Stories tagged with race
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Adventure race comes to Thailand
One of the world’s newer sports, adventure racing, is quickly gaining popularity in Thailand and is set to expand its realm in the kingdom this fall with a series of races around Bangkok. The Outdoor Unlimited Adventure Dash Series is a schedule of six races that will happen between September 2008 and June 2009. The project is being sponsored by Outdoor Unlimited Adventure Zone, located in Bangkok’s new Amarin Plaza.
This latest adventure race program is a series of individual sprints that will take place on Sunday mornings at various locations within 100kms of Bangkok. Each location will be selected for sufficiently challenging terrain and scenic beauty. Even organiser Serge Henkens says “these sprint races will give the opportunity to athletes who never competed in an Adventure Race to have a taste of adventure. It will also help everyone to prepare for longer competitions [and] definitely help in the development of this fantastic new sport in the kingdom.”
Henkens chose shorter sprint races for this inaugural event because more people are physically capable of participating. The first ‘Dash’ will happen on Sunday September 21st at Khao Mai Keo near Pattaya. Henkens predicts it will take the slowest racers less than 3 hours to finish. “What we want is that the participants can be back home for lunch and spend the Sunday afternoon with their families,” he said.
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Aug 2008, 12:22 -
Chiang Mai adventure race a success
More than 100 competitors turned out on Sunday May 18th for the first Chiang Mai Amazing Adventure race, part of a multi-event series that has been held across Thailand for the past three years.
The event attracted more than 50 teams of two, who had to compete in several disciplines including running, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking, reaching each of the five check points together.
First home was the Thai duo of Boonyarit Boonjang and Choochart Tayasuthi in 4 hours 12 mins 48 seconds, while the first mixed team of Runsan Masurin and Saifon Boonjang achieved a commendable third overall. The race attracted participants from more than a dozen nationalities based in cities as far away as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.
Starting out at the 700 Year stadium, the challenge comprised of a cross country mountain run, followed by a mountain bike stage, then a swim across Huay Tung Tao lake, before the runners took to the running trails again. Kayaks (supplied by the organisers) were used for the fifth leg, followed by another bike stage to the finish, and took some teams up to eight hours, including several obstacles thrown in.
“We had a great turnout for an inaugural Race and far from Bangkok where most of the competitors come from.? Said race organiser Serge Henkins afterwards. “We had also a beautiful weather after a week of heavy rain…Another positive thing is that the winners are a local team from Chiang Mai?.
“After the great success of the last River Kwai Trophy, which is now the second Adventure Race in South East Asia, we can say the sport is now taking off nicely in Thailand? says Henkens.
The overall consensus among participants was that the course was an excellent challenge in a great setting, not too gruelling. Next year’s event promises to be even more popular and better supported.
The event was organised by Active Management Asia who are professionals in putting on such races as well as providing corporate and schools team building events.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 May 2008, 15:18