Race Media

McFlynn grabs first Sprint trail win while Williams extends her streak

Bonaqua Lifeproof Action Sprint Series Keeps the Valentines’ Day Dynamic and Sweet

February 14, 2016 Hong Kong – Repulse Bay of Hong Kong Island witnessed the first 2016 leg of the Bonaqua Lifeproof Action Sprint series on Sunday morning. Over 300 participants registered, including some couples celebrating Valentines’ Day. The weather was very humid and cloudy with Irishman Brian McFlynn stealing the show after a hard fought battle with lau Tsun Ling with a brilliant record of 1 hour 21 minutes 20 seconds while Zein Williams, the female champion of 2014 & 2015 Sprint Series grabbed the women’s title again continuing her dominance in short technical trail races.

 “It’s the first Sprint race for me in Hong Kong. It’s very humid and catch water was lovely up and down hills and it was definitely tough due to the high humidity today. Yeah, I hope to do the following races in Discovery Bay and Sai Kong as I am looking forward to them. I had about 1 litre of water before the race started and I had about 500 ml during the whole race and didn’t refill at all at the check point as just blasted through. I have been here in Hong Kong since August working as a primary school teacher. Am enjoying it here as a first time abroad and in this part of the world. I generally try to run once a week at the track and run in TST as close to work and do a Monday short fast run with friends. Absolutely I will share the sport joys with my students!”, said overall winner Irishman Brian McFlynn who finished in 1 hour 21 minutes 20 seconds.

Lau Tsun Ling was next across the finish line just 13 seconds behind McFlynn in a time of 1 hour 21 minutes 33 seconds. “What an exciting race for me today as this was my first Action Asia race doing the Bonaqua Lifeproof Sprint! I seldom run in the mountains as I usually participate in the half marathon race, the road race, so I am not familiar with the mountain trail race. As a result, the downhill become the most difficult part for me and I was exceeded by some followers at that time. But when comes to the flat road, I could catch up with them soon.”, said Lau Tsun Ling, who is a Hong Kong Baptist University year 2 student, who is hoping to complete in the rest of the Sprint series.

Third place went to UK runner Nick Scott, who finished the race a close 29 seconds behind Lau in 1 hour 22 minutes 2 seconds. “Because of the surprisingly humid weather, the conditions were tougher than I expected, but I really enjoyed the well-designed course. The climbing part was very tough, and at the flat trail I tried to speed up. The two competitors around me have great downhill speed, so I was left behind a little bit. I had a lot of fun here. I am in the financial industry working at Prudential Hong Kong and really love it here for the beautiful scenery and great sporty atmosphere, but with just a few trail races under my belt I usually just run for fun at the end of the day,” said Scott.

UK national Hong Kong resident Zein Williams, continued her winning form as she won the overall series last two years in a row and again won Repulse Bay in 1 hour 28 minutes 45 seconds. “I thought my legs would be more tired as I raced with my daughter yesterday as I was only a little tired on the up-stairs trail sections, and when I came downhill I tried to slow down to put less pressure on the muscles and due to the high humidity the trail was quite slippery even though it did not rain. The rocks were really, really slippery on the Violet Hill step sections. I love Violet Hill as I live on Lantau and don’t here much, and miss the swimming start and the river gullies, but the reservoirs were great and the views were beautiful but due to the humidity couldn’t see far. Since course was 60% hills 40% flat it was a great workout for me. Hate the concrete but a great fast workout for my training. You will see me in Discovery Bay but that course is always hard, which is even tougher in my mind. Maybe it is because of technical course or the hot weather.”, said overall female winner Zein Williams.

Second woman across the line was New Zealander Kelly Kjestrup, finishing in 1 hour 35 minutes 51 seconds. “I have been living in Hong Kong for 1 year and a half as a primary school teacher.  I didn’t know the course very well. The trail was slippery, which makes the race more challenging especially at the downhill part due to the humidity. Marie, who grabbed the 3rd place, had a bit of a battle as we change places around 3 times before telling myself I have to push as Marie is on my back! Marie did really well. A lot more challenging than I expected for the trail as I expected it for some reasons to be more flat. I found the stairs coming down quite hard as I made a lot of ground on the uphill and had people pass me on the downhills, very sticky and slippery.”, said Kjestrup.

Third across the line for overall Women was Kiwi Marie McNaughton in 1 hour 36 minutes 34 seconds ”For me it was about getting out here as I am preparing for MSIG Sai Kong next week. It’s being a big week in my training as this is kind of like the last straw in the big cycle as I am really happy in getting myself out here during the heat as it could be hot next week, so a couple of hot training runs will hopefully help. Yeah, all the hills were hard as I have been doing hills all week and was saying to myself Oh, I have to get up there, but it’s good mental training, but humidity was okay as I got out yesterday getting used to it. You can’t talk too much in these Sprints as they are so fast, but it was fun. And everyone was real social. Mostly big climbs on Lantau for my training and long run around the Peak for my training to get more distance in for Sai Kong. It’s going to be tough. You’re really hoping not for high humidity this time of year as we all like nice cool runs. ” said third place women overall McNaughton.

For some runners, it was a pity that there was no river gully in the Bonaqua Lifeproof Sprints due to the new restrictions from Agriculture, Fisheries, Conservation Department (AFCD) after a safe and successful run of Action Asia Events using river gullies since 1998 in Hong Kong and 2003 for the Action Sprints as one government officer quoted "they are too dangerous". Many participants said they don’t think the government should ban people from crossing the river gorge and hoped the ban is short lived as life gets pretty boring if you can't push yourself to new or different limits and give the whole body a great technical workout. Participants in these events are the most green environmentally contious people in Hong Kong who set an example in sharing how to care for our beautiful outdoors and often have to remind regular hikers to keep our country parks clean.

Many participants dressed with pink or red colors or brought their girlfriend or wife to celebrate Valentine’s Day with many Action Asia prizes for the best dress “Romeo”, “Juliet” and “Cupid” with prizes from Lifeproof, Camelpak, Chicken on the run.

The Bonaqua, LIFEPROOF Action Sprints series could not happen without the kind support of Bonaqua, LIFEPROOF, Action X Store, Royale International, HOKA One One, C3fit, Salonpas, Aquarius, HKRI , OL&N, Herbalgy, and the Action Asia Foundation.

MEN'S - Top 5
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 24 Brian McFlynn M 20-29 / Ireland 1:21:20
2nd 18 Tsun Ling, Lau M 20-29 / Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong 1:21:33
3rd 28 Nick Scott M 30-39 United Kingdom 1:22:02
4th 95 Jeremy Chi Hang, Leung M 30-39 / The North Face Hong Kong 1:23:34
5th 129 Steve Glynn M 40-49 / Ireland 1:24:44

WOMEN'S - Top 5
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 253 Zein Williams W 30-39 / Raidlight Hong Kong 1:28:45
2nd 202 Kelly Kjestrup W 20-29 / New Zealand 1:35:51
3rd 257 Marie McNaughton W 40-49 / Gone Running New Zealand 1:36:34
4th 300 Vicki Haigh W 40-49 / United Kingdom 1:45:26
5th 224 Mairi Mclnnes W 30-39 / United Kingdom 1:46:35

M 14-19 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 279 Trebaol Tristan M 14-19 / France 1:29:03
2nd 3 Chi Yeung, Chiu M 14-19 / 聖貞德中學越野隊 Hong Kong 1:37:22
3rd 2 Wai Hei, Ng M 14-19 / Asia trail Hong Kong 1:40:23

M 20-29 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 24 Brian McFlynn M 20-29 / Ireland 1:21:20
2nd 18 Tsun Ling, Lau M 20-29 / Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong 1:21:33
3rd 21 Cheuk Ting, Luk M 20-29 / Berrytime Hong Kong 1:25:58

M 30-39 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 28 Nick Scott M 30-39 / United Kingdom 1:22:02
2nd 95 Jeremy Chi Hang, Leung M 30-39 / The North Face Hong Kong 1:23:34
3rd 299 Hoi To, Ho M 30-39 / Hong Kong 1:30:18

M 40-49 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 129 Steve Glynn M 40-49 / Ireland 1:24:44
2nd 122 Gabriel Gondard M 40-49 / France 1:32:29
3rd 157 Martin Cai M 40-49 / Swimava Canada 1:35:38

M 50-59 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 172 Hing Fai, Chan M 50-59 / Hong Kong 1:36:19
2nd 290 WK, Chan M 50-59 / Hong Kong 1:37:30
3rd 167 King Fu, Chang M 50-59 / Hong Kong 1:40:03

M 60+ - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 183 Frank Pilkington M 60+ / Salomon Ireland 2:04:26
2nd 182 Ivan Young M 60+ / New Zealand 2:32:03
3rd 181 Shing Hing, Yip M 60+ / Hong Kong 2:59:36

W 14-19 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 186 Tevy Koh W 14-19 / Singapore 2:05:18
2nd 184 Wing Lam, Chau W 14-19 / Hong Kong 3:24:08
3rd 185 Wai Hei , Ng W 14-19 / Hong Kong 3:24:09

W 20-29 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 202 Kelly Kjestrup W 20-29 / New Zealand 1:35:51
2nd 300 Vicki Haigh W 20-29 / United Kingdom 1:45:26
3rd 189 Stephanie Chor Ki, Chan W 20-29 / Hong Kong 1:47:50

W 30-39 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 253 Zein Williams W 30-39 / Raidlight Hong Kong 1:28:45
2nd 224 Mairi Mclnnes W 30-39 / United Kingdom 1:46:35
3rd 281 Duana Forster W 30-39 / Australia 1:54:34

W 40-49 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 257 Marie McNaughton W 40-49 / Gone Running New Zealand 1:36:34
2nd 264 Louise Sheerin W 40-49 / United Kingdom 2:00:00
3rd 302 Jennifer Pollock W 40-49 / Canada 2:02:40

W 50-59 - Top 3
Rank Race # Name Category / Team Name Nationality Time
1st 276 Barbara Blaney W 50-59 / Canada 2:02:20
2nd 274 Kit Yee, Ho W 50-59 / Hong Kong 2:10:15
3rd 275 Suk Fun, Tse W 50-59 / Hong Kong 2:12:07

full results uploaded to past events website page (click past events above and click Repulse Bay Sprint then download PDF) and results section above on toolbar www.actionasiaevents.com

http://www.actionasiaevents.com/our-events/past-events/2016/2016-sprintrebay/overview.html

Pictures https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153509688127807.1073742016.269343042806&type=3&uploaded=10