Sadly, John Wakefield one of the early members of AVOHK in the 1980’s and a very active runner during that period, has passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 84 after a long battle with cancer. The picture displays many of the races John took part in.
His most famous exploit in the 1980’s was racing a tram from from Kennedy Town to Shaukeiwan and back. He won.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife and AVOHK supporter, Edith. John RIP.
For the first time ever World Athletics has included World Masters short course races in the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships due to be held in Bathurst, Australia over the weekend 18th/19th Feb 2023.
Sat 18th Feb – 1030am – 2 person mixed relay race (1 male and 1 female – 2km leg each) – All age groups M35/W35 upwards
Sun 19th Feb:
1145am – 4Km Individual race (No Team event) – M70 & W70 upwards – Medals awarded to first 3 in each 5 year age group
1215am – 6Km Individual race (No Team event) – M35 – M69 & W35 – W69 – Medals awarded to first 3 in each 5 year age group
Entry Fee(Pay Online): Euro 100 per person (No extra fee for the relays if we can form age group teams)
Venue: Bathurst is approx 207km West of Sydney
Entry Deadline: 31 Jan 2023
Note: Hong Kong Masters running vest will be required to be worn.
Online Entry link is below and also further Master entry requirement details including advice on accommodation etc:
Any further queries for Hong Kong masters entries for this event please email: vice-chair@avohk.org
Congratulations to AVOHK Club Member Gi Ka Man who competed in the New York Marathon on Sunday 6 th Nov 2022 and finished in a time of 2hrs 41 mins 42 secs (a very steady run for him).
This also marked his completion of the Big Six World Marathon Majors and was awarded with the Big Six medal. Gi Ka Man has had a wonderful 12 months of running and at the age of 38 he is at the top of his game.
He only ran the Chicago marathon one month ago in 2hrs 23min 41 secs for a 5 th place in his age group and on the 18 th Sept 2022 in Copenhagen ran a superb half marathon in 1hr 6 mins 40 Secs.
Gi Ka Man holds the Hong Kong Marathon record of 2hrs 19 mins 53 secs which he set in 2021 at the Valencia Marathon.
Picture, below shows Gi Ka Man after the Copenhagen half marathon.
The AVOHK 40th Anniversary Club Handicap 5k race was held on Blacks Link at Wanchai Gap on Saturday, 29th October.
The weather was perfect for running with bright, sunny conditions.
The runners were handicapped based on their estimated time and the slowest runners estimated time for 5k. The course took the runners up Blacks Link for 2.5k when they performed a U-turn and headed back down to the Finish. John Fowler and David Wan led the race off followed by the rest of the field at set intervals finishing with David Woo and Vaibhav Bhoovarahan 22 minutes later. The race format is exciting for the runners, because after the U-turn everyone can see who is chasing them and who is in front to be chased.
Ideally all the runners should finish together, but on the day, runners can over or under perform so it is rare that the blanket finish ever occurs.
The race was won by Phil Booth, followed home by Catherine Leonard and Norman Hui in second and third respectively. Two runners, Chan Chak Yan and Chun Tak Wong both ran just 1 second off their predicted times.
Everyone enjoyed the event and looked resplendent in the 40th Anniversary t-shirt.
RESULTS
| File | Download |
|---|---|
| AVOHK 40th Anniversary Club Handicap Result Sheet | DOWNLOAD |
7TH HK MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Many of our runners will be delighted to hear that the 7th HK Masters Track and Field Championships will go ahead on 27th November and 4th December 2022 at Tin Shui Wai Sports Ground. If you would like to enter as part of the AVOHK team, please complete the application form no later than midday,28 October. We would love to enter a few relay teams, so please do indicate if you would like to run in a 4×100 or 4×400 AVOHK team. AVOHK will be paying the fees for all relay teams entered.
Please support your Club and let’s make this year’s meet one to remember!
To enter, please go to the link below:
For further information, see the link from the organisers, Pacers. If you open the PDF file in the link,
you can scroll down to see details in both Chinese and English. http://www.pacers.org.hk/2022/10/17/10853/
If you have any questions about the meet, please contact our team captain, Aldo on 6125 7913.
AVOHK’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY 5K HANDICAP RUN AND DINNER
AVOHK’s 40th Anniversary 5k Handicap Run is taking place this Saturday, 29th October, at Wanchai
Gap. It will be followed by a dinner at Fini’s in Wanchai. The run is open to members only and is free to
enter. All runners will get a special 40th Anniversary T-shirt and the first 3 to finish will get a prize.
There will also be 2 mystery prizes. You can still enter until Friday, 28th October, by going to
www.avohk.org. The link to enter is at the right-hand side of the page.
The dinner is open to members and guests at a cost of $250 for members and $300 for non-members.
There will be 2 hours of free flow drinks from 6:30 and a dinner of casual Italian food will be served at
8 o’clock. To book a place at the dinner, please email Frank at frank.riehm@gmail.com.
I hope to see many of you soon!
The Hong Masters Track and Field event is back this year and will be hosted over two weekends 27/Nov/2022 and 4/Dec/2022 at the Tin Shui Wai Sports Ground.
For more details see this link.
to Enter, please follow this link or the form below. Please ensure payment is made and proof of payment is sent as per the details on the form.
AVOHK will submit a few relay teams, please indicate if you would like to be included in any relays.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of John Casey. John was a very active member of AVOHK and a committee member for many years. He will be missed by many. A funeral service will be held for John on 2nd October and full details have been sent out to all members. Anyone wishing to attend should email Colin Whittington at vice-chair@avohk.org.
AVOHK’s 40th Anniversary 5k Handicap Run is set for 29th October. If you haven’t signed up yet, please visit our website at www.avohk.org to register. The run is a members-only event and there are only 50 spaces. It is free to join the run and all runners will get a special 40th anniversary T-shirt.
We will also be hosting a celebration dinner at Fini’s in Wanchai. The evening will start with free flow of drinks from 6:30 until 8:30 and a dinner of casual Italian food (including vegetarian options) will be served at 8 o’clock. The cost is $250 for AVOHK members and $300 for non-members.
To book your place at the dinner, please RSVP to frank.riehm@gmail.com.
Payment options:
It is with a great deal of sadness that we have to report the death of long-time AVOHK member, Mr John Casey. John passed away peacefully on Sunday night with his wife Annky by his side after a brave fight with cancer.
John was 73 year’s of age and a constant supporter of AVOHK as runner, organiser and friend. In his prime he was a talented runner and would be found at the front of races including regular appearances in the Seniors category of the Golden Mile around the streets of Central.
He participated in Master’s events both in Hong Kong and internationally focusing more recently on the shot put, to which he brought his own unique style.
If you have ever run an AVOHK Race then you would surely have seen John at the Start/Finish line or on the course cheering you on and as races in Hong Kong require permits from various Government departments it was very often John that secured these permits to allow the races to proceed.
AVOHK will miss John as an active member, but perhaps more so as the guy in the hat with the wry sense of humour and abundant enthusiasm. Our thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences go out to Annky and surely he will be remembered by AVOHK.
We will relay funeral arrangements when they are finalised.
The AVOHK 40th Anniversary Handicap Run will take place on Blacks Link, starting and finishing at Wan Chai Gap playground on Stubbs Road.
Date: 29th October 2022 at 4:00pm
The 5k race is open to AVOHK members and is free of charge.
Complete the Entry Form with your name, email address, telephone number and your current 5k time. Your handicap will be based on the
time submitted.
Entries limited to first 50 applicants.
Prizes will be awarded to the first three to finish, plus 40th Anniversary spot prizes.
All runners will receive an AVOHK 40th Anniversary Commemorative T-shirt.
Gathering will be in accordance with the current government rules.
Send entries by email to: avohk40@gmail.com
I hope that everyone is managing to enjoy their training through the heat of the Hong Kong summer. Those braving the oppressive conditions have been rewarded with stunning views and gorgeous blue skies.
The racing scene in HK has continued to suffer from the tight restrictions in place but our swimmers are back in the pool and we have had some great results from running races which have taken place.
World Masters Athletics Championships
There is a detailed report from Colin Whittington later in the newsletter about the Hong Kong team who recently travelled to Finland for The World Masters Athletics Championships. We had 6 athletes competing this year and they produced a string of PBs and Hong Kong age group records. Congratulations to all of them and I would particularly like to mention Willie Kung, who competed in the M60 long jump and won bronze. What an amazing achievement!
AVOHK are the governing body for masters athletics in Hong Kong and we have a long history of sending teams to meets around the world. Athletes do not need to be AVOHK members to represent Hong Kong and we welcome athletes from all events and age groups who are keen to take part in international meets. Please keep an eye on our website for details of overseas meets.
Hong Kong Athletics Championships 2022
Closer to home, HKAAA did a great job of organising the Hong Kong Athletics Championships, which were held in blistering heat last month at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. AVOHK was able to enter a team of 5 runners. Congratulations to Charlotte Hall who is the new HK 5000m champion.
Sun Hung Kai Properties HK 10k Championships, Tin Shui Wai, 28th August
AVOHK has entered 17 runners for the HK 10k Championships which will take place next month. We are still waiting to hear whether all of our runners will be accepted into the elite race, but we wish all of our runners the very best of luck!
Elaine Hall
Chair, AVOHK