Race Media

Japanese show their skills taking podiums at Sai Kung 50 in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, March 2, 2024 – After traveling to Hong Kong in December for the Bupa Global Lantau 50, Japanese mountain runners Shoma 將真 Maruyama 丸山 (ALP SKI TEAM) and Kanako 香菜子  Edamoto 枝元(Columbia Montrail) had unfinished business with Maruyama losing 3rd place by 2 seconds (placing 4th overall) and Edamoto grabbing 2nd overall 3 minutes behind the winner at the Lantau 50. Fast forward 2 months of winter training in Japan, making the trip to Hong Kong when temperatures dropped freakishly into single digits Saturday morning at the Sai Kung 50, the Japanese didn’t seem to worry, or they didn’t show it as both showed their cool confidence on the technical rocky course that had throughout the morning cold rain, heavy winds pushing the temperature around 6-7 c.

Smiling as always Kanako 香菜子 Edamoto 枝元 from Japan (Columbia Montrail) ripped thru the Sai Kung 50 course (54km - 3000m+ Elev gain) in an impressive 7 hours 12 minutes 38 seconds (7:12:38) with Hong Kong’s Kimmy Leung 梁 Hong Kiu 康翹  (TPH Elite Team / Bix) grabbing 2nd overall in 8:23:20 and Flora Ching 莊 Wing Yee 穎怡 (HK/Canada) taking 3rd in the Women’s 54km very close behind in 8:24:00 who were battling each other thru the mountains.

“Today was a little cold, but I really enjoyed the beautiful mountain views on this Sai Kung 50 course. It’s difficult with many rocks, stairs, climbs and very tired as was very hard today. Thank you for today. Domo Arigato Action Asia”, said the smiling young Japanese star of trail running Kanako Edamoto overall 54km Womens winner and 3rd place overall.

Participants, as with the marshals, had some interesting weather with the temperature in the single digits, rain off and on with heavy wind gusts in some sections causing almost hypothermic conditions before easing in late afternoon. The Sai Kung 50 never disappoints.

“Today was good weather, but a bit cold. I loved the course very much and it was very challenging and had a great race with Flora too. Thanks to all who made this happen” said 2^nd place overall in the Women’s 54km Kimmy Leung.

“I enjoyed the weather as was cool, but really appreciated all the volunteer marshals out there who did a great job in the cold as sure it wasn’t easy. Was chasing Kimmy Leung the whole race, but she was too strong on the hills to catch her. Thanks again so much for organizing a great race with good marking” said Flora Ching on the podium grabbing 3^rd overall in the Women’s 54km.

The men's 54km category had a good battle upfront with Salomon Wettstein (Switzerland) - Uglow team wearing his ‘lucky red” that has given him numerous podiums and wins over past Action Asia and other trail events like Lantau 50, Lantau 2 Peaks and hot on his heals from Japan, Shoma 將真 Maruyama 丸山 (ALP SKI TEAM) charging over Tai Cham Koi 408m summit at the start, before the long technical descent to Chek Keng and touching the ocean. Eventually Shoma took the lead with both runners having one final site of each other on the last 'double' of Kai Kung Shan (399m) in the final 10km, but it was the Japanese day with Shoma coming home in a smoking time of 6:09:44 and Solomon not far behind in 6:24:00.

“The Sai Kung 50 course was nice. Very good marking, beautiful scenery and loved the design of the route. The cold weather didn’t bother me too much. Very good organization,” said overall 54km winner Maruyama.

“I had real battle for the first half with Shoma Maruyama until the rain made it difficult to go hard on Mac 3 as was sliding on the downhills like on soap. Loved the cold, but not the rain. Decided to take it slow on the downs after skydiving into the dirt. Great day out, nevertheless, at the Sai Kung 50 by Action Asia Events. Thank you, organizers, and the supporters, for another wonderful event, and thank you to the best crew: Manuela and N8” said Wettstein grabbing 2^nd overall in the Men’s 54km who just moved 1 block away from the finish line so expect to see him in future Sai Kung events.

Hong Kong’s Cheng 鄭 Tsz Yeung 子洋 (Team Salomon HK/Bix HK) grabbed 3rd overall in 7:15:38.

“Today’s Sai Kung 50 course was very technical, challenging, and cold at the same time. But I had a great day as happy with result after pushing hard,” said Cheng after receiving his 3rd overall trophy from the 54km category.

For Korean Chung Hyun Chang it was another tick for his difficult races which is long and going back to his first 100km at an Action Asia Vietnam race over 14 years ago. “This Sai Kung 50 is always tough. It was cold today, but I liked this cold weather with rain as suits me. A bit slower than last year, but happy to finish it” said Chung 4^th overall in the Men’s 54km in 7:41:52 and showing a bruised eyelid after ducking a tree branch only to find a second branch whip him in the head as the cost of trying to go fast, not bothering him the slightest.

Close to 700 participants entered the Sai Kung 50 event with 4 distances of 54km, 35km, 22km, 13km which started at Pak Tam Chung,

The Sai Kung 50 organized by Action Asia Events took participants on a circumnavigation of Sai Kung East Country Park, starting at Pak Tam Chung at sea-level, hiking up the 408m summit of Tai Cham Koi, technical descent to Chek Keng at sea-level, trail and beach running along Tai Lo Wan, Ham Tin Wan to Sai Wan, then a climb over Lo Tei Tun at 255m summit, then over Sai Wan Shan (314m elevation) then descending to the beach of Lung Kei Wan, climbing back up to the East Dam and a coast trail run thru Pak Lap arriving back at Pak Tam Chung before the final fun of hiking over Kai Kung Shan (399m) 2x for an out and back finishing at Pak Tam Chung for a total elevation gain of close to 3000m on an extremely technical demanding leg burning Skyrunning trail course.

The Sai Kung 50 could not have happened without the hard-working marshals, volunteers, staff that got up as early as 3am to make this event happen.

Special thanks to the generous support of Royale International, UFC Coconut water, Tiger Balm, Fitz, Watsons, Action X Store, ITRA, Bix Hydration, C3Fit, New Life Plastics and Action Asia Sports Academy.

RESULTS

 

54 km - Top 5 Men

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (167) Maruyama 丸山 Shoma 將真 - Japan - ALP SKI TEAM - 06:09:44

2 (204) Wettstein Salomon - Switzerland - Uglow - 06:24:00

3 (224) Cheng 鄭 Tsz Yeung 子洋 - HKG SAR - Team Salomon HK & Bix HK - 07:15:38

4 (218) Chung Hyun Chang - Republic of Korea - changorun - 07:41:52

5 (175) Jaeger Patrick - Germany - 08:01:09

 

54 km - Top 5 Women

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (166) Edamoto 枝元 Kanako 香菜子 - Japan - Columbia Montrail - 07:12:38

2 (223) Leung 梁 Hong Kiu 康翹 - HKG SAR - TPH Elite Team / Bix HK - 08:23:20

3 (165) Ching 莊 Wing Yee Flora 穎怡 - HK/Canada - 08:24:00

4 (208) Ramos Venus - Philippines - 09:32:04

5 (140) Nakano Julia - Germany - 10:13:13

 

35 km - Top 5 Men

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (352) Faton Laurent - France - Pinot Noir - 04:04:00

2 (362) Bonnard Julien - France - ATC - 04:14:25

3 (335) Bouchoucha Sadri - France - 04:20:38

4 (342) Lo 盧 Yuet Hei 悅熙 - HKG SAR - DUO.hk - 04:24:31

5 (383) Clot Jacques - France - 04:34:17

 

35 km - Top 5 Women

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (365) Pak 白 Lai Shan 麗珊 - HKG SAR - 04:38:37

2 (370) Worster Victoria - UK - 05:49:05

3 (316) Russell Lexy - Kenya - 06:26:48

4 (324) Tran Van - Vietnam - 06:27:17

5 (367) Debalde Rose - Philippines - The bestie hikers - 06:51:38

 

22 km - Top 5 Men

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (720) Cho 曹 Yu Hin Jeffrey 宇軒 - HKG SAR - The Peak Hunter - 02:20:46

2 (690) Yu 余 Wing Ho 穎豪 - HKG SAR - 02:25:17

3 (750) Anstey Josh - South Africa - SUPERnatural+ - 02:32:03

4 (709) Wong 黃 Chun Yin 駿賢 - HKG SAR - DUO - 02:32:56

5 (521) Dedieu Adrien - France - 02:33:19

 

22 km - Top 5 Women

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (718) Lam 林 Cho Yu 楚茹 - HKG SAR - TPH Elite Team - 02:26:46

2 (604) Bainbridge Hannah - UK - 02:42:38

3 (578) Johal Rehmat - Singapore - 03:05:45

4 (674) Buil Judith - Germany - 03:06:23

5 (704) Modica Charlotte - France - 03:08:59

 

13 km - Top 5 Men

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (874) Davis Chris - UK - 01:11:17

2 (876) Souleyman Jan - UK - 01:12:51

3 (959) Budden David - UK - 01:16:49

4 (918) Yung 翁 Yat Long Aaron 溢朗 - Australia - 01:20:21

5 (971) Cheng 鄭 Kim Fai 劍輝 - HKG SAR - Team Salomon - 01:21:51

 

13 km - Top 5 Women

Overall - BIB -First Name - Last Name – Nationality - Team / Sponsor - Race Time

1 (924) Montanari Ellen - Switzerland - 01:28:05

2 (879) Lim 林 Elaine 淑琳 - Singapore - 01:35:45

3 (972) Marrie Sophie - France - 01:38:10

4 (892) Boonen Eléonore - Belgium - 01:38:41

5 (878) Chan Ka Wai - HKG SAR - Oxyone - 01:13:35

 

Results

https://www.actionasiaevents.com/results.html

Race Info

 

Event Name	Sai Kung 50 - 2024
Date	March 2, 2024 (Saturday)
Start Time	6:30 am – 54km, 35km ; 6:40am – 22km, 13km
Start & Finish Location	Pak Tam Chung, N.T. Hong Kong
Distance	54 km, 35 km, 22 km, 13 km
Category	Trail Running and Hiking
Website	www.actionasiaevents.com

 

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.

 

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