Message from the Chair – Mar 2021

The COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong continues to improve and the beaches and swimming pools will be open from this Thursday, 1 April. A long overdue event. The AVOHK Swimming Section look forward to returning to the Wan Chai Pool. Let’s hope the vaccination programme roll-out starts gathering some pace and we can all have that extra layer of protection and prepare us all for the new normal.

Well done to the HKAAA, who have managed to arrange a series of track and field meetings over the next couple of months. But under very restricted conditions and with no spectators. In the Pre-Season trials held on 20 March 2021, AVOHK were represented by Mark Russell, who finished 3rd overall in the Men’s 1,500m in a time of 4 min 17 sec and Swiss Duangthip 6th overall in 4 min 35 sec. The first Asics Series was held over the weekend on 27/28th March 2021 at TKO. Up and coming Hong Kong triathlete, Charlie Hall, recorded a fine win in the women’s 1,500m with a time of 4 min 49 sec with Swiss Duangthip 5th in the 3,000m Steeplechase in 11 min 31 sec and Chan Siu-hin 6th in the same event in 14 min 32 sec. Well done to Charlie, Mark, Swiss and Siu-hin for keeping the AVOHK name out there.

The HKAAA are also organising a 2021 Hong Kong 5K Road Championships race to be held on Sunday, 18 April, in Lantau. Notification has already gone out to members and the deadline for entry is 31 March 2021. Thanks to Freeman Lee for coordinating AVOHK’s entries. One of the conditions of entry is to have a negative COVID Test. Note: This event is only open to HKAAA members. For further details on HKAAA events, go to www.hkaaa.com.

Honorary Club member, Dave Bedford OBE, assisted his son Tom Bedford, the Race Director, who was responsible for putting on the GB Olympic trials for the Marathon and 20K race walk. The GB trials were held on Friday, 26 March, in the very beautiful Kew Gardens. One for the masters, 39-year-old Chris Thomson won the men’s marathon in 2 hr 10 min and booked his Olympic place for Japan. Well done to Tom and Dave Bedford for putting on an outstanding event in very restricted conditions. In a very nice touch, the first 3 in each event were presented with a Bonsai Tree.

The AVOHK committee are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, 14 April 2021, and hopefully I will be able to update the members on what events AVOHK plan to organise for the remainder of 2021. A reminder that the AVOHK AGM will be held at 7pm on Thursday, 17 June 2021, at Café 8. Assuming conditions continue to improve, it will be a great opportunity for members to get together. Official notification will go out in due course.

Do take time to read this month’s newsletter as there are some wonderful articles and of course the valuable contribution from Railbird in “Heard at the Track”.

The Club Monthly Social Run will be held on Wednesday, 7 April 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.

I wish all AVOHK members a wonderful Easter break.

Stay safe fit and healthy.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman