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SCMP

This article was first published on December 15, 1969
Drama in HK’s first international marathon
by Neil Perera
Unheralded Kim Cha Hwan of South Korea yesterday (December 14, 1969) pulverised an international field of long distance runners to win the first Tin Tin international marathon in the New Territories.
Kim, a 21-year-old electrician, overcame a determined challenge from Australia’s John Farrington to cover the gruelling 26 miles course in two hours 20 minutes 39 seconds. He immediately broke into a victory dance as jubilant flag-waving Koreans engulfed the little runner.
“I am simply overjoyed. I cannot believe that I have won,” the young Korean said as he acknowledged the cheers of an overflow crowd at the newly open Yuen Long Stadium.
Second home was pre-race favourite John Farrington.
Farrington, who led for most of the race, was not happy about being forced to set the pace. He completed the course in two hours 21 minutes 22.4 seconds.
The Australian said afterwards: “They wouldn’t do any of the work. I had to do it all.”

Stomach cramp
Finishing third was India’s Harnek Singh. The ageing Sikh who kept pace with the leaders for all but the last three miles, was clocked in two hours 23 minutes 25.8 seconds.
Coming in fourth was Ceylon’s Wimalasena Perera who fought off recurring attacks of stomach cramp almost from the outset of yesterday’s race, to be clocked in two hours 27 minutes 12.4 seconds.
New Zealand’s Jack Foster finished fifth.
The Yuen Long Stadium, only minutes after it had been officially opened, suddenly sparked into life when 28 competitors representing ten nations circled the track to a standing ovation.
Farrington shot into the lead followed by Korean Park Bong Kuen, Harnek Singh, Wimalasena Perera, Foster and Kim Cha Hwan.
They toured the track once more and disappeared out of the stadium and through busy Yuen Long town. Farrington maintained his lead as the runners swung past the outskirts of the town. In hot pursuit were Harnek Singh, and the Koreans Park and Kim, and Foster.

Meanwhile, the Ceylonese runner, Perera, had dropped back as stomach cramp slowed him down. The field then swung past Sha Po, Chuk Yuen and to Mai Po prior to the first check point at Lok Ma Chau junction. The order however remained the same as Farrington, constantly glancing over his shoulder at Harnek Singh now at his heels, and the two Koreans, continued to dictate the tempo of the race.
Foster, meanwhile, was beginning to find the early pace too exacting. He refused to play “cat and mouse” with the leaders while Perera, clutching the side of his stomach, limped on in obvious anguish.
There was still no change up front as the runners swept past the second check point at Kam Tsin and turned around at Ta Shek Wu—Farrington completing the halfway stage in 68 minutes.
The pace gradually accelerated as the runners passed the 19th mile and one immediately sensed a thrilling finish as Farrington, Harnek Singh and Koreans Park and Kim bunched together. But hereabouts the race took a dramatic turn.
Pulled muscle
Korean national champion Park, plagued by a pulled muscle, dropped out of the race. He walked a short distance and then called it quits. And Harnek Singh, much to the disappointment of his few followers, lost his rhythm as he encountered the last climb past the 23rd mile.
But Ceylon’s Perera who was hopelessly out of the race for a long while, recovered sufficiently to storm past the flagging Foster.

Then, shortly before 4 pm, the packed Yuen Long Stadium erupted as Kim, his white cap askew, swayed into the stadium. And the applause rose to a crescendo when three jubilant Korean spectators — one waving a flag — urged the little Korean on. The cheering had hardly died down when Farrington trotted in followed by Harnek Singh, Wimalasena Perera and Jack Foster.
Leading Hongkong’s six-member squad home was Raphael Chue. He finished 13th.
That this mammoth event terminated without a “hitch” is alone a worthy tribute to the organisers — the Hongkong Amateur Athletic Association — and the sponsors Tin Tin Yat Po, Omtis Ltd and Milo.
The Police did a magnificent job. But one wondered why they were so lax with a particular consulate car which preceded the runners almost throughout the entire course, sometimes causing traffic jams and impeding the progress of the runners.


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Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – from the SCMP archive

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Runners taking part in the Tin Tin international marathon at Yuen Long Stadium in the New Territories on December 14, 1969. Photo: SCMP


A clipping from the South China Morning Post on December 15, 1969 issue. Photo: SCMP

Korea’s Kim Cha Kwan (left), winner of the international marathon receiving the trophy from K.S. Wai at a dinner reception on December 15, 1969. Photo: SCMP

South Korea’s Kim Cha Hwan made his attack about seven miles from the end of the marathon and swung into the lead with John Farrington and Hernek Singh hanging on doggedly. Photo: SCMP

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Runners pass through West Kowloon during last year’s marathon. Photo: Dickson Lee

Last year, about 20 per cent of the runners, or 15,000, were non-locals. Photo: Eugene Lee

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Finishers at the Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon spotted a glaring typo on their medals. Photo: handout

This year’s Taipei Charity Marathon finishers’ medal compared with last year’s. Photo: handout

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Runners compete for space at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground. Photo: Handout

Local runners are struggling to find space to train at the city’s few remaining open public tracks ahead of the Hong Kong Marathon. Photo: Eugene Lee

People queuing to use the facilities at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground. Photo: Handout

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Runners taking part in the Tin Tin International Marathon at Yuen Long Stadium in the New territories in 1969. Photo: SCMP

2016 Ambassadors Christy Yiu Kit-ching; Maggie Chan Man-yee; and Yuko Gordon at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon meet the overseas elite runners presser at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. 15JAN16 SCMP/ Edward Wong

Runners run through the Island Eastern Corridor during the 10km Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. 21JAN18 SCMP / Felix Wong

Adrian Trowell and Sandra Fung, winners of the Men's and Women's titles in the Cathay Pacific Marathon held in Shek Kong, respectively, congratulate each other after the race. 04DEC77

Sandra Fung takes a rest after winning the Women's Open title in the Cathay Pacific Marathon in Shek Kong. Fung clocked 3:28:36. 04DEC77

Runner Winnie Ng, together with her coach Jim O'Neill, practising for forthcoming competitions. 06SEP79

Winnie Ng, Hong Kong veteran marathon runner, pictured at the Tsimshatsui waterfront.

Yuko Hasegawa (right) receives her trophy from Mrs M. J. Pridham after winning the women's title in the Inter-Hong Cross Country Run on the Peak. 04FEB79

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Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago


Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago.


.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – from the SCMP archive

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago

Drama in HK’s first international marathon

On This Day | Drama in Hong Kong’s first international marathon in 1969 – from the SCMP archive

Ahead of Sunday’s Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon, we look back at Hong Kong’s first international marathon, more than 55 years ago