kuo 郭 Tsai Fei 采扉 Taiwan- 01:40:23

3 (835) Shek 石 Fiona 海慧 HKSAR- 01:40:56

4 (804) Cabania Ma Aurora - Philippines- 01:43:34

5 (898) Cvetkovic Maggie - United Kingdom- 01:46:39

All RESULTS at https://www.actionasiaevents.com/results.html

 Race Info

 

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 300 events over the past 25 year’s 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.

For more race details, please visit below:

www.actionasiaevents.com 

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www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents

https://www.linkedin.com/company/action-asia-events/

 

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