Breaking Limits
Originally for members only, the Raleigh Challenge – Wilson Trail became an open event in 2003. Aiming to promote hiking as a sport for the general public and raise funds for community projects, the 2007 race has adopted the theme ‘Break Your Limit’. The 78km Wilson trail – named after former Governor of Hong Kong David Wilson – is split into 10 stages aligned north to south and runs from Stanley to Nam Chung in the New Territories. Teams of two to four will race in different categories over one of three courses: Challenger (whole course), Explorer (day course) and Adventurer (night course) to raise money and try to beat the record time of 10 hours 39 minutes. Bring it on!

What: Raleigh Challenge – Wilson Trail When: October 6-7 Where: Wilson Trail How Much: Free to watch Enquiries: www.raleigh.org.hk

Keeping off the Grass…
Back in my schooldays, cross-country meant running up hill down dale, through woods, bogs… it was awful. Today ‘cross-country’, for easier television coverage and delicate professional athletes, means running on grass as opposed to on – or off – a track. So it is good to see that, for this year’s HK Cross Country Championship, the HK Amateur Athletics Association is bringing back the ‘country’ to the race with a route that runs through the Sai Kung Country Park along the Wan Tsai Nature Trail. Entry is open to both teams and individuals, with free ferry transportation to the course, while for spectators it is $60 for the shuttle to Wong Shek Pier and ferry to Wai Tsai.

What: HKAAA Cross Country Championships 2007 When: October 7, registration 8am, race 9am Where: Sai Kung West Country Park (Wan Tsai) How Much: $100-$140 Enquiries: www.hkaaa.com

… and the Coast
Sailing is enjoying a huge surge in popularity and visibility in Hong Kong and China right now, partly due to the Chinese entry into the America’s Cup and the associated visibility of the sport and also because of the increasing numbers of sponsors and competitors discovering how much fun it is to be involved in sailing. The China Coast Cup, now in its 14th year, comprises two parts: the China Coast Race Week from October 12-14 and the Hong Kong to Hainan race starting on October 25. Racing will be fast (hopefully, the wind gods will oblige) and competitive with 35-40 boats expected to compete.

What: China Coast Cup When: October 12-14 and 25 Where: Coastal waters of HK How Much: $3,500 Enquiries: www.rhkyc.org.hk

Brain Sports
The wild beauty of Lantau Island will be the playground for 50 teams in Hong Kong’s first running of an Intelligent Sport event – the HK Challenge. Over two days, teams of four will compete not only in physical challenges like orienteering, mountain biking and kayaking but also mind games involving construction problems and code cracking. Originally, Intelligent Sport was intended to foster morale and team spirit in businesses and perhaps that is why between challenge events competitors will rest in the luxury of the HK Disneyland Hotel. Organisers assure us that it will be a demanding but fun weekend. The top three teams qualify for the World Team Challenge in Nice, France in December.

What: HK Challenge When: October 25-27 Where: Lantau: How Much: $85,000 Enquiries: www.asia-challenge.com

More than Sevens
There’s a lot more to rugby locally than the highly visible HK Rugby Sevens - tickets for next year’s tournament, March 28-30, will go on sale in December. The new season has just kicked off but it’s not too late for you to be involved. At the top elite level 6, highly competitive teams will be competing for the championship with Inprojects Kowloon our pick to win what promises to be an exciting season. In all a record 45 mens and 9 ladies teams will compete in the leagues this year, with this increased interest mirrored throughout the game - in youth, colts and girls rugby. The futures looking bright for local rugby, check it out at www.hkrugby.com