A very good turnout on Thurs 13th June 2024 for the AVOHK AGM held at Museum Cafe8. 2023/24.
AVOHK Athlete of the Year Awards were presented to Glory Yau by Evelyn Lim and Frank McNamara by John Fowler.
Congratulations to Glory and Frank on these well deserved awards for their athletic achievements over the last year and their commitment to the club.
2024 Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of AVOHK will be held on the following date and at the following time:
DATE: Thursday 13th June 2024
TIME: 7:00pm
VENUE: Museum Café 8, Rooftop Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central
For the following purposes;
1.To receive and consider the Chair’s report
2.To receive and consider the Treasurer’s report and financial statements for the year.
3.To receive and consider the Membership Secretary’s report
4.To elect the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Secretary
5.To elect the ordinary committee members
6.To consider any other business
Notice sent to members can be found here.
The AGM will be followed by a buffet dinner, at a cost of HKD150 for members and HKD250 for guests. This price includes 2 drinks. There is no obligation to stay for the dinner but it is a lovely, informal opportunity to catch up after the meeting.
Please complete this online form to indicate your intention to attend the AGM, and to book the dinner should you wish to attend that too.
The monthly AVOHK social run was held on Wed, 5th July. As usual practice, the group meets at HSBC Hopewell center and run ~8km run to enjoy a few refreshments afterwards.
Pictures before and after below.
For those interested to join the social run: The AVOHK social runs are held monthly, every first Wednesday of the month at 19:00 – Hopewell Center, Wanchai (in front of HSBC ATM, Queen’s Road East).
For further details, please contact Frank Riehm on 9423 5422
The 2023 AGM was held at Museum Café (Previously known as Café 8) on 8th June. The meeting was well attended and it was a great opportunity to catch up with some old faces, and get to know some new ones!
One of the main purposes of the meeting was to elect the General Committee for 2023/24. Thank you to Colin Whittington for stepping up as Chair for this year, and Aldo Kriel who will serve as Vice-chair. Nigel Raymont will continue as treasurer and Frank Riehm, who has come to the end of his 5 year term as Membership Secretary, will become our new Secretary. Freeman Lee will take over from Frank as Membership Secretary. Catherine Leonard and Mike Capper will be joining the general committee. They both bring a wealth of experience from many years in the Hong Kong running community.
I would like to say thank you to David Woo, who has done an excellent job as Secretary for the last 4 years. We are also saying goodbye to Derek Irwin, who will be leaving Hong Kong after many, many years. Derek has served on the AVOHK committee, co-directed The Malcolm Phillips 5K, and will be a familiar face to all those who have run in AVOHK races over the years. We wish him all the best on his new adventure!
It was lovely to have our previous Athletes of the Year, John Fowler and Evelyn Lim, present the trophies to this year’s winners. Aldo Kriel and Glory Yau, two of our track speedsters, were the deserving recipients.
Bathurst, 17th – 19th Feb 2023
The 2023 World Cross Country Championships were hosted by Australia and held in the old gold mining town of Bathurst, famous for its motor racing circuit. About 3 hours’ drive from Sydney. Athletics Australia and the local organizing committee were responsible for the organization of these World Championships.
Olympian Chris Wardlaw, an AVOHK Life Member and a long-time Athletics Australia official, was not only a director on the organizing committee but also a competitor. A big effort was made to honour and respect the local indigenous culture and they were very much part of the opening ceremony.
One of the unique features of these championships was the introduction of the very first World Masters Short Course Cross Country Championships supported by World Athletics and World Masters Athletics. This comprised a 2-person mixed team relay. One 2k lap each and held on the Saturday and the individual races on the Sunday. For the 70+ age individual category a 4km race (2 laps) and 35 years to 69 years a 6km race (3 laps).
The organizers put on a very challenging and testing cross country course, comprising 2km laps which included steep up hills, fast downhill, a very muddy section and a trip through a local vineyard. A true challenge and not too much time to catch your breath.
Some 220 masters athletes toed the line for the Sunday individual races. A number of former Olympic athletes competed in these masters races, including local Australian running hero Steve Moneghetti who has recently turned 60 years of age and is still in great condition. Steve won the M60 Individual category and also the 50+ mixed relays.
Whilst Hong Kong did not have any masters athletes competing, AVOHK’s very own Chris Wardlaw was representing Australia in the M70 age category and finished a very credible 4th place.
Former AVOHK Member and previous winner of the Malcolm Phillips 5k, Craig Downie representing Australia had a very successful weekend winning gold in the 60+ mixed relays with his partner and bagging a very hard-fought 5th place in the M60 individual category. Also in attendance as a spectator and looking very fit was AVOHK legend and Life Member John Douma who resides in Phuket these days. Also spectating and supporting the runners was AVOHK Life Member and current M65 Hong Kong 5k masters track champion Frank McNamara.
All the results, including the main races, can be found here:
Hong Kong did have one Men’s senior representative in the Men’s open category that was Wilson Wong who finished a hard fought 93rd place. Well done to Wilson.
A big thank you to Athletics Australia and the local organizing committee for putting on a wonderful and unique 2023 World Cross Country Championships and hosting the very first World Masters Short Course Championships.
Clockwise from above:
– Chris Wardlaw driving hard to the finish line
– Chris with M70 winner John Bermingham (2266)
– “Yes, a bit of mud on the course”
Featured photo: Former AVOHK member Craig Downie M60 (2223) battling hard in 6km individual race
Colin Whittington
AVOHK Vice-Chair
The AVOHK 40th Anniversary Relay Race will take place on the Hong Kong Central Waterfront – Saturday 25 February at 3pm.
The competition will involve teams of 3 runners, teams can be all male, all female or mixed and must include at least one AVOHK member and one runner as old as AVOHK (40 years of age) or older.
The running order can be decided on the day of the race.
All runners must be 16 years of age or older.
The race will start, finish and the relay leg handovers take place at Pier 10 on the Central Waterfront, running east, turning at the Exhibition Centre, covering a total distance of 3 km.
Each team will be given a wrist band to hand over between the legs.
Entries limited to 20 teams.
Prizes will be awarded to the first teams to finish in each category (depending on the entry).
All runners will receive an AVOHK 40th Anniversary Commemorative T-shirt.
Entry fee: Free.
Send entries by email to: avohk40@gmail.com
===========
香港元老田徑會 40 週年接力賽將於香港中環海濱舉行。參賽隊伍由 3 人組成，可以 全男、全女或混合，而必須包括至少 1 名香港元老田徑會會員及 1 名與香港元老田徑 會同齡(40 歲)或以上的隊員。
起跑次序可在比賽當天決定。 所有參賽者必須年滿 16 歲。
起點、終點及接棒區均設於中環海濱 10 號碼頭。參賽者向東跑至香港會議展覽中心折 返，全程 3 公里。
每隊將獲發一條手帶，用來接棒。
名額只限 20 隊。 每個組別首支完賽的隊伍(取決於參賽隊數)將獲頒獎品。 所有參賽者將獲贈香港元老田徑會 40 週年紀念 T 恤。
報名費: 全免
請將報名表電郵至: avohk40@gmail.com
The AVOHK 40th Anniversary Team Race was held at Wan Chai Gap on Saturday, 17th December 2022.
Cold and blustery weather together with the tough course did not deter the runners from having a good pre-Christmas run.
The race format allowed mixed or all male/female teams, with the men running 6k and the women 5.4k.
The teams started in waves, the first runner on the gun, followed by the second runner after 60 seconds then 30 seconds later the third runner followed by the fourth after another 30 seconds. The team position being decided by the position of their last man home.
The winning team was an all-female team made up of AVOHK stalwart, Cheng Pui Ling Pauline, Cheng Siu Lai, Chan Yu Ki and Han Wing Yee, who finished in a line with a wild celebration. Following them home was Chris Woo for Team 5, closely chased by Team 4, with Catherine Leonard, Sue Mulley, Sheila Purves and Phil Booth, finishing in second place. The remaining members of Team 5, Frank Riehm, Philip Chan Chak Chan and Derek Irwin then came home to claim third place. Team 1, David Wan, Victor Mok, Terence Chan and Eddy Yu, split Team 2, Yuen Ling Choi Leon, Fung Wai Kuen Thomas, Lo Chi Hung and Yan Tung Leung to finish fourth, leaving Team 2 in fifth place.
In true Christmas spirit all the runners received a Christmas prize and an AVOHK Anniversary t-shirt.
Everyone went home happy, looking forward to the next AVOHK event early in the New Year.
Results
Congratulations to all who joined!
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
Dear AVOHK runners,
Good to know the captioned competition has been scheduled for 28 August.
Please read carefully the event information attached.
If you have reached the time standard, you are advised to submit your result via the link “Elite Race Application” below, HKAAA will approve and send you a separate application form for the Elite Application.
If you want to enter via the “Priority Registration”, please let me know your personal details (as per the excel form attached) before 24/6 Friday at freemanavohk@gmail.com.
Moreover, you should do the athletes personal declaration by yourself, link below.
====================================================================
“Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong 10K Championships 2022” will be held on 28th August 2022 (Sunday) at Tin Ying Road, Tin Shui Wai. The total of 2,500 quotas are open for registration. The event consists of 8 individual categories including Junior, Senior, Master 1 & 2 for both Men and Women. The deadline of club priority registration will be 27thJune 2022.
The priority registration if only for the registration of Non-elite Race (15 quotas) and Junior Nomination (2 quotas), each club can nominate 2 Junior athletes (born in 2003-2006) without previous race results to compete in the Elite Race. All club priority applicants must complete the below personal declaration to confirm the registration.
Athletes Personal Declaration: https://bit.ly/3mWa12b
For other age categories Elite Race applicants, please fill in the below application form or visit the “Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong 10K Championships 2022 (Elite Race)” page on our website for more information.
Elite Race Application: https://bit.ly/3xyOXnp
Priority registration for HKAAA Affiliated Clubs is now available until 27th June 2022. Please be reminded that runners registering via HKAAA Affiliated Clubs must fulfill the requirement of “Registration of Athlete 2022 & Priority Entry for HKAAA Registered Athletes”. Event information and enrollment form have been attached. HKAAA will issue debit notes to clubs before the event (No individual payment will be accepted).
Should you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Events Team at 2504 8215 or events@hkaaa.com.
*Anti-pandemic and entry requirement will be adjusted according to the latest Hong Kong Government measures.
*Permit of the captioned event is currently pending for Government’s approval.
HKAAA Secretariat
HKAAA are in the process of applying for permission for 2 Track meets, The Hong Kong Athletics Trial 2022 on the 30 April- 1 May, and The Hong Kong Athletics Series 1 on the 7-8 May, both at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Both of these meets are subject to The Home Affairs Bureau granting exemption to Cap. 599 and there will likely be reduced quotas for races and additional social distancing measures in place if they are able to go ahead.
All entries will be done through clubs and schools. If you would like to represent AVOHK, please contact Freeman Lee at freemanavohk@gmail.com.
Club vests are mandatory for all runners and these can be ordered online now if you need one.
Full details of the Meets can be found at https://hkaaa.com
Good luck!