Race Media

Local Hong Kong runners steal the show at Action Sprint DBAY with Wong Mei Yan and KC Chan sweeping podium

Action Sprint Trail Series - Discovery Bay – Race 3

HONG KONG, Sunday, May 18th, 2025 – Hong Kong’s Wong 黃 Mei Yan 美欣 put on an impressive display of technical downhill running, able to adapt quickly to a coasteering ocean rock coastline with waist deep water in some sections and able to hold on and persevere in an unusually hot day with high humidity powering her way to the top of the Women’s 12km Action Sprint Discovery Bay trail race podium.

“It was bloody hot. Extremely hot. I drank a lot of water especially after the big Lo Fu Tau climb as no wind. It was so nice to reach the ocean as water was waist deep on me with so cool temperature of water which helped me after jumping in for a short swim. The weather was so difficult to deal with as so hot. So glad to finish” said overall Women’s 12km winner Wong Mei Yan finishing in 1 hour 37 minutes 1 second.

In the Men’s 12km KC Chan pushed from outside a podium spot up the field from 6km-10km to finally take the lead, but it was far from easy with European elites chasing to the wire. “Lo Fu Tau – Tiger Head was so humid. My muscles were ok, but think after 7km was around 4^th position after passing some on downhill and then watched the top 3 Men ahead who were very good runners, so fast on the technical sections, but got by all except one Western runner from Europe into the Nim Shu Wan ocean section and pushed to get by him and just wanted to get to the finish as was baking hot, but he was right on my back pushing me to the end. The ocean dip with 2km to go to the finish did help, too cool me down to the finish as that was hard as so hot. Great course marking.” said Chan 陳Ka Keung 家強 (KC) from Hong Kong who finished 1st in 1:15:49 just 12 seconds in front of the second runner.

Race 3, the final leg of the Action Sprint trail series by Action Asia Events kicked off in Discovery Bay, Lantau Island with over 400 entered with participants starting in the South Plaza, ascending immediately 465m Lo Fu Tau (Tigers Head), screaming down a narrow technical descent to the reservoir, a technical contour trail around the golf course, coasteering in water and the beach for around 300m at Nim Shu Wan before a Sprint to the South plaza finish with total elevation gain of almost 675m packed into 12km and 358m elevation gain in the 9km.

From Sweden, living in Discovery Bay as this is my backyard garden and was so happy today coming from a cold last week, so happy as an exceptional race especially with the course marking, the sponsors drinks along route and finish like Bonaqua, Aquarius, Neon Tiger, Corona, watermelon as just made my day and will see you next year! Thank you again” said 2^nd Women overall in the 12km Swedish national Harlin Petronella finishing in 1:45:15 .

Just over 3 minutes later American national Liana Bianchi from Team HeyRunning crossed the finish line for 3^rd overall in the Women’s 12km in 1:48:42. “Really enjoyed the race today. It was quite technical on the downhills and very hot on all the uphill’s thru the race. I had no idea I was going to get my feet wet and jump into the ocean due to the high tide, but it was a really nice way to cool down after such a hot section and too finish the race. I really enjoyed it,” said Bianchi.

Fourth in the Women’s 12km and just 1 minute later in 1:49:46, was British national Robyn Horsefield. “It was very hot and humid. Made it back. Was so happy. It was hot.” Said Horsefield with her daughter at her side giving her tips on what to say!

Crossing the line in 5th overall in the Women’s 12km was Hong Kong’s Chan 陳So Kuen 素娟 finishing in 1:53:08.

The Men’s field was extremely competitive for an Action Sprint with 3 European elites arriving within 48 hours of the race from Northern Europe to up the pace in the field.

Second overall from Sweden and after only 2 days in Hong Kong was Johan Ek-Larsson (European elite orienteer runner) finishing just 12 seconds after the overall winner Chan Ka Keung in a extremely fast time of 1:16:01. “Happy to be 2^nd after a very tough race. The humidity on Lo Fu Tau was really, tough as were not use to that in Sweden as that was brutal. Really brutal. Thanks for a great organized race” said Ek-Larsson.

Just over 1.5 minutes later was Belgium elite national Yannick Michiels (Team TuMe) finishing 3^rd overall in 1:17:29. “Happy grabbing third today as just arrived in Hong Kong yesterday from Belgium. Really tough but nice course. I ran too fast on the 1^st uphill to Lo Fu Tau, others caught me on the technical downhill as was paying the price as got cooked as was so humid after arriving yesterday. Was finally happy to finish in the end. The massage thru the sea was a nice cooling down. It was really, fun, very good marking and highly recommend this race” said Michiels taking 3^rd overall in the Men’s 12km field.

Fourth overall and a regular HK podium finisher was Ukrainian national Melnyk Oleksii finishing 39 seconds later in 1:18:08.

“Just finished Action Asia’s 12km Discovery Bay. Very tough weather. I didn’t like it. So hard for me as after 4km on Tiger Head (Lo Fu Tau) as thought I was going to DNF as felt like a sauna. So challenging there. The marking was good. Very happy I finished. I was swimming in the sea near the end of the course as helped me as nice course. Great way to spend my Sunday morning!” said Oleksii after taking 4^th overall which tells you how competitive the field was.

Last year’s overall winner Matthew Carey (GBR) settled for 5^th overall in 1:22:34 which normally would be close to a winning time.

Chris Davis (UK) kept his sweep alive winning again as we lost track of how many podium finishes he has, but took the honors in the Men’s 9km again winning overall in 53 minutes 18 seconds.

Swiss national Maggie Cvetkovic took the Women’s 9km honors winning overall in 1:17:07.

One participant went to the hospital for heat stroke and another for ankle injury. For the participant with heat stroke, after going to the hospital to see the participant, the doctor said ‘slightly better now’ compared to when the participant arrived a few hours earlier. Organizers prefer to keep the updated news with family first compared to social media, but at least going in the right direction as they said heat stroke can be very serious. When appropriate, organizers will release more information when given after speaking to the family.

The event could not have happened without the kind support of Bonaqua, Aquarius, Sudio, Corona beer, SIS gels, Action X Store, Fitz, Royale International, Action Asia Sports Academy and St Johns Ambulance together with the hard working marshals, volunteers and staff.

Race Results

12km - Top 5 Men

Overall  / BIB / Last Name / First Name / Nationality / Team /  Race Time

1 (404) Chan 陳Ka Keung 家強 (HKG)- 01:15:49

2 (399) Ek-Larsson Johan (SWE)- 01:16:01

3 (376) Michiels Yannick (BEL) - TuMe - 01:17:29

4 (339) Oleksii Melnyk - UKR- 01:18:08

5 (252) Carey Matthew (GBR)- 01:22:34

Race Results

12km - Top 5 Women

Overall  / BIB / Last Name / First Name / Nationality / Team /  Race Time

1 (174) Wong 黃Mei Yan 美欣 (HKG)- 01:37:01

2 (116) Harlin Petronella (SWE)- 01:45:15

3 (374) Bianchi Liana (USA) HeyRunning - 01:48:42

4 (304) Horsefield Robyn (GBR)- 01:49:46

5 (292) Chan 陳So Kuen 素娟 (HKG)- 01:53:08

9km - Top 5 Men

Overall  / BIB / Last Name / First Name / Nationality / Team /  Race Time

1. (843) Davis Chris - GBR - 00:53:18

2. (898) Chan 陳 Chung Yin Joey 頌賢 - HKG - Shelter Athletes 01:00:05

3. (840) Ho 何 Kwok Lung 國龍 - HKG - 01:02:28

4. (854) Baram 白 Derek 恩庭 - HKG - 01:04:02

5. (889) Ryan Dermot - IRE - 01:10:23

9km - Top 5 Women

Overall  / BIB / Last Name / First Name / Nationality / Team /  Race Time

1. (844) Cvetkovic Maggie - SWE - 01:17:07

2. (803) Cabania Ma Aurora - PHI - 01:17:18

3. (804) Yeung楊 Hilda 曉晴 - HKG - 01:18:52

4. (874) Fashade Natalie - GBR - 01:21:33

5. (819) Jones Emma - GBR - 01:25:44

 

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 

www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/

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www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents

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

 

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