Race Media

Ng and Cheung emerge tops in MSIG Action Asia Development Programme

The two young local runners will represent HK at the Skyrunning World Championships in Scotland in September 2018

With the generous support of MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong’s first trail-running tournament - The MSIG HK50 Series - has established itself as a fixture of the local sports scene over seven consecutive years. The 2017/18 series wrapped up with The MSIG Sai Kung 50 race on February 10th 2018. To encourage, and practically develop local trail runners, MSIG and Action Asia have launched the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme. This is the first trail-running training program in Hong Kong, offering fitness training and overseas race tours for local talents.

Two local athletes have now earned a five-month training programme to prepare them for an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2018 Skyrunning World Championships in Scotland on Sept 14th, 2018. As part of the training programme the duo will also enjoy a fully paid trip to mainland China for the Lijiang Yunnan Action Asia 3 Day Ultra Marathon on April 6th to 8th.

Teenager Wai-hei Ng and orthopedic doctor Man-yee Cheung were crowned winners of the inaugural MSIG Action Asia Development Programme, earning themselves coveted slots to represent Hong Kong at the prestigious 2018 Skyrunning World Championships in Scotland. Ng and Cheung accumulated the highest scores among Hong Kong-born men and women respectively in the MSIG 50 Series 2017/18, which concluded on Feb 10 with the MSIG Sai Kung 50. Also earning a slot to the World Championships is Ada Tsang Yin-hung, the first Hong Kong woman to scale Mount Everest who scored the most points among female participants with Hong Kong passports.

Ng, an 18-year-old student with four years’ trail running experience, accumulated a total of 272 points thanks to consistently strong performances throughout the MSIG series, including an impressive fifth-placing overall (and first Hongkonger) at the MSIG Sai Kung 50.

Said Ng: “I was a bit nervous before the MSIG Sai Kung 50, but I was confident of winning the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme, and therefore could perform at my best and enjoy the race at the same time. I’m really pumped up about representing Hong Kong at the Skyrunning World Championships. I have never raced outside of Hong Kong, so I’m looking forward to experiencing a different trail running scenery and atmosphere. No matter the weather or race course, I believe it will be more challenging than the trails in Hong Kong.”

Cheung, 28, racked up 208 total points in the MSIG HK50 Series, including finishing fourth woman overall (and first Hongkonger) in the Hong Kong Island leg. She said: “Even though I haven’t done many races, I tried my best in the Series and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme. In order to improve my speed and fitness, I’m going to train more in the next few months. To gain more racing experience and improve my skills, I will join more competitions. I aim to have a good performance at the Skyrunning World Championships.”

Featuring the world’s best trail runners, the World Championships race in Kinlochleven, Scotland, will be about 65 kilometers long with approximately 4,300m of cumulative vertical gain. The technical route has variable terrain, including river crossings and summiting Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis (1,345m). [More race details here: http://www.skyrunning.com/scotland-host-2018-skyrunning-world-championships/]

Given the challenge ahead, Ng is happy for the opportunity to use the Lijiang Yunnan Action Asia 3 Day Ultra Marathon as a training race. “I look forward to testing my body’s adaptability to high-altitude racing, as well as gaining experience in overseas competitions,” said Ng.

The comprehensive five-month training programme will start in April 2018. Michael Maddess, race director of MSIG HK50 Series and a top trail runner himself, will share his experience and advice. In addition to the running training, Ng and Cheung will also have a structured strength and conditioning programme provided by supporting sponsor Joint Dynamics, as well as sports science testing to track their development progress.

While the weather is still relatively cool, Ng plans to focus on mid- to long-distance runs to build stamina and speed. As summer approaches and the temperatures and humidity rise, he will reduce the frequency of his long runs and focus instead on hiking on hilly trails and rock scrambling to work on body coordination and strengthen the ankle joints.

Sponsored by global general insurer MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited, the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme is the first of its kind for local Hong Kong trail runners. To qualify for the programme, runners need to be Hong Kong-born and must participate in at least two 50-kilometer races in the 2017/18 MSIG HK50 Series.

For more details and conditions of the MSIG Action Asia Development Programme, visit the official website of Action Asia Events: www.actionasiaevents.com

 

MSIG Action Asia Development Programme

Male Winner

Name – Team – Total points

Ng Wai Hei - The North Face Hong Kong / Asia Trail - 272 points

 

Female Winner

Name – Total points

Man Yee Cheung - 208 points

 

About Skyrunning

Since the first extreme races in 1992, the first World Championship in 1998 and the introduction of the Skyrunner World Series in 2003, Skyrunning has grown to become a globally renowned sport governed by the International Skyrunning Federation. In 2015, the Continental Championships were introduced and includes Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. The sport is practised in more than 40 nations and counts followers from 126 countries.

 

About MSIG

With a network of operations dating as far back as 1855, MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (“MSIG”) has been providing general insurance solutions and products to customers in Hong Kong for more than 150 years. MSIG is backed by the solid foundation and rich heritage of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, an established insurer that has received strong financial ratings from leading rating agencies, including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Today MSIG is one of the few foreign-based general insurers to have representation in every ASEAN country, a testament to its strength and reach. MSIG also benefits from being a member of MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world. Leveraging on the multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries and extensive geographical network, MSIG offers a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. MSIG builds and nurtures enduring relationships, forging close partnerships, through good times and bad.