March 28, 2010 – POST EVENT SPORTS NEWS RELEASE – Adventure racing
Bonaqua Action SPRINT adventure race series – (Race 2 out of 5 race series) – Mui Wo, HK (12 km adventure run)
BENSON SKIMS RITCEY BY 10 SECONDS IN CLOSE BATTLE TO TAKE NEW RECORD
River gully and coastline separate runners from adventure racers
Hong Kong – Previous race winner Salomon team runner Jeremy Ritcey pushed hard to close the door on North Face runner Darren Benson in Sunday’s Mui Wo leg of the Bonaqua Action Sprint series, but failed by 10 seconds.
“Oh, very tired as Jeremy made me work. I lost this race last year not by much and wasn’t going to loose it the same way this year, so just pushed hard to stay in front, especially in the river technical sections” said overall winner Benson finishing in a new course record of 1 hour 10 minutes 59 seconds taking 40 seconds off Pedro Ribeiro’s old course record set last year.
Jeremy Ritcey was just over 1 minute behind at the Pui O beach half waypoint and pushed hard in the 2nd half to fight back with only a few seconds separating them going into the final coastline rock scrambling section. “Well looks like Darren has improved a lot in his rock scrambling as I almost caught him, then he got away on the coastline to take the win, but I’m very happy with second” said Ritcey who also went under the course record finishing only 10 seconds behind Benson in 1 hour 11 minutes 9 seconds for 2nd overall.
“I was battling someone else in the river gully as needed full concentration as so slippery on the rocks, but finished strong on the ocean coastline section” said Ho Hoi To who took 3rd place just over 4 minutes back in 1 hour 15 minutes 36 seconds.
Over 250 registered for the Mui Wo to Pui O race involving 7 km of trail running on Lantau trail, 1km beach run, 4 km of rock scrambling on ocean coastlines and river gullies near Pui O, Lantau.
Last year’s Vietnam Action Asia 100km marathon winner Tai Fung In was all smiles at the finish line. “Wow, I had to be quite careful on this technical course as was quite relieved to finish the 12km, but have to say very beautiful scenery” said overall Women’s winner Tai Fung In grabbing top podium position in 1 hour 41 minutes 49 seconds.
Kate Pallett relished the rock scrambling sections. “I had a blast as a lot of fun jumping rock to rock as very exciting and something different” said Pallett who finished 2nd overall in 1 hour 43 minutes 54 seconds just 2 minutes behind Tai.
Just over 2 minutes later finished Sherrin Loh taking the final Women’s top 3 overall position. “Incredible as a lot of girls today and fantastic to get 3rd on a tough technical course said Loh.
Race 3 of the Bonaqua Action Sprint Series goes to Sai Kung on Apr 11th.
The adventure race series could not happen without the kind support of Bonaqua as presenting sponsor with support from Protrek, PURE Fitness, Stretch Asia, Pure Blonde, BonActive, Salomon, Marathon & Giga Sports, OL&N, Fat Angelos, Tough Jeans and the Action Asia Foundation.
End….
Bonaqua Action SPRINT adventure race series
Race 1 - March 14, 2010 - 12 km - Repulse Bay, HK Island - 9am
Race 2 - March 28, 2010 - 12 km – Mui Wo, Lantau - 9am
Race 3 - April 11, 2010 - 13 km - Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung - 9:30am
Race 4 - April 18, 2010 - 12 km – Tung Chung, Lantau- 9am
Race 5 - May 9, 2010 - 12 km - Discovery Bay, Lantau - 9am
Map of courses on official website www.actionasiaevents.com
For enquiries, please contact the event organiser by mail sprint@actionasiaevents.com or call 3158-0251.
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