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After a very difficult year, last week’s AGM at Café 8 was a more cheerful affair with Club members finally able to get together. Although Colin and Phil stepped down as chairman and vice-chairman after 5 years in the roles, we are delighted that they are both still very involved with AVOHK. As the new Chair, I am extremely grateful to Colin for agreeing to serve as Vice-Chair for a year and to Phil for stepping up as Race Director of the Reservoir Series.

Malcolm Phillips Virtual Race 2021

Having skipped a year in 2020, the ever-popular Malcolm Phillips Age-Graded race will return in 2021, this time in a virtual format. Further details will be emailed to members soon and you will also be able to check out information on the AVOHK website at www.avohk.org.

Mo Devlin

Many of you will have been concerned to have heard that Mo Devlin, a very active AVOHK member, had a serious accident last week while cycling. Mo’s partner, Janine has been keeping his many friends in the running community updated on his progress. The good news is that Mo has now been transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit and is now on the High Dependency Unit. I know that everyone will be very relieved to hear of Mo’s progress and we all wish him the very best for his recovery.

The Race Situation

Due to the ever-changing COVID restrictions, last season was one of race cancellations and disappointments. With the situation stabilising we are committed to doing everything that we can to make races happen. Our priority is to get runners running again! We have recently had some constructive communication from the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) regarding the possibility of holding races in the near future. At the moment we don’t know what that might look like. It is likely that virtual races, time trial starts and limited fields may be a feature. It is also looking likely that vaccinations will be a key factor in allowing physical, as opposed to virtual, races to go ahead. If this is the case then we will also need to call on our members to volunteer at a race, whenever they can as we may have a limited pool of vaccinated volunteers to call upon. The HAB also indicated to us that permission is only likely to be granted for races to go ahead a few weeks in advance. I’m sure that you will appreciate the knock-on effect on the organisation of races. The usual souvenirs may not be in evidence this year as, again, our priority is to make races happen.

Happy running!

Elaine Hall
Chair

Dear AVOHK Members

It is good to see the Government and businesses finally putting some urgency in motivating Hong Kong residents to get vaccinated. I hope this is a pathway to allowing more races and sports events to be organized. Also well done to the government for including our good friends at RUN in the vaccination programme.

The last month has been awful for news. The 100k ultramarathon disaster in China where 21 runners out of a field of 172 perished during extreme cold weather conditions. An almost unthinkable tragedy in our sport. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and fellow runners.

Last weekend we received the very sad news of the passing in UK of running legend and sportswear pioneer, Ron Hill MBE, at the age of 82. Ron had a special connection with AVOHK and Hong Kong in that Ron won the very first China Coast Marathon in 1981 in 2 hr 34 min. The first race was organized by Andy Blunier – an innovator in race organisation in Hong Kong in the 70’s/80’s. The marathon was eventually taken over by AVOHK a number of years later. There are some very good articles on Ron in this month’s newsletter. Also a wonderful article in the SCMP.

Official notice of the 2021 AVOHK AGM scheduled to be held at Café 8 on Thursday, 17th May 2021 was sent out last week. Details inside the newsletter. Three options this year. (1) Attend in person subject to having 2nd vaccination by 3rd June. (2) Attend virtually via Zoom. (3) Submit proxy vote. Please get your responses in soonest. Thank you.

On the subject of the AGM, Phil Booth having completed 5 years as Vice Chair will be standing down in accordance with the constitution but will be remaining on the committee. I would like to personally thank Phil for all the advice he has given me during the last 5 years and also for his long service to the Club. Many more years to come we hope. In the last newsletter, I mentioned that Elaine Hall has put her name forward to be the next AVOHK Chair. Elaine has served for many years on the committee and is an excellent candidate to be the next AVOHK Chair and will be the first female Chair for a very long time.

Well done to our AVOHK athletes (Mark Russell, Bradley Chan, Chan Siu-hin and Michelle Kwok) who competed in the recent Hong Kong Athletic Series 3 held on 24th May 2021 at Tsuen Kwan O. Results at https://hkaaa.com/en/comp_athlete_info.php?id=183.

In this month’s newsletter there is the usual acerbic contribution from “Railbird” in “Heard at the Track”. A few people have asked me recently on “WhatsApp” with “Railbird”. I said I think he is working on a different “Signal” these days. Seriously we all value “Railbirds” contribution. It often brightens our day up. Some very positive news from Ian Polson in “Swimming Matters”. There is an update on Jessica Cheng’s progress in her attempt to make the Hong Kong Olympic Team. There are also 2 links to interviews given recently by our 2 Honorary club members Dave Bedford OBE and Rod Dixon. Both fascinating interviews. Other wonderful articles on a whole range of subjects. Please take time to read.

This is my last newsletter before I step down after 5 years as AVOHK Chair. I would like to thank all those Club members and especially the committee that have supported me and given their time voluntarily to keep this wonderful Club going. AVOHK enters its 40th year in 2022 and hopefully many more successful years ahead. Finally a big thank you to Vicent, who continues to do a great job of pulling the AVOHK monthly newsletter together.

The Club Monthly Social Run will be held on Wednesday, 2nd June 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. PLEASE DO TRY AND COME ALONG. It is fun.

I hope to see you at the AGM on the 17th June 2021. Physically or virtually.

Stay safe, fit and healthy.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman

Dear AVOHK Members

The COVID situation in Hong Kong continues to improve with restrictions being relaxed. Probably slower than we would like, but at least heading in the right direction. Vaccinations are the key to giving us all more protection and we are more fortunate than most other countries in that vaccinations are readily available in Hong Kong. I had my 2nd jab a few weeks ago.

The AVOHK AGM will be held on Thursday, 17th June 2021, at Café 8. Given the current level of COVID restrictions it looks like we will be able to physically meet up. Should the situation change, we will advise accordingly. Doors will open at 6.30pm and the meeting will start at 7pm. This year after 5 years in the post of AVOHK Chair I will be standing down in accordance with the AVOHK Constitution. I have some excellent news to announce and that is Elaine Hall will be putting her name forward to stand as the next AVOHK Chair at the AGM. Elaine has spent a number of years on the committee and we thank Elaine for volunteering to stand. Phil Booth also has come to the end of his 5 years as Vice Chair but will still continue to be a member of the committee. I intend to stand as Vice Chair at the AGM and assist Elaine as she transitions into the role as Chair. Official notice of the AGM will be sent out in due course and all Club officers posts do need to be voted in by our members.

AVOHK were well represented at the recent HKAAA 5K road race championships. Just getting entered and to the start line was an achievement in itself. Mark Russell had a great run leading AVOHK home and was 3rd Junior in 16 min 19 sec and 22nd overall. Relatively new member Tse Chun-kuen ran a splendid 17 min 22 sec for 51st overall. Good runs also by Wong Ka-ho, 18 min 28 sec, Vaibhav Bhoovaraham, 18 min 36 sec, and Bradley Chan (just joined last month), 19 min 20 sec. In the ladies, an outstanding run by Charlie Hall who was the first Junior lady home in 18 min 39 sec and 3rd lady overall. Good solid run by Fang Yuk-mui in 22 min 4 sec. There is a report by the athletes themselves in the newsletter giving their own experience of these championships.

The AVOHK Committee have been discussing our plans to host races in 2021/22. Our current plan is to try and put on a 5K series starting in August. What size of field and what arrangements needed is something we are still looking at. For the 2021/22 AVOHK Reservoir Series, provisionally AVOHK would like to kick off with the Aberdeen Reservoir race on Sunday, 26th September. This year after some discussion we have decided to move the Reservoir Series back to Sunday mornings. The committee feel this will be better supported by the running community. Catherine Leonard and Dave Smith have been busily submitting requests to AFCD to host the 2022 AVOHK China Coast Marathon on Sunday, 16th January 2022. Looking good so far. By the next newsletter we hope to have more information about all these Club events.

Any member requiring an AVOHK Club Vest, please contact Phil Booth at clubkit@avohk.org . Phil has plenty of stock in both Men’s and Ladies sizes. Club members are required to wear them for all HKAAA events but that look great in any race. They also make an excellent present for any occasion. A bargain at HKD150.

There is no further news on the recently postponed Hong Kong Masters Athletic Championships, but we are all hoping that Pacers find a suitable date and venue.

In this month’s newsletter, there are no shortage of interesting articles and, in particular, I would like to highlight the recent efforts by former AVOHK Member Jake Smith, who is now based in UK. Ian Polson writes in “Swimming Matters” highlighting the necessity for us all to get vaccinated. The usual contribution from “The Railbird” in “Heard at the Track” and some wonderful news on Yuko Gordon (Hong Kong Olympian) on breaking the M70 UK Marathon age record.

The Club Monthly Social Run will be held on Wednesday, 5th May 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. PLEASE DO TRY AND COME ALONG. It is fun.

Stay safe fit and healthy.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman

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

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