Lodewijk Vriens dominates tough Fish N Sheep race

The 5th edition of Ultra Fish N Sheep between Fanling and Po Lam in Hong Kong did not miss its debut in our ATM Championship series. Tougher than expected, the 75km left a mark on the many participants, who nevertheless returned home satisfied thanks to a commendable race organisation. Dominator of the day was Lodewijk Vriens, who scored his second ATM race win of the year after BTR Bali 60k last May. From the Netherlands but based in Hong Kong, Vriens absolutely smashed it from the gun and did not leave co-favourites Jeff Campbell and Wai Hei Ng any chance for victory. Throughout the day, and in ever rising temperatures, the gaps between the top runners just increased ever more. Vriens came into the finish arena in a superb 8h33, half an hour quicker than Jeff Campbell, still our reigning men’s champion after the cancellation of Mu Cang Chai three weeks ago. Wai Hei Ng, one of the revelations of Season 10, was another half hour further back in third. With the new Season 10 Final now scheduled in Hong Kong at the 9 Dragons event, with many of the same trails as Fish N Sheep, Lodewijk Vriens has suddenly propelled himself into a top favourite role.

Behind the top trio, we saw a very solid performance by Nepal’s Santosh Tamang, who continues his comeback in Hong Kong with again clear signs of competitive progress. Tamang was a known race winner a decade ago, and has recently returned to trail running after a long break. Fourth place in Fish N Sheep, that’s a big points haul also with a view to next Season’s Championship Final. In fifth came another HKNTRA athlete, Limbu Yamanath, who was running together with Tamang until cramps hit him badly. In sixth place at the finish was Chin Ching Cheuk.

The women’s race actually had a bit more excitement than the men’s race. Nicole Lau was the fastest starter until and across Tai Mo Shan and the km 20 mark, but then saw Wong Tze Kei edging closer and closer to her. Tze Kei managed to overtake Nicole Lau about halfway into the race and ran towards her first ever ATM race victory in 11h25. Nicole Lau held onto second place over an hour behind, but only narrowly so. Kimmy Leung and Yuen Tze Kwan finished right behind her in three and four. Valerie Chan completed the top 5 a bit later, and Indonesia’s Ruth Theresia took sixth after a solid second half of the race. Cherry on the pie was her Golden Grandmaster title, for finishing 20 ATM ultras.

The next Hong Kong qualifying races for the ATM Championship ranking of Season 11 are The 9 Dragons (50-50 and 50km) and Lantau 70 .