We are happy to announce that the 3rd edition of Camiguin Island Trail race, scheduled for the weekend of 12 July, has entered the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar. Organised by Vertical To Sky under Doi Calbes, this event has been growing rapidly in popularity and for the first time will feature a 70km race category - long enough to offer a Grandmaster point to finishers.

Camiguin is an island in the Bohol Sea, approximately 10km off the northern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines. The trail event is held out of the island’s and provincial capital Mambajao. The island has some lush green forest reserves, even protected under the ASEAN Heritage Park label. Camiguin also has a rich cultural history and treasures, such as Old Mambajao Fountain and the façade of the Santo Rosario Church in Sagay. This is a mountainous island, which offers the opportunity for some splendid trail running, including some technical mountain sections. The highest peak is Mount Timpoong, which towers a respectable 1500 metres above sea level.

The event has already opened for registration and in no time secured 650 entries. Contrary to other Vertical To Sky events, this one does not have a limited participation quota. However, better sign up fast to also secure your personal desired accommodation. The course map of 70km is currently being updated and will be released in due course. Via the official facebook page you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments regarding Camiguin Island Trail.

To register, Doi likes to keep it simple. Just send him an email on verticaltosky@gmail.com with your usual event registration details, and his team will come back to you within 48 hours.

No points races for the championship ranking this weekend - in anticipation of the perfect storm next week with three separate points race events - but we have a very nice ATM Candidate on the programme in the south of the Philippines. Camiguin Island Trail Race is the latest project by Vertical To Sky and takes place in northern Mindanao between Cagayan de Oro, Balingoan and Bohol Island. The island Camiguin is also knows as the Island Born of Fire, and ranks among the most scenic in the whole of Philippines. A must-visit for the outdoor enthusiast, as it has everything on offer: trails to run, hike or mountainbike on, swimming and diving areas - including free diving, and several refreshing waterfalls.

The actual event host is the Municipality of Mambajao, and the 50k main race takes place on. Sunday.

The course is a nice natural circle around Mambajao with Mount Hibok standing out halfway during the race. Runners will go up and down the peak. Total elevation gain is set at approx 2200 hm.

Camiguin Island Trail is a boutique event, as most Vertical to Sky events are, which means tightly controlled participation numbers to ensure a great experience for all. On the start list of the 50km category, we find some well-known names as Elle Alvarez - female winner of the Mt Apo Sky Race a few years back -, Freddie Blanco, Eldy Bulod, Rodney Ortega and Archie Paran: regular winners and podium placers in domestic events in Mindanao and the Visayas.

We will be reporting from the event this weekend, thanks to our reporters Tin Salazar and Richard Akol. Stay tuned to our regular ATM channels, in particular facebook and instagram.

Event organiser and ATM Grandmaster Doi Calbes is very enthusiastic about his latest project on Camiguin Island