AVOHK News

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:

2023 WMA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (SHORT COURSE) BATHURST, AUSTRALIA

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.

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.

7 February 2022

2021 certainly ended on a high note for AVOHK runner, Gi Ka Man, who travelled to Spain to run in The Valencia Marathon on December 4th.

Ka Man headed to Europe with hopes of breaking his previous personal best. This would be no mean feat as it was an impressive time of 2:30:27. He was not expecting to run as fast as did however, and his time of 2:19:48 is the fastest ever run by a Hong Kong Runner! Just in case you were wondering, that equates to an average pace of 3:19/km! The previous record of 2:20:58 was set by Wong Wan Chun in Japan in 2019.

It has been a great season for Ka Man as many of you will have seen him cross the line at the Standard Chartered Half Marathon in October alongside Chan Ka Ho. Their times were ultimately split by one 100th of a second, with Gi Ka Man being awarded 2nd place overall in the elite category.

The marathon record is still being ratified by HKAAA, and it is obviously also a new AVOHK M35 marathon record.