Race report and results for Bonaqua Action SPRINT adventure race series Race 1

From Michael: March 14, 2010 – POST EVENT SPORTS NEWS RELEASE – Adventure racing Bonaqua Action SPRINT adventure race series – (Race 1 out of 5 race series) – Repulse Bay, HK (12 km adventure run)

RITCEY STORMS HOME TO TAKE FIRST WIN OF SEASON BLOOD, SCRAPES AND MUD ALL PART OF ADVENTURE RACING

Hong Kong – Blood, scrapes and mud didn’t slow down Salomon team runner Jeremy Ritchey to storm 1st home over the 12 km Bonaqua Action Sprint course in 1 hour 17 minutes 47 seconds keeping a good distance over Mark Western and Dan Parr who finished 2nd and 3rd.

"Oh it was slippery all right. I pushed very hard on the Violet Hill climb (420m high) knowing that the river gullies were not my strong point and the strategy paid off big time as I kept my lead over Mark and Dan” said overall champion Salomon team runner Ritcey.

“It was an incredible technical course with wet rocks and very slippery in places, but what a change from my normal running on trails and road as this course makes the whole body work hard,” said Mark Western who finished 2nd overall in 1 hour 23 minutes 16 seconds.

Newcomer to adventure racing, Dan Parr a seasoned mountain marathon runner with a few wins under his belt had nothing but praise for the sport. “This is radically different than normal trail running as you are on the edge all the time constantly focusing on balance in the technical sections, making sure you don’t take a wrong step or you could be sorry. Jeremy had a good start and is strong on the downhills and thought I could close the gap in the river gorge which was exciting, but he was to far in front”, said 3rd overall Dan Parr.

Over 260 participants registered for the Repulse Bay Bonaqua Action Sprint race that started with a 400m beach run at before a 2.5m wall jump into the sea , 20m ocean swim , before running over 3km to the top of 420m Voilet hill soaked in sea water with sand in their shoes. Then down a muddy 50m dirt bank, some participants sliding on their bums, rock scrambling over 2km in technical river gorges with wet green slimy stones, hand rope lines off a small 7m high waterfall cliff, more climbing along 45 degree angle rocky slab section with fixed rope lines before a catchwater and downhill technical run to the finish back at Repulse Bay beach.

“What an experience. I trained hard and quite surprised I won considering how many times I almost fell and had to hold onto trees on the slippery downhills, but it was an incredible feeling just finishing this” said overall women’s winner Claire Chapman finishing in 1 hr 40 minutes 10 seconds.

“I ran hard most of the race trying to close the gap on Claire but she was too far ahead in the river section which I was hoping I could catch her. I’m not sure what I did to my finger as a little swollen and will have to check it out” said 2nd overall women’s winner Julianne Rethfeldt with a bag of ice on her hand who finished just 2 minutes behind Claire in 1 hour 42 minutes 11 seconds.

Less than 3 minutes later came in Nadia Koucha to take 3rd overall in Women’s. “I didn’t see the top 2 girls so just focused on my own race and tried to enjoy the beautiful day as was so happy the sun was coming up to dry some of the rock in the gullies” said Koucha.

Race 2 of the Bonaqua Action Sprint Series goes to Mui Wo Mar 28th.

Bonaqua Action SPRINT adventure race series

Race 1 - March 14, 2010 - 12 km - Repulse Bay, HK Island - 9am

Race 2 - March 28, 2010 - 12 km – Mui Wo, Lantau - 9am

Race 3 - April 11, 2010 - 13 km - Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung - 9:30am

Race 4 - April 18, 2010 - 12 km – Tung Chung, Lantau- 9am

Race 5 - May 9, 2010 - 12 km - Discovery Bay, Lantau - 9am

Map of courses on official website www.actionasiaevents.com