omniture

The Fifth SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC Concludes with Success

Over 1,700 athletes scale stairs at Hong Kong's tallest building for charity
Top runners compete for Vertical World Circuit championship
Sun Hung Kai Properties
2016-12-05 14:45 4165

HONG KONG, Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The fifth SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC organized by Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) ­­­­­­took place yesterday. The race was also the grand finale of Vertical World Circuit and saw runners competing for world championship for the fourth consecutive year. HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs. Carrie Lam, Event Organizing Committee Co-chairman Mr. Edward Cheung, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Chairperson The Hon Mr. Bernard Chan, The Community Chest Campaign Committee Chairman Dr. Simon Kwok, and SHKP's Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr. Mike Wong, Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr. Victor Lui, Executive Director Mr. Adam Kwok and Executive Director Mr. Christopher Kwok officiated at the opening ceremony in International Commerce Centre, the tallest building in Hong Kong.

 

 

(From left to right) SHKP Executive Director Mr Christopher Kwok, Event Organizing Committee Co-chairman Mr Edward Cheung, The Community Chest Campaign Committee Chairman Dr Simon Kwok, SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr Mike Wong, HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Chairperson The Hon Mr Bernard Chan, SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr Victor Lui and Executive Director Mr Adam Kwok at the race opening.
(From left to right) SHKP Executive Director Mr Christopher Kwok, Event Organizing Committee Co-chairman Mr Edward Cheung, The Community Chest Campaign Committee Chairman Dr Simon Kwok, SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr Mike Wong, HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Chairperson The Hon Mr Bernard Chan, SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr Victor Lui and Executive Director Mr Adam Kwok at the race opening.

 

Australia’s Mark Bourne is crowned elite male champion after the 2016 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC
Australia’s Mark Bourne is crowned elite male champion after the 2016 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC

 

Australia’s Suzy Walsham is crowned elite female champion after the 2016 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC
Australia’s Suzy Walsham is crowned elite female champion after the 2016 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC

 

SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr. Mike Wong (first right) presenting medals and souvenirs to 2016 Vertical World Circuit winners
SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr. Mike Wong (first right) presenting medals and souvenirs to 2016 Vertical World Circuit winners

HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs. Carrie Lam said: "SHKP Vertical Run for Charity represents the spirit of exercising for good causes and has raised more than HK$25 million for child and youth services over the years. In addition to this event, SHKP also stages a wide range of activities to promote sports for charity. Doing exercise helps maintain a balance between physical and mental well-being and has a positive impact on individuals and the community at large. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to participate in sport to maintain physical health and add spice to life."

SHKP Executive Director & Deputy Managing Director Mr. Mike Wong said: "This year sees the fifth SHKP Vertical Run for Charity and the number of participants of Race to Hong Kong ICC has risen again, reaching over 1,700. Taking into account the Race to Shanghai IFC, over 10,000 people have taken part in five years. This shows the rising popularity of vertical running and the great support of our Exercise for Good idea from the public. Proceeds from the event will go to support child and youth services as before, including a new project called Rainbow with KIDS by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service that helps relieve stress in children and young people under 18 subject to family crisis, violence or tragedies. The project will drive them to regain confidence to cope with new patterns in life for a positive mindset in future. Other proceeds will go to Mother's Choice, Hans Andersen Club, Hong Kong PHAB Association and Suicide Prevention Services through The Community Chest.  The Race to Hong Kong ICC integrates sport with charity, and we hope to contribute more to society in the next five years."

24 international runners take on 2,120 steps

Mark Bourne and Suzy Walsham from Australia win Elite races

A field of 24 top runners from 12 countries or regions took on the Race to Hong Kong ICC challenge from the crack of the starting gun. In the end, Australian runner Mark Bourne took the men's category reaching the sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck finish in 12 minutes and 12 seconds while Suzy Walsham, also from Australia, won the women's category closely behind in 14 minutes and 25 seconds. Suzy Walsham also won the women's 2016 Vertical World Circuit along with Polish runner Piotr Lobodzinski for the men.

High turnout shows great support of Exercise for Good

The Race to Hong Kong ICC included Elite, Individual, Team Relay, and two Fun Climbs. Fun Climb B allowed youngsters over ten to join with an adult so children and parents could feel the exhilaration of vertical running.

Vertical running is increasingly popular and the number of Race to Hong Kong ICC participants set a record this year with over 1,700 runners from 34 countries. About 90% were locals and the male to female ratio was 7:3. Runners ranged from 10 to 69 years and included some with hearing or visual impairments and amputees.

The student relay category saw the biggest increase in participants. Tin Ka Ping Secondary School Team A won the secondary student relay in 13 minutes and 38 seconds while Hong Kong Baptist University took the tertiary relay in 12 minutes and 12 seconds. There were 900 runners in the individual races to the 100th floor, taken by Su Hsin Kai for the men in 14 minutes and 34 seconds and Wong Yu Hung for the women in 19 minutes and 06 seconds. They will both get SHKP sponsorships for the 2017 Vertical World Circuit representing Hong Kong's spirit of sport for charity.

The corporate relay also witnessed fierce competition as runners shed their suits for running gear and scaled 2,120 steps. Sun Hung Kai Properties Team A took home the title. SHKP executives also joined Fun Climb A for charity.

Artists, Wattbikes and Fun Zone at Vertical Run

The organizer had an array of activities to liven up the athletic atmosphere of the event. The Playright Children's Play Association (Playright) had again worked with the organizer and offered a range of games for children and their parents. Guests could also take a spin on indoor Wattbike trainers and work out alongside the athletes. There were two caricature artists drawing runners to capture the moment with a playful twist.

About the SHKP Vertical Run for Charity -- Race to Hong Kong ICC

The first SHKP Vertical Run for Charity was held in 2012 to promote healthy living in Hong Kong and initiate a culture of caring and giving. It became an international event as the grand finale of the Vertical World Circuit in 2013. The scale of SHKP Vertical Run for Charity was expanded in 2014, with the Race to Shanghai IFC being an additional contest to enable more people to participate in sport for charity. The event has so far attracted over 10,200 runners from around the world.

About the 2016 Vertical World Circuit

The Vertical World Circuit is an annual series organized by International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) with races at iconic skyscrapers around the world. There were nine races in 2016 taking contestants to Tower 42 in London, Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, One World Trade Center in New York, Tour First in Paris, Shangri-La at the Fort in Manila, Sydney Tower Eye in Australia, China World Summit Wing Hotel in Beijing and Shanghai IFC. The Race to Hong Kong ICC was the grand finale with the most stairs. ISF oversees all races on the circuit to ensure that they comply with international standards.

2016 Results

Vertical World Circuit -- Overall Champion


Men

Women

Champion

Piotr Lobodzinski (Poland)

Suzy Walsham (Australia)

Race to Hong Kong ICC 2016

Elite


Men

Women

Champion

Mark Bourne (Australia; 12 min 12 sec)

Suzy Walsham (Australia; 14 min 25 sec)

1st Runner-up

Piotr Lobodzinski (Poland; 12 min 20 sec)

Alice McNamara (Australia; 15 min 21 sec)

2nd Runner-up

Emanauele Manzi (Italy; 12 min 43 sec)

Brooke Logan (Australia; 15 min 48 sec)

Individual


Men

Women

Overall Champion

Su Hsin Kai (14 min 34 sec)

Wong Yu Hung (19min 06 sec)

Team Relay


Corporate Team

Champion

Sun Hung Kung Properties Team A (13 min 02 sec)

1st Runner-up

KMB Team A (14 min 01 sec)

2nd Runner-up

PwC (14 min 24 sec)

Secondary Student

Champion

Tin Ka Ping Secondary School Team A (13 min 38 sec)

1st Runner-up

Sai Kung Sung Tsun Catholic School Team 1 (14 min 03 sec)

2nd Runner-up

MKMCF Ma Chan Duen Hey Memorial College Team 1 (15 min 01 sec)

Tertiary Student

Champion

Hong Kong Baptist University (12 min 12 sec)

1st Runner-up

Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Team 1 (17 min 01 sec)

2nd Runner-up

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (18 min 41 sec)

Open

Champion

Hong Kong Association of the Deaf Team A (16 min 59 sec)

1st Runner-up

SW R.Team (17 min 09 sec)

2nd Runner-up

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd Retail Leasing (Shanghai) (19 min 46 sec)

Video - http://static.prnasia.com/pro/media/201612/shkp/video.mp4
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161205/8521607924-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161205/8521607924-b
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161205/8521607924-c
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161205/8521607924-d

Source: Sun Hung Kai Properties
collection