RIMM 2009 Ended with Great Success

Raleigh International Mountain Marathon 2009 ended with great success

The most challenging and competitive event in the past 10 years

(Hong Kong) The 10th anniversary Raleigh International Mountain Marathon 2009(RIMM 2009) was completed in great success on 8th march 2009. The closing ceremony was held at Tai Po Buddhist Hui Yuan College.

This year, 150 teams, approximately 400 participants joined the event in 6 categories including: Elite, Men, Women, Mixed, Competition Explorer and Country Walk Explorer. The first team sprinted to the finish line was Team 204 of Men category. They only used 8 hours and 36 minutes to complete the 40 – 50 kilometers journey.

The champion of elite team completed 50-60 kilometers journey within 8 hours and 4 minutes. They said,” This year, the route for elite team is amusing and tricky. It is not only a test of participants’ physical strength but also the map reading skills. I would like to thank the organizing committee for putting significant efforts in designing such a wonderful route for us. It is great that we can choose different routes to reach each checkpoint. Under such a foggy weather, the whole competition is exciting as the elite teams complete the race with similar result.”

International team was added this year. Five teams from Malaysia were invited to join Mountain Marathon 2009. They showed their excitement before the competition started “The map used in the competition is totally strange to us. It is more detailed and complicated than the map we used in Malaysia.” Competing in a new environment using a new-type of map under an unpredictable weather was a great challenge to the Malaysian teams who joined the race for the first time. Completing the race is a good demonstration of their passion and persistence.

Mountain Marathon 2009 was not only a stage for heroes to challenge themselves; it also became a stage full of romance: A couple is engaged right after the event. Mr. Romance used our stage at Finish Point for proposing marriage, withhis champagne and Ferrero Rocher flower, under the witness of other participants. The answer he got from his girlfriend is: “YES, I DO!!!”

Photo Album: http://picasaweb.google.com.hk/rimm09