Race Media

MSIG SAI KUNG 50: American’s Gillman and Scallon take Hong Kong showpiece

The MSIG Sai Kung 50 a China Skyrunning race lived up to the hype with international athletes taking both the Men’s and Women’s titles. American Rudy Gilman who resides most of his time in Yunnan, China used his elevation training to his advantage and stole the show as he built a lead over some of the top trail runners in Asia like Hong Kong’s Stone Tsang Siu Keung and Australian trail supremo and Inov8 runner Brendan Davies. From the UK, Stu Air put in a respectable performance grabbing 8th in 5 hours 48 minutes with a little more than 24 hrs to acclimatize to 95% humidity before the race and seemed to have a constant smile on his face while others looked like they were in pain.

 

Making the journey from the USA, Salomon-sponsored athlete Cassie Scallon battled close to Italian supremo Alessandra Carlini thru the technical course with Joe Joe Fan SuiPing battling with Olya Korzh for the final podium which went Joe Joe’s way.
“Went well as beautiful course, beautiful weather, could run almost the whole thing. Feels good to beat such a strong field. I know there was a bunch of strong guys out there. I could feel Stone nipping at my heals on those down hills. Just a good day. Nice and relaxed. Feeling good” said overall winner Gilman who broke Will Davies course record in humid but cooler conditions with a stunning new time of 4 hours 51 minutes 5 seconds.

Champion System Adventure runner Stone Tsang Siu Keung from Hong Kong had a fantastic race placing 2nd overall. “Last 10k felt terrible, as a little bit of a cramp and was worried that the 3rd runner behind me Brendan Davies would catch me so just slow downed a bit and re addressed and lucky I recovered very soon and then came back to the finish very strong” said Tsang who grabbed 2nd overall in 5 hours 5 minutes 42 seconds.

Brendan Davies from the Blue Mountains in Australia representing Inov8 and Descente. grabbed the remaining spot on the podium after a battle with Tsang most of the race trading places. “The race was spectacular. Obviously the first 16km with the 2 big climbs (sea-level up Tai Cham Koi 408m to sea level and Sharp Peak 468m then sealevel) were very tough, but you know I was running well on all the climbs and stuck with the leading bunch and then Stone,  man had a ding dong battle up to about 35km with him, I’d catch him on the climbs and on the flats, and then he’d scoot away on the downhills and we just did that for about 35k and then he went and I never saw him again and I was just hanging on at the end. This was the first race of the season for me, so really gearing me for Western States 100 in the States so to get a podium at a great race like this is a real good sign for me and really happy about how the day went and really glad I came to run on such a spectacular course. Some of those views were just awesome out to the ocean and some of those climbs were really testing. It was a tough hard race. It was a proper trail race” said 3rd overall winner in the 50km Australian Brendan Davies finishing in 5 hours 15 minutes 6 seconds.

Wong Ho Chung another Champion System Adventure runner from Hong Kong grabbed 4th overall with a blistering performance. “First 25km was very tough and technical course as had to go up to Tai Cham Koi and very technical on the downhill, then going up Sharp Peak was so steep and technical we had to use our hands uphill and then very straight downhill and very technical. Not easy to handle for most of the runners handling the technical Sharp Peak and going downhill” said Wong using his hiking poles during the race for added support and finishing in 5 hours 31 minutes 6 seconds.

American Cassie Scallon from Boulder, Colorado (Salomon / Julbo / Drymax sponsored) took the Women’s 50k title and 13th overall. “Brutal, fantastically beautiful though. I knew there was going to be a lot of up and down and knew it was going to be very technical, but think this was the most technical race that I’ve run. Definitely the most difficult 50k that I’ve done. I really liked the scrambling part as thought that was neat and fun to use my hands and not to be perfectly runnable all the time. It was also in the first 25k or around 25k that I saw a wild pig that scared the heck out of me. Super beautiful. After arriving and staying with Alessandra was really surprised at how wild it is out here with all the jungle and totally impressed and it was so neat to be down by the beach too as the coast has so many seashells and all the people camping just enjoying the outdoors was really neat” said overall winner Scallon who set a new course record also in 6 hours 59 seconds.

Alessandra Carlini from Italy (Agisko / Natural Progeto Vista) took 2nd on the podium. “I enjoyed it a lot as the first half of the course was some of the most technical running I’ve ever run. The elevation and course was wonderful. You’d stay inside the trail, then go out on a beach, changing all the time. Spectacular. I knew it would be hard, but thought I did well” said Carlini.  Asked about Hong Kong to Europe comparison on the MSIG SK50 course Carlini replied, “There is really no high mountains here, but it’s so technical here (in Hong Kong) and there’s a lot of up and down and up and down everywhere and think that’s very different and not the same as you don’t have the high elevation like a 2000m peak, but I suffered from the humidity and leaking hydration system, but I hope to come back” said Carlini who raced for the first time in Asia and should be proud of a great performance in a very competitive Women’s field taking 2nd place overall in 6 hours 5 minutes 19 seconds.

Hong Kong’s Joe Joe Fan SuiPing wasn’t far behind Carlini and had a few flashbacks of years ago when she used to cleanup in trail running before her road running days. “I think the whole 50km, all the up hills and down hills I found it very suffering as you know I didn’t really run trails for almost 8 years, but on the flat I could catch a lot of people ahead of me, but overall I did enjoy the whole course, because I could recall what was happening to me in 2006 where I was trail running every day and saw a lot of friends that I knew before and really enjoyed it” said Fan Hong Kong’s top Women road runner now thinking seriously about making a switch back to trail running who grabbed 3rd overall in a great time of 6 hours 11 minutes 42 seconds.

Olya Korzh had a battle with Joe Joe and was happy with 4th. “The first 25km had some really nice climbs going up and down, I was in 3rd position all the time until the dam and then Joe Joe Fan overtook me of course with her marathon pace as I had absolutely no hope. I was like saying who is this ghost. Yep I was trying to catch her later on the downhills, but that didn’t work. Just really enjoyed it as ran with my teammates in the first half and great scenery as know this location well. Enjoyed the downhill from Sharp Peak the most as just loved it. Felt like it wasn’t me as someone else was doing and I’m watchin. Felt good” said Russian Korzh who finished in 4th place with an overall time of 6 hours 20 minutes 44 seconds.

“The 50km course is truly brutal, with an ascent and descent of notoriously technical Sharp Peak (468m),” says race director, Mike Maddess, who’s organised over 150 running events in Asia. “It’s a chance to compete amongst some of Hong Kong’s most stunning terrain in Sai Kung with some seriously tough competition.”

The 50km race involves 2218m of elevation gain (1502m in the 26 km race), with a max elevation in both races of 468m.

All distances start at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung, Hong Kong at the mouth of the MacLehose Trail, weave through Sai Kung East Country Park. The 26km and 50km distance ascend Sharp Peak (Nam She Tsim). Unrivalled views of Sai Kung’s beaches, including Tai Long Wan, are offered along the way.

There’s more than HK$170,000 cash and prizes up for grabs over the 3 race series and slots awarded for best performance and placings for top men and women to represent China in the ISF world championships in France in June.
www.actionasiaevents.com

MSIG SK50 MAR 1 2014                                


MEN'S - 50km overall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        Last Name    First Name    Age Category    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    41                    Gilman        Rudy        50km M18-39    United States    China        4:51:05
                                
2nd    123    Champion System Adventure    Tsang        Siu Keung    50km M18-39    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    5:05:42
                                
3rd    33    Inov-8 International        Davies        Brendan        50km M18-39    Australia    Australia    5:15:06
                                
4th    130    Champion System Adventure    Wong        Ho Chung    50km M18-39    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    5:31:06
                                
5th    5                    Boyd        Nicol        50km M18-39    United Kingdom    Hong Kong    5:32:13

                                
WOMEN'S - 50km overall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Age Category    Nationality       Residence    Time
1st    356                    Scallon        Cassie        50km W18-39    United States       USA        6:00:59
                                
2nd    357                    Allesandra    Carlini        50km W18-39    Italy           Italy    6:05:19
                                
3rd    355                    Fan        Sui Ping    50km W40-49    Hong Kong       Hong Kong    6:11:42
                                
4th    299    UFO                Korzh        Olya        50km W18-39    Russian Federation Hong Kong    6:20:44
                                
5th    304    健行之友                Leung        Ying Suet    50km W18-39    Hong Kong       Hong Kong    7:13:34
                                
                                

50km M18-39 - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time    
1st    41                    Gilman        Rudy        United States    China        4:51:05    
                                
2nd    123    Champion System Adventure    Tsang        Siu Keung    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    5:05:42    
                                
3rd    33    Inov-8 International        Davies        Brendan        Australia    Australia    5:15:06    
    
                            
50km M40-49 - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time    
1st    194    UFO                Lam        Shing Yip    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    5:53:51    
                                
2nd    210                    Ormiston    Michael        Australia    Hong Kong    6:16:39    
                                
3rd    160                    Cheng        Sai kit alger    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    6:42:53        

                                
50km M50+ - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time    
1st    263                    Gary        Lew        United States    Hong Kong    6:56:44    
                                
2nd    254                    Ho        Fuk Yau Tiger    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    7:32:50    
                                
3rd    271                    Ota        Koichi        Japan        Hong Kong    7:41:23    
                                

50km W18-39 - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality        Residence    Time    
1st    356                    Scallon        Cassie        United States        USA        6:00:59    
                                
2nd    357                    Carlini        Allesandra    Italy            Italy        6:05:19    
                                
3rd    299    UFO                Korzh        Olya        Russian Federation    Hong Kong    6:20:44    

                                
50km W40-49 - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time    
1st    355                    Fan        Sui Ping    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    6:11:42    
                                
2nd    336    Sherrin                Loh        Sherrin        Australia    Hong Kong    7:16:38    
                                
3rd    322                    Bunao        Verlie        Philippines    Hong Kong    7:41:13    

                                
50km W50+ - Top 3                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time    
1st    346                    MAK        King Foon    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    8:55:06    
                                
2nd    345    ANITA FUNG            Fung        Anita Siu Ying    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    9:33:08    
                                


                                
MEN'S - 26km overall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Age Category    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    860    HK Trailrunners            Skobierski    Michael        26km M18-39    Austria        Hong Kong    2:51:17
                                
2nd    437    FLIGHT CENTRE            De HAAS        Troy        26km M18-39    Estonia        Hong Kong    2:53:44
                                
3rd    521                    Sebastien    Mitrani        26km M18-39    France        Hong Kong    2:58:40
                                    
4th    528                    Stevenson    Richard        26km M18-39    United Kingdom    Hong Kong    3:05:01
                                
5th    450    HKTR                Green        Mark        26km M18-39    Canada        Hong Kong    3:10:01

                                
WOMEN'S - 26km oeverall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Age Category    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    825                    Freres        Anita        26km W40-49    United States    Hong Kong    4:00:46
                                
2nd    821                    Buckley        Karen        26km W40-49    Australia    Hong Kong    4:16:14
                                
3rd    790                    Miller        Laura        26km W18-39    South Africa    Hong Kong    4:25:34
                                
4th    856                    Yeung        Sum wai        26km W40-49    China        Hong Kong    4:25:54
                                
5th    843                    Peacock        Natasha        26km W40-49    Sweden        Hong Kong    4:31:04


26km M18-39 - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    860    HK Trailrunners            Michael        Skobierski    Austria        Hong Kong    2:51:17
                            
2nd    437    FLIGHT CENTRE            De HAAS        Troy        Estonia        Hong Kong    2:53:44
                            
3rd    521                    Sebastien     Mitrani        France        Hong Kong    2:58:40
        
                    
SK 50 MAR 1 2014                            
26km M40-49 - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    618                    Dingley        Peter        United Kingdom    Hong Kong    3:37:55
                            
2nd    664                    Militello    Stephane    France        China        3:42:09
                            
3rd    675                    Shaw         Andrew        United States    Hong Kong    3:44:41
    
                        
SK 50 MAR 1 2014                            
26km M50+ - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor    First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    705                Adams         Mark        United Kingdom    Hong Kong    3:42:54
                            
2nd    736                Scantlebury    Michael        United Kingdom    Hong Kong    3:43:57
                                
3rd    706                Bardach     Ronald        United States    Hong Kong    4:02:11
        

26km W18-39 - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor    First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    790                Miller        Laura        South Africa    Hong Kong    4:25:34
                            
2nd    755                Entwisle    Kari        Australia    Hong Kong    4:33:50
                            
3rd    761                Hogue        Katie        New Zealand    Hong Kong    4:45:29

                                                
26km W40-49 - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor    First Name    Last Name    Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    825                Freres        Anita        United States    Hong Kong    4:00:46
                            
2nd    821                Buckley        Karen        Australia    Hong Kong    4:16:14
                                        
3rd    856                Yeung        Sum wai        China        Hong Kong    4:25:54

                                            
26km W50+ - Top 3                            
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor    First Name    Last Name        Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    857                Chan        Kit Fong Cecilia    Hong Kong    Hong Kong    4:54:49
                            
2nd    858                Chapman        Lynn             Australia    Hong Kong    6:38:31
                            
                    
MEN'S - 13km overall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor        First Name    Last Name        Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    1329    Fireman Cross Country Running    Leung        Chi Hang Jeremy        Hong Kong    Hong Kong    1:08:24
                                
2nd    1031                    Cowley        Richard            United Kingdom    Hong Kong    1:10:28
                                
3rd    1071                    Kretz        Philippe        Switzerland    Hong Kong    1:13:51
                                
4th    1043                    GRANT        GARY            United Kingdom    Hong Kong    1:17:39
                                
5th    1151                    Verheijke    Siegfried        Belgium        Belgium        1:20:00
                                
                                
WOMEN'S - 13km overall Top 5                                
Rank    Race #    Team/ Charity/ Sponsor    First Name    Last Name        Nationality    Residence    Time
1st    1226                Kretz        Segolene        Switzerland    Hong Kong    1:22:11
                                
2nd    1279                Tinlin        Joanna            United Kingdom    Hong Kong    1:31:50
                                
3rd    1282                Uiga        Liis            Estonia        Hong Kong    1:35:03
                                
4th    1200                Duffell        Rachel            United Kingdom    Hong Kong    1:41:00
                                
5th    1191    Leo&Chris        Christelle    BIMAR            France        Hong Kong    1:42:11