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.

UTSG : 17th ATM race win for Onifa, while Michelle Ng takes her first!