Message from the Chair – Feb 2021

Dear AVOHK Members

The Club said a final farewell to Frank Pilkington at a Memorial Service held at Cape Collinson on Sunday, 7 February 2021. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, AVOHK were represented and the Club is very grateful to Ada for including AVOHK and Frank’s running friends from a cross section of the community. Frank’s son Stephen gave a very moving eulogy via phone from Sydney. I spoke of Frank’s contribution to AVOHK, master’s athletics and his overall contribution and participation in many races and trail events both in Hong Kong and overseas. Alistair Asprey CBE spoke of Frank’s earlier career with the Hong Kong RAF rescue team as a volunteer and Mike Featherston spoke of Frank’s time with the Hash Group. Frank was a wonderful warm and generous person and will be missed by us all. Our thoughts are still with Ada, Frank’s family and his many friends.

At the AVOHK Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 24 February, via Zoom, the Committee welcomed Aldo Kriel. Aldo is a great addition to the committee and his background is in the 100m/200m sprints. Aldo has been a regular competitor for AVOHK at the Hong Kong Masters Athletic Championships and has also competed in overseas masters athletic meetings.

On the AVOHK-organized races, the committee have started looking at potential dates for the 5K series and the Reservoir Series in the hope that there are better days ahead in 2021 and will announce these dates in due course. We are also looking at dates for the 2022 China Coast Marathon and the Club plan to host that on either Sunday, 9 January 2022, or Sunday, 16 January 2022, subject to the necessary permits. The annual Round-the-Island will not be held in 2021 and the next RTI will likely be held in April 2022. The committee are looking to kick off 2021 with the annual Malcolm Phillips Memorial 5K race once COVID-19 restrictions have eased further and a suitable window is available.

Mark Reeves sent out an email this week informing all members that the 2021 Hong Kong Masters Athletics Championships has been rescheduled to Sundays, 18 and 25 April 2021. Deadline for entries is 15 March 2021. Also sent via email this week are details on the HKAAA planned track events. Numbers are very restrictive. Freeman Lee is coordinating AVOHK entries.

Date for your Diary, the AVOHK AGM will be held at 7pm on Thursday, 17 June 2021, at Café 8. The Chairman and Phil Booth as Vice Chairman will be standing down. Club officers can only serve a maximum of 5 years in the same post in accordance with the AVOHK constitution. Discussions for a new Chair and Vice Chair to be nominated are under way.

In this month’s newsletter there are again some wonderful articles, including one by Club Member Andre Blumberg on the recently-held 4 trails event (298km). This year was by invitation only and included our very own Virginie Goethals who successfully completed the distance and made it to the Green Post Box in Mui Wo as a “Survivor”. Paul Jackson very kindly wrote a lovely article on the benefits of AVOHK’s life membership and the usefulness of the AVOHK newsletter. Last year Paul relocated back to UK after having spent 35 years in Hong Kong. Paul’s happy smiling face will be missed at our races. But the good news is that Paul is planning to return to Hong Kong from time to time. Great article by Chris Watts on Fascia. Chris has been a guest speaker at our AVOHK AGMs. Ian Polson talks about the frustrating time for the Swimmers in “Swimming Matters” as the beaches and the pools still remain closed. Several other great articles. Enjoy the read.

The Club Monthly Social Run will resume on Wednesday, 3 March 2021. Meeting at 7pm outside the Hopewell Centre by HSBC. Current COVID-19 restrictions apply. For further details, contact Frank Riehm at membership@avohk.org.

Stay safe, fit and healthy.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman