Jeff Campbell sets the tune in Ferei Dark 45

The covid crisis clearly has not had much impact on the running velocity of Jeff Campbell. At last Sunday’s Ferei Dark 45 event on Hong Kong’s Maclehose Trail in the New Territories, Campbell dominated proceedings from start to finish and scored his fourth ATM points race victory in 5h05’. It was the first ATM points race in Hong Kong since The 9 Dragons in February 2019. The Canadian-born was of course quite familiar with the trails, but the fact it was a night race brought an element of uncertainty. In the end, it did not matter. Australian T8 manager David Longo was a very solid second, half an hour behind Campbell, but 23 minutes ahead of his company’s co-founder and reigning ATM Champion John Ellis. Ellis struggled in the early parts of the race with breathing issues on a very hot and humid night in Hong Kong. Never to be underestimated, however, Ellis fought back once again and managed to score the podium by overtaking Dennis Theodosis and Roy Chun Wa Tong in the dying moments of the race that finished in Tsuen Kam Au after more than 3000 metres of elevation gain.

The women’s race was actually more exciting to follow with lots of changing positions at the front. Natalie Webster looked like she could win it, yet Meg Sterling narrowly managed to outsprint her towards the end in 7h49. The podium was completed by Ka Yin Tong.

David Longo impressed with an unthreatened second place behind Campbell but ahead of Ellis and co

A difficult start, but still a podium for John Ellis on what is a short distance for his liking

Ferei Dark 45 was the first ATM points race in Hong Kong since early 2019