Despite thunderstorms earlier in the day the weather cleared up for the first of our 4 race series. Won by newcomer Colin Fishwick in a very creditable time of 18.05, he was followed by Roberto Veneziani and Thomas Booth. Our new junior category was won by Chun Yin Yee in 19.32. Rachel Sproston took the honours as clear winner for the ladies  in 21.32, with Wynnie Fung and Aya Noyes (back to racing again) taking 2nd and 3rd places. Thanks to  Race Director Freeman and all the helpers . Revised results here (minor changes only prizes remain the same) and the category  prize lists are here

AVOHK is proud to have adidas as our sponsor for  the 5km series and we thank them for their support.

Thanks you for using the online registration  -  sorry but all adult categories are now full but registration remains open for junior entries please us these links -  for English: http://regonline.activeglobal.com/avohk-adidas5km2010  for Chinese: http://regonline.activeglobal.com/avohk-adidas5km2010cn

The annual Malcolm Phillips 5km Run was another big success. It was great to see Roberto V back in action. He came 1st but after the times were age adjusted the official winner was Phil Booth. Not a bad way to celebrate your 60th year. Ladies winner Sally Brown finished in a PB , good to see Malcolm's great friend Sheila Purves in the prizes after age adjustment.  Results here.

Congratulations to Stone Tsang for a super win and breaking the RTI course record by two minutes he finished is a fine 5.19.  Also the Jones Brothers who broke the Open Whimps record .

Results are now in. See here for

Men's

Men's Vet 1

Men's Vet 2

Men's Vet 3

Ladies True Grit

Men's Whimps

Please join us at the awards ceremony and dinner on the 5th May.

Post race function and awards ceremony. Application form for function and awards. RTI instructions. RTI rules

We are continually updating the membership list. To check your membership status, please go here. Please note that this list was last updated on 1 July 2010. If you joined after that date, your name won't be on it. If you are unsure of your membership status, please drop me an email at freemanavohkatgmaildotcom and I will clarify the situation for you.

Please be reminded that HKAAA membership is separate to AVOHK membership! If you would like to join the HKAAA through AVOHK, please follow the steps below:

(1)   Print out and fill in the membership application form from the AVOHK website.

(2)   Send it to: AVOHK, PO Box 28893, Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

(3)   Await membership confirmation email.

(4)   Download and print out HKAAA application form from:

http://www.hkaaa.com/hkaaa/athletes-zone/Registration/2009_RegistrationForm-Athletes.pdf

(5)   Send your completed HKAAA form  to AVOHK, PO Box 28893, Gloucester Road, Wanchai.

(* If you are already a member, skip the first three points and proceed swiftly onto point four).

When you have done all of that, you will have the chance to get hold of our excellent new club kit and enjoy discounts on races as a result of both memberships.

KIT AVAILABLE
For 2009  and beyond we have ordered a larger stock of elite New Balance kit, still blue and white but with a simpler pattern and simpler overprinting.  Ladies' and Mens vests, unisex t shirt, ladies and mens split shorts. This is  now available and will beon sale at the next AVOHK 5km race and then the first Reservoir race at Aberdeen.  Please contact Phil Booth for information.Pictured is Thomas Booth in the new vest.

Dear AVOHK Swimmers 
Please go to swim section for the forms to join up for the swimming year 2010-11.  There are still a few spots available.
You must be an AVOHK member to join the swimming.    Please note that not only must annual AVOHK fees be paid but an application form must also be filled in each year by each swimming member. As in past years - administration is kept to a minimum so there are no receipts for the swimming fee and no swimming division membership cards issued - A list will be kept at the pool entrance. - Simon Clarke

AVOHK athletes dominated both the full marathon and the half marathon. Recent capture Darren Benson won the men's full marathon in an impressive time of 2.44. Club member Angelina Kong claimed top spot in the ladies race. AVOHK member Erich Felbabel was a comfortable winner in the men's half marathon, whilst Chan Kit Yee took top spot in the ladies section. Congratulations to all our finishers.  There were some fantastic performances out on course. John Lane (pictured) continued his streak of having completed every China Coast Marathon ever ran. Thank you to all the helpers and supporters who made the race such a success and so  enjoyable. Results are now ready click for FULL and HALF. For the Community Chest Corporate Challenge results,  please contact them direct on 25996111. Finally a thank you to Sun Hung Kai, Bonaqua and a new sponsor, Nature's Village .

Most folks spend the few weeks that follow a marathon hobbling around eating lots and generally recovering. Darren Benson chose an alternative healing method by taking on the Beijing North Face 100km race.  The Australian reported that "the Beijing 100k was a tough one, 30-40% road, 60-70% trails and some really quite steep.
3000m of climbing (and descending). I finished 6th in 9.53. A Japanese pro runner won it . Perhaps 13 days recovery after Hangang Marathon in Korea was also not quite enough!

After some wrong turns the top 10 basically all regrouped at about 55km but it was carnage thereafter, mostly brought about by one Chinese runner who put in a 5km surge on the road in about 4min k pace around 60km He busted up the front group, peeled off and got a ride to the finish! I was at the front then but the lights went out up the next hill and it was pretty much survival home after that."

Benson has had a busy season, having ran in four KOTH full mountain marathons and two road marathons, as well as the Green Power 50km and the Trailwalker. He'll be putting his feet up for a week, before shaping up for the next challenge.

Matt Jones appears to be on his way back from injury. He took bronze in this new addition to the Hong Kong athletics calendar. Curtis Barclay, who put in some noteable performances in the AVOHK 5km Series, took first place and seems to be in good condition for the forthcoming Nagano Marathon.

Peter Hopper signed off for 2009 with an overall second place finish in the Shek Kong 30km race. AVOHK's Angelina Kong easily won her category in an impressive time of two hours eighteen minutes.

Peter can be well pleased with his efforts in 2009. Since running a creditable two hours fifty minutes in the Berlin Marathon he has put down numerous eyecatching performances. Highlights have included second place finishes in the Aberdeen and Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Races. For good measure, his time of seventy eight mins made him the fastest half centurion in the recent Tapei Marathon. We await to see what PH has up his sleeve for 2010.

The World Championships were enjoyed by a dozen or so AVOHKers. Bill Purves was the star of the show for Hong Kong with two bronze medals in the 5000m and 10000m racewalking. As our Team Captain  together with his wife Sheila they masterminded the show and attended every race that an AVOHK entrant took part in. A big thank you to them.

Results and links to the action click http://masterstrack.com/blog/005783.html#more

Many thanks to Mark and Josephine Reeves who hosted the Finland reunion on Sunday 1st November.  A chance to review photos and Cindy's video footage of Martin Kennards track races. 

Plenty of AVOHkers took part in the inaugural race in the King Of The Hills Series in Sai Kung Country Park on December 20. Bob Whitehead took on the full mountain marathon course and was rewarded with a category third place in the Mens Over 55s.

Erich Felbabel was the first club member home in the Mens Half. His time of 1.35.07 put him second behind the Japanese mountain marathon specialist. Martin Kennard was happy to claim third, two weeks after running a full road marathon. Derek Irwin, who never seems to have a bad race, picked up top spot in the Mens Over 50s category. Whilst Catherine Leonard applied her local knowledge over the course to triumph in the Womens Over 40 age group.

Hats off to septuagenarian John Fowler. John wasn't content to just run the half marathon, so he turned around in Hoi Ha to double back and chase after his companion, Speedy .  Dr Fowler finished, none the worse for wear, together with his four legged personal trainer. Trainer and protege are pictured in their pre race carb loading session in Sai Kung.

Sunday 31 January was Round Three of KOTH. Unfortunately for runners, it proved to be the hottest day of the year thus far. At least the dogged trail runners had the option of a dip in the river mid race. Stone Tsang took first place in the full marathon but AVOHK's new signing, Darren Benson, was less than four minutes behind in second place.

In the half Fujio Miyachi wrapped up the series by claiming top spot for the third consecutive race. Ryan Blair claimed second place ahead of Martin Kennard. AVOHK member Steven O'Leary ran a great race to finish a comfortable first in the Mens Over 40s category. Catherine Leonard (pictured) was edged into second place by Grace Balintong in the Ladies forty plus section.

Lots of notable performances in extremely difficult conditions from AVOHK athletes in the recent SCM. In the full marathon Angelina Kong was the third Hong Kong lady home. In the men's race Thomas Booth recorded his first sub three hour marathon with a time of 2.57. Jon Shanks ran his first full marathon in a creditable time of 3.12.

In the half marathon Stefano Passerello was second overall in 1.13. Philippe Cosentino (pictured) came second in the Men's Masters One category whilst Peter Hopper was also second in Men's Masters Two.

The ladies were even more prolific. Jane Hodgkin was third overall in the ladies half marathon. Sian Abate claimed top spot in front of Gillian Castka Ladies Masters Two. Ros Barker finished second in Ladies Masters One whilst Kate Waller was third in the Ladies Senior category. 

Congratulations to all of the above for braving the hot and humid conditions.

Stefano Passerello looks to be shaping up well for Rotterdam Marathon in April. He easily won the Shatin 10km. AVOHK 2 (Hopper, Cosentino and Kennard) were the first team overall but got excluded from the rankings. We suspect a glitch in the system but trust that it will be corrected. AVOHK 1 (Passerello, S Jones and Reeves) ran well too and came home as the fourth team. They too don't appear in the statistics. Watch this space for updates. * Results now amended. Please see HK Runners for details.

April brought the unofficial second round of the marathon season and a number of AVOHK runners were in action around the globe. Angelina Kong (pictured) completed a remarkable marathon triple - China Coast, Standard Chartered and London Marathon - with a fantastic time of 2.58.

Philippe Cosentino took a trip into the French countryside and was rewarded with a new personal best of 2.49.

Stefano Passerello was in action in Rotterdam, where he put down a new PB of 2.27. This makes the Italian the fastest runner on paper in Hong Kong for many a moon. Bernie Nissen took part in the same race and recorded a new PB of 2.44.

Darren Benson finished 3rd in Hangang Marathon in Seoul. His time of 2.32 was particularly impressive, given the tough course conditions. Martin Kennard recorded a 2.40 finish in the same race.

Martin Kennard

Railbird reccomends the Masters Track Running Blog. Find out about the antics of a 92 year old discus throwing granny at this link: http://www.masterstrack.com/blog/

For once, the weather gods were on the side of the Trailwalker participants. The cool conditions helped to partly offset the longer and more arduous finish. Mike Maddess was the first AVOHKer home. He and his compatriots pushed the PLA all the way to finish 3rd in a hugely impressive time of 12.44. 'Mr Consistency' aka Patrick Ford strolled to the finish line in 14.58 (bagging a new over 50's record). Race organiser Catherine Leonard was one of the first ladies back in the barracks. Her team - S44 - were skippered by the fast improving Trailwalker veteran Phil Spencer and finished in a impressive time of 16.47. Simon Wiggs and Clive Saffrey were not far behind. Their team cut the tape in 17.16. Raymond Lo's team was a very impressive 17hours 12.  One week on the chair the next on the trails Thomas Booth and his team finished 21.43 , Committee member Freeman Lee was safely home under the twenty hour mark . Please send us reports and photos from your AVOHK TW teams.
The all important support!    A quarter down and all's well at Pak Tam Au    All worth it at  the end.