The 2026 edition of Garmin Ultra Fish’n Sheep in Hong Kong has been scheduled for the weekend of 17/18 October. The event again features a 75km race as ATM Championship Qualifier (for Season XII) and the Grandmaster Quest. Last year’s new entry in our series proved to be a popular and applauded one, the third in Hong Kong besides The 9 Dragons and Lantau 70 earlier in the year. 

Ultra Fish’n Sheep takes places in the New Territories of Hong Kong and is perceived as one of the tougher races. It’s an A to B race from Fanling to Lion’s YMCA Junk Bay Youth Camp with an estimated elevation gain of nearly 4000hm. Combine that with potential hot and humid weather and you know this is one to prepare for physically and mentally. The start is at 8am on Saturday morning and runners have 18 hours to complete the 75km course. 

Accommodation-wise, the event has an arrangement with the well-known Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin, which also featured as the event hotel at the latest 9 Dragons. The website linked below has details on your options. To get back from the finish line, there are bus and MTR connections.

Last year, Lodewijk Vriens proved outstanding and left others such as Jeff Campbell and Wai Hei Ng no chance in the battle for victory. The women’s 75km race was won by Wong Tze Kei ahead of Nicole Lau and Kimmy Leung. 

Registration for the event opens this week on Thursday at 12 pm (noon).

Ultra Fish N Sheep will be the second qualifier of the new season 12, one week after opener Luang Prabang Trail in Laos.

The 5th edition of Trail des Gombak in Selangor, Malaysia, not only featured a new race venue at the MPS Stadium, but also a completely redesigned trail route. That new course turned out to be a lot tougher than the previous one, to the surprise of many repeat participants. The heavy thunderstorm the afternoon before the 2am start and another one on Saturday afternoon made sure the technicality of some jungle sections skyrocketed to the extent that sliding your way down the slopes on all fours was the only way to go. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but at the same the beloved kind of trail experience for others. Ritzy Amor loved it and was therefore an undisturbed repeat winner of the Gombak 50k race. The KL-based Filipino, who finished 6th in the latest ATM Championship Final at the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong, shows no signs of overtraining as she continues to combine long distance running with other sports activities. In the lead from start to finish on Saturday, and finishing 10th overall in 8h23. Japan’s Akane Nemoto had to settle for second just like last year, and that was also the maximum she could hope for. Nemoto actually had a solid performance herself, given she also gave other runners such as Ryehana Rajap (2nd in BUTM 50 in April) , Chong Mei Tze and Siao Ai Lim no chance to challenge her for second place.

The men’s 50km - actually 47km - also delivered a clear winner in Kristjan Chapman, from Iceland but living in Kuala Lumpur, too. Having learnt from his dehydration at UTSG, where he lost a podium in the last 10km of the race, Chapman did not get over-excited when China’s Wang Xiang took off like a bullet in the early road section of the race before they hit the first uphill climb. Chapman then reeled him in quite quickly on the technical and muddy parts, closely followed by strong Indonesian Fahmil Mamel, who made his international debut at TDG. malaysian runners Syahmim Nazmy and Amuniddin Musa kept themselves within range for a long time, but never caught the two front runners in the end. Chapman, knowing the second part of the course very well, extended the gap to Mamel for his first win in ATM in a time of 6h38. Mamel, from North Sumatra, scored second in7h02. Nazmy third in 7h26. Behind Musa in fourth, it was good to see Amir Zaki again in fifth. Zaki is returning to competitive trail running after a 2-year break.

The 100km race, actually 95km, consisted of two loops of the 47km route. A genuine challenge that saw most of the +100 participants DNF, eventually. Up front, it was Amierul Amin, who led more or less from start to finish. The Malaysian runner was never really comfortable, however, as Indonesian Ma’Mun Khariri, a former Mantra 116 winner, and new name Feliks Aten from Sabah kept the gap smallish until the last couple of hours. Amin finishing time of 17h31 indicates what a tough course Gombak has become. Amin was an ATM Finalist in 2023, but this was his first ever race victory in our series.

Amazingly, Ma’Mun Khariri still got much closer to Amin. He finished only 10 minutes later, after cutting his deficit in half during the last 7km of the race. Nice detail: Khariri just got released from 6 days hospital a week ago following a poisonous snake bite… It’s his second great race result in an ATM Qualifier this season, so his chances for championship qualification are high, indeed. Feliks Aten took third place. He was in the mix for podium throughout and only had to drop his pace towards the end of the race. His podium spot is well-deserved. Ibrahim Karim still put pressure on Aten’s podium spot as he crossed the line just a few minutes later. Amir Saipol Bahri was fifth.

The women’s 100 km saw Grandmaster Celeste Teo and Ang Yee Mei running together the whole day. They jointly returned to the stadium in 24h41. For Ang Yee Mei it was the second podium in a row, she also came second in BTR Ultra in Bali last month. In third place was Vietnam’s Nguyen Ngoc Phuong in 29h12. In her come back from injury, Japanese runner Tamae Harada claimed fourth place ahead of Chan Chin Chin.

The next ATM Championship Qualifier in Malaysia is KAR Ultra in Sabah at the end of next month. The next event of Projek Hijo is Trail des Lenggeng at the end of November, a new entry on our Grandmaster Quest calendar.

Season XI of the Asia Trail Master Championship continues this weekend in peninsular Malaysia with Trail des Gombak. Organised by the team of Projek Hijo, ’TDG’ takes place in Selangor near the Batu Caves tourist attraction close to Kuala Lumpur and is a championship qualifier event for the second consecutive season. Both the 100km and 50km races matter for those seeking points. Grandmaster Quest runners can of course also score a point by finishing the 100. 

The routes have been redesigned for this edition and also the event venue has switched to the bigger Stadium Selayang. Participants are looking at a nighttime start with the 100 scheduled to be flagged off at 2 am and the 50km at 4 am. 

The start lists look very decent in both quantity and quality. Yet, the Aonijie Gombak 100 race also has no outspoken race favourites in both male and female categories. As in the Penang Sky Race two months ago, a chance for one of many to grab a prestigious victory. Amierul Amin should be close to victory, he was an ATM Finalist for Malaysia in 2023 and has only become stronger on the long ultra since. It’s his first race under ATM in quite a while, though. Aqmal Adzmi is always a contender, and so are Lee Minxiang, Assrul Aminur, Tuan Haffandi Tuan Ismail and Indonesia’s Ma’Mun Khariri, a previous winner at Mantra 116. It’s not often the new generation of Indonesia’s ‘elite’ runners travel abroad, so it’s in any case already good to see his name on the start list. 

Female contenders on the 100k include Ang Yee Mei, who was second in BTR Ultra in Bali last month already. She will be up against Celeste Teo from Sarawak, always good for at least a podium, Norlela Ismail, Japan’s Tamae Harada and why not Faherina Mohd Esa, also known as Ryna. Perhaps more an ultra cyclist than ultra runner these days, but the stamina is certainly still there. 

On the 50km, we can expect a nice battle for victory between the likes of Mohamad Syahmim Nazmy, Kristjan Chapman, Amir Zaki and Indonesians Slamet Riyadi and Fahmil Mamel. Also Hong Kongers Luis Gonzales and Jeremy Ritcey will be in the mix for podium.

The 50km for women can see a repeat of last year’s race with Ritzy Amor back in it against Japan’s Akane Nemoto. Both also just ran UTSG in Singapore a fortnight ago, but with different fortunes. Amor easily won the 80km, while Nemoto broke down in the final 15km of her 60km race that she was leading. Other contenders will be Chong Mei Tze, Siao Ai Lim, Lynil Martinez, Halimatun Sa’adiah and last but not least the surprising newcomer on the competitive scene in Malaysia, Ryehana Rajap. A young runner who came second in BUTM in April, ahead of some well-established competition runners.

ATM will be reporting live from Trail des Gombak from the start to the finish on Saturday via our usual channels. If you are on a laptop, we have an aggregate feed here: https://www.asiatrailmaster.com/atm-live/livefeed compiling everything from facebook, instagram, youtube and X plus background information.

Muhammad Faris won the men’s 50k last year in impressive style

Ritzy Amor took her first ATM race victory at Gombak 50k last year, ahead of e.g. Akane Nemoto

The Cordillera mountain range in the Philippines has been an integral part of our series since the beginning and we are pleased to see continuous excitement for trail running in the area. On the weekend of 24-26 October, a new event enters the calendar: Ultra Trail Cordillera Philippines. Organised by Aid Station Cafe with experienced runners Louie Ganayan and Roflyne Fangayen, the new event has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label.

On the event programme we find a 100km flagship race, but also a 50km, 25km and 10km. As the comprehensive website reads: the UTCP course will traverse the scenic and challenging mountain trails of Itogon, featuring a combination of pine forest trails, mountain ridgelines, technical single trails mixed with wider dirt roads, highland communities and amazing views overlooking the Cordillera.

Event venue will be the familiar John Hay Camp in Baguio, the city that functions as gateway to the Cordillera mountains, and which is connected to Manila and Clark. The 100km will be flagged off at 2 am on Saturday, with the 50km one hour later at 3 am. Elevation gain is estimated at 6600 hm for the 100k and 3300 for the 50k. Runners participating in the longest category have a cut-off time at the finish of 32 hours, those doing the 50k should return within 15 hours.

The UTCP website is a nice piece of work where you can find all other details, plus a great gallery of images to get you in the mood.

Already the most successful trail runner in Asia Trail Master history, reigning champion John Ray Onifa added a 17th race win to his collection in Singapore last weekend. At the UTSG event, the Filipino star stormed to victory on the 60km with a blistering 5:55 finish. After regaining the ATM Championship title at the 9 Dragons in February, it’s his second race win of the year, despite carrying a bit of a hip injury that will now keep him on the sidelines for a number of weeks. .

Early on, KL-based Icelander Kristjan Chapman and Singapore-based Frenchman Philippe Daniel were trying to keep pace with Onifa, but both paid a bit of a price towards the end. Daniel Yap from Malaysia stormed passed them to take second place at the finish in 6h29. Also local star Scott Pugh ran a great second half to claim third on the podium, just three minutes later! Philippe Daniel still held on to fourth place in 6h41, still one of his best race results in an ATM points race. Lim Jia Jen finishes in fifth, followed by Deric Lau and Tomohiro Mizukoshi.

Running conditions were difficult due to heat and humidity, quite excessive even for Singaporean standards. The women’s 60km race saw a big surprise towards the end as race favourite and leader Akane Nemoto slowed down dramatically and struggled her way to the finish. What looked like a certain victory went up in smoke and, instead, Malaysia's Michelle Ng Qian Ying arrived first in 7h58! It was her first appearance in an ATM Championship Qualifier, so what an introduction! Michelle clearly timed her effort well, already having had great competitive experiences in other races last year.

Akane Nemoto did not even make it to the podium, as five other runners caught and overtook her in the last few kilometres. Local runner Zoe Tan grabbed second place 13 minutes behind Ng. Zoe ran a strong last stint to catch and overtake Filipino Judith Lozano at the end. Patsy Tan and Li Yueming took places four and five, and the poor Akane Nemoto struggled home in sixth, very much like Kristjan Chapman in the men's race earlier. BUTM 100 race winner Mia Revilla was seventh after a very heavy two months of racing in which she also scored third in H1 (100 Miles) five weeks ago.

UTSG also offered an 80km Grandmaster Quest race, which witnessed the arrival of a new 4-star Golden Grandmaster. Malaysia’s Lau Say Niong scored his 20th ATM long ultra finish and is the 14th runner to score four stars. There were also new 3-star Silver Grandmasters on the weekend with Nick Pilapil from Philippines, Henry Yang from Singapore and Derek Lee Kok Eng from Malaysia.

UTSG was held in an interesting new format this year, with essentially 100 Miles spread out over three days.

The men’s podium

Michelle Ng scored her first win in an ATM Championship Qualifier

Zoe Tan takes a great second place

Judith Lozano completed the podium

Credit Team Action: Akane Nemoto led nearly the whole race, but faded badly in the last 10km

Credit Team Action: John Ray Onifa

Credit Team Action: Kristjan Chapman ran a spirited race for podium , but suffered at the very end

Credit Team Action: Singapore’s Philippe Daniel claimed a solid fourth place

Daniel Yap timed his move to perfection and grabbed second place

Also SIngapore’s Scott Pugh finished strongly and still made it to the podium

Lau Say Niong managed to score his 20th GM point: GOLDEN GRANDMASTER!

Ritzy Amor won the 80km on Saturday to score another Grandmaster Quest point

Jake Conte completed the second level of the Grandmaster Quest

Ultra Trail SIngapore is on again this weekend, known as the annual ‘most runable’ trail race of the ATM season. It’s also a popular event with a good vibe, and who doesn’t enjoy spending a weekend in Singapore? This year’s edition has been significantly redesigned, however. The ATM Championship Qualifier is now held on Sunday and has been beefed up from 50 to 60km. On Saturday, runners chasing the Grandmaster Quest are already on call, as they have a new 80km on the programme.

The 60km features again reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa in his second outing of the current season. That implies he can get his wild card for the next ATM Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 3 October. For that he needs to finish, and obviously he would like to do that also in first place. Onifa was scheduled to compete against his fellow countryman Godwin Mirar, but the latter is not starting as he could not get the funds together for a trip to SIngapore. The reality that still hits plenty of elite runners in Asia. A walk in the park then for the ATM Champion? Perhaps not. Singapore is not exactly a trail city and plenty of fast runners have found themselves off course during races here, as markings are not always easy to spot amidst all the concrete and constructions. Keeping your head cool is of the essence. Apart from that, Onifa should also look out for the speed of excellent local marathon runners like Vincent Casanova. Remember, last yeat even Jeff Campbell saw himself beaten by a local. Others who may say a word for the victory and certainly the podium are Kristjan Chapman, Philippe Daniel and Scott Pugh. And if someone has a bad day, Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi - now age group 50 - will still be there to pick up the pieces.

The women’s 60km race is potentially a bit more open, even though Japan’s Akane Nemoto probably will get most votes as race favourite. On the ATM Final podium three times in a row and winner of a couple of ATM races already, running in Singapore typically suits Japanese runners very well. Last year, her compatriot Chisato Kario also won here. Akane Nemoto has some interesting challengers, though. Local Zoe Tan won Penang Sky Race 50 five weeks ago and that may strengthen her morale for this Sunday. Also Jennifer Lee was good in that race and will be in the mix again. Mia Revilla is also on the start list. Filipino, but based in Singapore. She won BUTM 100 in April and was third in Hardcore 100 Miles a month ago.

ATM will be covering the 60km race on Sunday on our usual channels.

Champion again , a UTSG finish will provide him with the wild card for the next ATM Final in Vietnam

Vincent Casanova, local star on road marathons

Akane Nemoto, already 3 years a Top 10 Finalist

Mia Revilla has had a very busy two months on technical trails: how much is left in the tank?

Singapore’s own Zoe Tan won the Penang Sky Race six weeks ago

One of the events that is becoming every more popular on our ATM calendar is Prenn Trail Summit in Dalat, Vietnam. Scheduled from 9 to 13 December 2026, trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest will again have no fewer than four categories to choose from in order to collect a new GM point. The longest race category is the 250km mega ultra, but the programme also offers the more traditional 100 Miles, 100km and 75km distances.

Organised by Unique Events & Media that also brings you Brah Yang Trail Summit in March, Prenn has been catching the attention since its inaugural edition back in 2023. Dalat in the southern Central Highlands of Vietnam has no shortage of trail events any more, but Prenn draws appreciation for its emphasis on the basics of trail running, the communities, combined with a solid and pleasant organisation. The event centre, also expo place and finish line for all distance categories, is the Prenn Tea Resort.

The website of the event is incredibly detailed and you can find all you need to know right there. In a nutshell, the 250km race - labeled “The Gods” - has an estimated elevation gain of 11730 hm and a cut-off time of 73 hours. Runners start the adventure at the Kala Lake at lunchtime (13:00) on 10 December . 100 Miles participants also start at the Kala Lake on the 11th at 7 am. They will conquer over 8000 hm and need to complete the distance in 55 hours. Those who thought a few years ago that running in Dalat is ‘easy’ surely have changed their minds by now :-).

The 100km also has a respectable 4500+ hm and 29 hours of cut-off time. Important, this category starts more or less at sunset on Friday at 18:00. The 75km starts at 3 am on Saturday and comes close to 4000hm and a cut-off time has been placed atv 24 hours.

Dalat is accessible by airplane , or you can also arrange overland transport from Ho Chi Minh City. The website also offers lots of options how to reach the Prenn Tea Resort.

We are pleased to welcome the reputed Pokhara Ultra as the fourth Nepalese event on our Asia Trail Master calendar. This year’s edition will be held on the weekend of 5/6 December and for the first time will offer Championship and Grandmaster Quest points. Event venue is Yangjakot, nearby Pokhara, and on the programme are two Championship Qualifier distances, 109km and 55km, and one Grandmaster distance, i.e. 109km.

Pokhara Ultra has been held for many years, but often also using different names. It’s been an iconic event for Nepalese trail running since more than a decade. As the event website reads: “Climb through cloud-kissed forests in Yangjakot, fly across ridgelines above Tangting, and conquer trails where few have set foot - with stunning panoramic views of Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal, and the iconic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) mountain.”

The 109km has an estimated elevation gain of 6250 hm with the highest altitude just under 3000m above sea level. The 55km requires you to overcome more than 3300 hm with the same maximum altitude.

Runners can connect to Pokhara via Kathmandu. Transfer from Pokhara to the event venue is included in the registration fee (but book your seat in advance). Accommodation is primarily homestay-based, but you can also sleep in tents. Check with. website for details.

Please note that there is a registration quota, so do not wait until last-minute to sign up. All details can be found on the website of Pokhara Ultra, linked below. To wet your appetite, you can also check the 2025 event video.

The 109km long ultra course

Elevation profile of the 109km course

As announced already early this year, Tulay Trail and Soimalai Trail are two new entries in Thailand on our Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar in 2026. Both events in the Tak Trail series are highly scenic and popular, and you can sign up now. Tulay Trail is scheduled for the weekend of 24-25 October, making it the third ATM Championship Qualifier event in Season XII, after Luang Prabang Trail (Laos) and Ultra Fish’n Sheep (Hong Kong).

On the programme are three relevant distance categories, of which the 100km and 45km are qualifiers for the points ranking. Grandmaster Quest chasers should choose between the 100km and the 75km. Tulay Trail was a very successful ATM Candidate Race last October.

Tulay Trail is organised by RunRun and is part of the Tak Trail series in northern Thailand. The Tak Trail series’ events aim to elevate the regional trail running scene to international standards and showcase its natural and cultural richness. Elevation gain and technicality should be taken seriously before signing up. Tulay Trail 100 has an estimated elevation gain of 6300 hm and has a cut-off time of 34 hours at the finish line. The 100 km offers a very nice natural loop with the longest climbing coming immediately after the 3:30 am start, going from approximately 200m to 1400m above sea level. The start and finish venue is the Ban Mae Chawang School in Tha Song Yang District. The main village, however, is located about 7km before the school. It has several shops and restaurants. Note that the “100km” is actually 108km long. The 45km race starts at 4:30 am and has 2800 metres of elevation.

Tak is rather remote, but worth your effort to travel for a few days. The event organiser will assist international runners to make their journey as smooth as possible. You can contact the relevant team via the event facebook page below, or you can also contact info@asiatrailmaster.com first. There is a domestic airport called Mae Sot, from where you drive about 3 hours to the race village. From Chiang Mai and Bangkok the journey takes longer.

Be quick to register as slots are limited.

The annual ATM appointment on Samal Island off the coast of Davao City in Mindanao saw the 19-year-old Michael Angelo Lorono and Merudin Idsla as fastest male runners on the 80km long course. Strongest female was Ana Fe Gamo, who a month ago also finished first in SIlabur Ultra Trail 100 in Sarawak, Malaysia. The 12th edition of The Punisher was part of the Grandmaster Quest calendar.

No elite superstars on the start list meant that upcoming talents had a great opportunity to show themselves. Lorono and Idsla did that in style, completing the course in a time of 14h30. Joshua Pateno and Rennier Arcenal came next in 15h45.

Ana Fe Gamo took the women’s race win in 15h53 , fifth overall. Jasmin Dela Pena and Devere Galo joined her on the podium.

Golden Grandmaster Mario Yap has come very close to becoming Legend by finishing The Punisher. Mario has already accumulated 480 kilometers (= 480 points) in five different countries. Originally, he had planned to reach the Legend milestone of 500 kilometres at BTR Ultra in Bali two weeks ago, but there he suffered an uncharacteristic DNF. In any case, Mario Yap seems keen to be first!

The Punisher is organised by Vertical To Sky and was one of the pioneering trail running events in Mindanao alongside the Mount Apo Sky Race now well over a decade ago. It remains a great introduction to long ultra trail running given its varied course and easy accessibility from Davao City. Moreover, Samal Island is worth a weekend stay no matter what.

Photos below credited to Vertical To Sky (facebook page)

Trail running in india is growing and we are happy to announce that the Summit Run Lurntsu Circuit has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its next edition on 5 December 2026. The event is part of the SUMMIT RUN Series and takes place in the Tehri-Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, Indian Himalayas, a few hours from Delhi in the north of the country. Mussoorie is a well-known hill station and local gateway. The event is organised by Boots & Crampons Pvt. Ltd.

The Summit Run Series currently focuses on shorter trail distances, yet that’s relative as elevation gain is substantial and the altitudes, too. The Lurntsu race measures 42km - making it a trail marathon - and has over 3000m of elevation gain. No walk in the park, in other words, and the cut off time reflects that as well: 14 hours. The 42km race starts at the Deolsari Forest rest house at 4:30 am. The course is run entirely on mountain trails through dense forests, high ridgelines, and two prominent Himalayan summits. After the start, participants will be climbing towards Nag Tibba via the quieter Ontor village side, a lesser-used approach that winds through deep forest before opening out near the summit at just above 3000m altitude. After touching the Nag Tibba temple, the route descends briefly towards the Bhatwari / Shrikot side for about 3 km before turning back up for a second climb towards Nag Tibba top.

From here, the course moves onto one of its defining sections — a long, scenic ridgeline traverse towards the Ghodiappa meadows, gradually gaining elevation towards the second summit of Lunrtsu Peak. After crossing Lunrtsu, runners descend through forest trails back towards Deolsari Forest Rest House, where the finish line awaits.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, 5 December and it is recommended to register with overnight camp stay + meals. If you wish to remain independent, the organisation can recommend some homestay options in villages surrounding Deolsari you can choose from.

For less ambitious runners there is also a 30k and 16k on the programme. Expect mountain trail running pur sang , and bring a sense of adventure. Lurntsu Summit Run aims to become a recognised international trail event and become part of the ATM Grandmaster Quest.

You can find registration and further event details on the website linked below.

The last Malaysian ATM Championship Qualifier this season will be Jagoi Ultra in Sarawak on Borneo Island. Organised by Alpha Sports Events and RD Josh, Jagoi Ultra substitutes on the Championship calendar for their other event Silabur Ultra Trail, held in May. The event features a 70km long race for points, and given the distance is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

As always, when proven organisers have several events in their portfolio, we like to alternate between them in order to increase variety in the choice of races that matter for competitive-minded trail runners. In fact, Jagoi was an ATM Candidate back in 2023, before the choice in Sarawak fell on Silabur first.

Sarawak has as much rainforest as Sabah, but in general less elevation to conquer. It makes the races different. Still, it’s not flat either as the course profile of the 70km at Jagoi shows: 2500 hm elevation gain is not nothing. Held out of Kampung Serasot, Bau, runners will do a loop that at one point touches the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan Province. The Jagoi area lies southwest of Kuching, main city in Sarawak and your gateway to the event. There’s shorter distances available as well on the event programme, but for ATM the 70km is your target.

Jagoi Ultra takes place one week after the classic Borneo TMBT Ultra in Sabah. People with more time on their hands could consider a combo. Plenty of things to see and do in Sabah and Sarawak and why not pass by Brunei while you’re there?

Registration is open via the link below. You can also stay up to date on the latest news via the event’s facebook page.