Hong Kong Beach Festival @ Repulse Bay – 28-29 October

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The Hong Kong Beach Festival returned to a beautifully sunny Repulse Bay on the 28-29 October with an expanded range of sports including Beach Water Polo, Beach Dodgeball, Repulse Bay Triple, Beach Volleyball, SUP Polo and a mermaid.
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Harbour Race 2017: A Return to the Historical Route

The Harbour Race returned to it’s historical roots this year as 2,940 swimmers competed on the 1000m course from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wanchai.

Poon Ching Leung Sunny and Wong Ching Lam Athena triumphed in the International Category while  local swimmers Sin Chin Ting Keith and Lam Pac Tung Nikita were the male and female champions in the Open (A) Aged 17-34 Individual Category, with times of 11:00.0 and 11:45.6 respectively.

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South Africa Win Hong Kong Sixes

The Hong Kong Sixes came down to the last ball of the final, with South Africa edging Pakistan in a thrilling final at Kowloon Cricket Club.

Captain Aubrey Swanepoel won it for his team by hitting the very last ball for a four in the closest and most competitive game over the tournament weekend.  The South African squad made the final after defeating New Zealand Kiwis by 18 runs.

This win is South Africa’s fifth victory in 18 editions of the tournament, having held aloft the trophy in 1995, 2006, 2009, 2012, the last time Hong Kong World Sixes was held. It joins England and Pakistan as a five-time winner of this popular event.

Ecstatic with the team’s performance this week, 28-year-old Swanepoel said: “As a cricketer growing up, this is what you dream of, in a tournament like this, to hit the winning run. I have the best team possible here with me, and if it wasn’t for my team, I wouldn’t have been in that situation.”

“Cricket in Hong Kong is growing, it has a bright future. People in Hong Kong want to see all the best teams come to play in this tournament. This event is only get better, and hopefully more teams will get involved. We have a young team, and we are looking forward to hopefully come back next year.” added Swanepoel.

Hong Kong, led by Babar Hayat, gave home fans plenty of cheer about after an inspiring run to win the Plate competition. Following Saturday’s round robin effort of one win and two losses, which put the team into the plate tournament, the local squad came through against the Marylebone Cricket Club with a five-run victory in the final. Nizakat Khan also took out the Ben Hollioake award for the player of the tournament.

Hayat, who narrowly missed out on winning player of the tournament in the 2012 event, commented: “Yesterday didn’t quite go according to plan but in the third game yesterday and today, we were outstanding with the ball and the bat, which was pleasing, and that was why we were able to win the Plate. We hadn’t play sixes for a very long time so it was always going to be tough but once you get going, you can always get some momentum going, which helped. It is a pleasing thing to play in front of a home crowd, with people cheering for you, supporting you. I hope we can play the sixes every year.”

Cricket Hong Kong Director Jonathan Cummings commented: “The two days of the tournament have been amazing. We couldn’t have wished for it to go any better, the weather, the cricket, the fans, and to have the result of the last ball is what makes sixes cricket so exciting. Getting South Africa and Pakistan in the final was great as we knew we would have a humdinger of a final, and to see Hong Kong winning the Plate Championship is fantastic. The event will 100% be back next year. Getting the event back was the first step. The crowds have loved it, the teams have loved it, and the tournament will be back even bigger next time.

Kowloon Win First Game, 34-12 Against City Sparkle

Kowloon beat City Sparkle 34-12 to earn their first win of the season as Chloe Mak pulled the strings behind a strong Kowloon scrum to eclipse a fine individual performance and stunning try from City’s fullback Agnes Tse Wing Kin.

The first quarter saw the match ebb and flow as first City and then Kowloon had chances with the ball, but neither side was able to string together a sustained period of pressure with errors and penalties harming both sides play.

Kowloon are working hard and moving the ball towards the City 22 when center Wing Chi Amber Tsang knowing it’s Halloween does her best impression of the Hulk and smashes through the City forwards to set up an easy try for Chloe Ho Yee Mak who converts her own score, 7-0 to Kowloon after 15 minutes.

City look to respond and threaten the Kowloon line only for another dropped pass to stall their attack. Kowloon back on the attack inside the Sparkle 22, blow a massive 6 on 1 overlap, the ball is recycled and prop Yip Cho Wan makes no mistake scoring under the posts to make the conversion easy for Mak, 14-0 after 22 minutes.

Amazing what a couple of tries can do, Kowloon are playing with more confidence, their passes have more zip and the runs more purpose. Mak snuffs out a City attack and surges strongly from her own 22 out to the halfway line where a fine tackle from Rumeng Aislin Wu brings her down. City were guilty of a lot arm tackles throughout the match which failed to stop Kowloon, but they also executed some fine try saving tackles including one by Yuk Yan Ng which stifled another Kowloon scoring play.

Kowloon look to have ended the latest attack with a long clearing kick deep into the City 22, where Tse catches it cleanly and sets off on a mazy run, breaks a couple of tackles puts in a lovely step to clear the last remaining forward and sprints 8om through the despairing arms of several Kowloon backs to score a quite sparkling try under the posts. Only 14-5 as somehow from infront of the post City put the conversion under the the crossbar instead of over as Tse sucks in great lungfuls of fragrant Autumn air.

The Sparkle are visibly lifted by Tse’s score, but Kowloon’s scrum is working well and giving them a solid platform to attack from as Mak orchestrates their attack. As the half draws to a close Kowloon are penalised again and City look to take advantage, but can’t and the half ends with score 14-5 to Kowloon.

Early in the second half the Kowloon back line pick up a deep clearing kick and return the ball quickly only for Tse to make the first of several try saving tackles. The ball though is recycled well and loosehead Yip Cho Kwan powers over for her second try, 19-5.

Looking to be more direct in their running Kowloon are pushing City back and making small runs close to the breakdown. An overthrown Kowloon lineout gives City a good attacking chance and the backs work the ball wide only to drop the final pass with the try line beckoning.

With it’s scrum strong and City struggling for clean ball a lot the third quarter is played in City’s 22, with Kowloon have numerous chances and City’s defending getting more ragged. Infront of her posts City’s Cheung Tin Yee goes for ambitious intercept only to knock the ball forward and receive a yellow card.

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Mak looks to take quick advantage and shifts the ball wide to Tsang who powers over the line dragging two City defenders with her, who manage to keep her from grounding the ball for a try. From the resulting 5m scrum Mak is alert to the extra space from the woman advantage and scores her second try of the game 24-5.

Another last ditch try saving tackle from Tse, after a strong run from Tsang sets up a City counter as the Sparkle spend sometime in the Kowloon 22 before losing the ball in a tackle. Kowloon surge forward the backs creating a good overlap, but with clear space infront of her and a try beckoning Wynne takes her eye off the ball… and drops it. The screams of frustration from the watching Kowloon sideline were louder than the most passionate of Big Bang fans.

City look to break back but Yee To Cheng intercepts and the flanker runs 40m to score a simple but energy sapping try, 29-5 after 68 minutes.

A Kowloon attack peters out as a pass goes astray, Tse though sees the gap and gleeful scoops up the ball 40m out to score untouched under the posts. She converts her own try 29-12.

The final minutes are played in almost pitch dark as the HKRU hadn’t asked for the lights to be turned on, City look to add another score in a game where they had chances but didn’t protect the ball well. But it’s Kowloon who rightly have the final word as lock Tsang Yan scores with two minutes remaining to cap off their first win of the season with a flourish – final score 34-5.

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Kowloon
Yip Cho Kwan, Yuk Wun Yip, Hiu Tung Chan, Tsang Yan, Maggie Au Yeung, Winnie Cheung, Yee To Cheng, Jackie Leung, Ho Yee Chloe Mak, Ching Hei Victoria Wong, Tsz Ki Chiu, Chun
Yan Ho, Wing Chi Amber Tsang, Chu Wing Yee, Wai Man Fung
Reserve: Lok Yee Cham, Sin Ying Chan, For Wing Florence Lee, Lok Sze Leung, Wai Ling Chan
Tries: Yip Cho Kwan (2), Ho Yee Chloe Mak (2), Yee To Cheng, Tsang Yan
Conversions: Wing Chi Amber Tsang (2)

City Sparkle
符詩宇 Fu Sze Yu, 張天兒 Cheung Tin Yee, 林珮恩 Lam Pui Yan, 林秀茵 Lam Sau Yan, 吳筱菁 Wu Hsiao Ching, 謝嘉汶 Tse Kar Man Hilary, 丘佩燕 Yau Pui Yin, 吳雋怡 Ng Chun Yi Annie, 馮子穎 Fung Tsz Wing, 劉芷瑩 LAU Tsz Ying, 黃嘉程 Wong Ka Ching, 吳育欣 Ng Yuk Yan, 吳汝夢 Wu Rumeng, 張凱瑩 Cheung Hoi Ying, 謝詠翹 Tse Wing Kiu, 徐樂怡 Tsui Lok Yi,
Reserve: 王麗麗 Wong Lai Lai, 王莉華 Wong Lee Wa, 黃愉廷 Wong Yu Ting, 李綺芯 Lee Yee Sum, 鄭文琼 Cheng Man King, 彭曉藍 Pang Hiu Lam Mila
Tries: Agnes Tse Wing Kin (2)
Conversions: Agnes Tse Wing Kin

九龍欖球會(九龍)在星期六打敗了康維他城市星光隊(城市欖球會),成為今季第一場勝戰。Chole Mak對此出力不少。

在第一節中,九龍和城市欖球隊旗鼓相當,彼此拉鋸。後來中場Wing Chi Amber Tsang加強 壓力,衝破了城市欖球隊陣形,令Chloe Ho Yee Mak輕易的為九龍得了第一個入球,7比0。

比賽22分鐘,城市欖球隊努力反攻,可惜持球不穩,令九龍有機可乘,產生了一個六對一的場面。由前鋒Yip Cho Wan達陣,14比0。

入了兩球波,九龍的信心大增,戰術也顯而易見。雖然城市欖球隊在球賽中多用手臂攔截,導致 犯規。但也有很多成功和漂亮的攔截,例如Mak帶球從22米底線跑至中場,被Rumeng Aislin漂亮的攔截到和Yuk Yan Ng防止入球的攔截。

城市欖球隊努力反攻,Tse把九龍的長距離踢球穩穩地接到,衝過多個防守,直奔八十米,做出一個漂亮的達陣,成為城市欖球隊的第一個入球,14比5。

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Tse堅守防線,有多個漂亮的攔截。可惜勇猛的九龍前鋒Yip Cho Kwan做了一個力量性的達陣,19比5。

城市欖球隊本有一個很好的入球機會,可惜在最後一個傳球失誤,球跌在地上,達陣機會也隨之消失。

在球賽的第三節,對陣多於城市欖球隊的22米線內。加上城市欖球隊的多個持球和傳球錯誤, 陣腳大亂。Cheung Tin Yee救球心切,又再犯規,結果得到今場的第一個黃牌,出場十分鐘。

九龍繼續進攻,打快戰。Mak一個遠傳球給Tsang, 再由Tsang沖過兩個防守球員,可惜給攔截到。但在五米爭球區,Mak看準機會,帶波達陣,成為她今場的第二個入球,24比5。

城市欖球隊努力還擊,在九龍半場內爭持。最後由Yee To Cheng成功偷球,帶球直跑40米達陣,29比5。

終於九龍傳球失誤,Tse看見進攻的好機會,提波直奔40米達陣,簡單俐落, 29比12。

最後的數分鐘,球賽進行與漆黑中。城市欖球隊本再有入球機會,可惜不斷持球錯誤。相反九龍依然積極,Tsang Yan 在最後兩分鐘再入一球,總成績34比5。

Vestas 11th Hour Racing Win First Leg of Volvo Ocean Race

There were some tense moments on the final approach to Lisbon, but Vestas 11th Hour Racing is across the line for a fantastic Leg 1 win with MAPFRE and Dongfeng Race Team completing the podium in Portugal for the 1,650 nautical mile first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.

The win was a hard fought one for American skipper Charlie Enright and his team, and it wasn’t easy. The wind shut down on the final approach, and an early morning lead of 34-nautical miles over second-placed MAPFRE was soon whittled down to 10-miles.

The finish line was in sight, but the current in the river was pushing the boat back out to sea in some of the lulls. But the crew held their nerve, tacking first up and then down, zigzagging towards the line, into agonisingly light headwinds, and finally securing victory.

“We have a long way to go certainly, but this was a good way to start,” said skipper Charlie Enright. “SiFi (navigator Simon Fisher) did a great job. He didn’t really make any missteps… But every (results) sked is nerve-wracking, especially when you’re stuck in a river going backwards!”“But we pride ourselves on not getting too high or too low and I think we executed that on this leg… It’s about having confidence in ourselves and committing to the process and now we’re starting to see the results of that.”The winners weren’t the only team to have an excruciating finish experience. When MAPFRE was within 1.5 miles of the line, they too ran out of wind and had to watch Dongfeng Race Team rush into the river behind them. With only a small lead as a buffer, the tension for Spanish fans was rising fast.

But as Vestas did before them, the MAPFRE crew found a little zephyr of wind to finish 15-minutes ahead of the Chinese team.

“Very pleased with the result. It’s a solid start, exactly what we wanted. We’re very happy,” said Xabi Fernández, the skipper of MAPFRE immediately after finishing. “We have to say Vestas did very well early on and we didn’t see them again… But then we had a strong 12-hours after Gibraltar and we stepped it up there.”

The experience and desire of the MAPFRE crew was on full display in the 30+ knot winds they had pushing out of the Mediterranean on the second night. Fernández and his team put in more manoeuvres than the rest of fleet to stay in a narrow band of strong winds and emerged from the experience in the second place slot they would never relinquish.

Dongfeng Racing Team skipper Charles Caudrelier made an excellent recovery on Leg 1, needing to scratch and claw for every inch, after falling to the back of the fleet on the approach to Gibraltar. And fight they did, slowly reeling in the fleet and finally recovering to pass team AkzoNobel with only 220 miles to go, to complete the podium.

“The first 24 hours were bad,” Caudrelier said. “After that we sailed very well with good speed and good decisions and finally we managed to pass akzoNobel to finish in third so it was a good effort by the team.”

The drama didn’t end with the podium places decided. Just over an hour later, team AzkoNobel were forced to fend off a late charge from Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, who attempted to make the pass by sailing slightly closer to the coast. It nearly worked too. But in the end, Simeon Tienpont and his team grabbed fourth, with SHK/Scallywag settling for fifth.

“I’m unbelievably proud of the guys and girls on board,” Tienpont said. “I couldn’t say it enough during the leg to them… We went out with a full ‘streetfight’ mentality and my compliments to all the sailors. The team morale was high and we sailed our socks off!”

“I’ve never finished like that before,” Scallywag skipper David Witt said “We tried to get akzoNobel by coming down the shore. It was pretty close… then we got stuck on the bottom… we had to swim an anchor out to get us off the rocks so we could drift across the finish line!

“(But) we’re really happy. We were right in there for most of it… We’re on the up. We’re getting better. Look out in a couple of legs time.”

The race for the final two positions was as intense as any that came before. Although it was a battle for sixth and seventh place, both Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic pushed as hard as possible to earn the extra point.

As with the boats in front, it was a slow-motion dance to the finish line, with Brunel gliding across in the dark, guided by America’s Cup star Peter Burling, to secure sixth place

“We’re a bit frustrated,” skipper Bouwe Bekking said. “We weren’t very fast. We never reached out target speeds… but we’ve been fighting hard and it was actually an enjoyable leg… The boys and the girls sailed the boat nicely right to the end.”

That left seventh place for Dee Caffari’s Turn the Tide on Plastic.

“I’m gutted, we came last,” Caffari laughed at the dock after the finish. “We just had the greatest two-boat testing with Team Brunel for 200 miles, so it was fantastic.”

Volvo Ocean Race Leg 1 – Results – Saturday 28 October (Day 7)
1. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 14:08.45 UTC
2. MAPFRE – 16:42.30 UTC
3. Dongfeng Race Team – 16:57:48 UTC
4. team AkzoNobel -18:11:56 UTC
5. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag – 18:57:44 UTC
6. Team Brunel – 20:29:00 UTC
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 20:36:52 UTC

Additional reporting and images: Volvo Ocean Race

Kowloon v City Sparkle @ Tai Hang Tung – 28 October, 2017

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Kowloon took on City Sparkle at Tai Hang Tung as both teams looked for their first win of the season. Chic new lineswomen fashion and Kowloon’s new motivation technique were mere sideshows to the main event.
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Elaine Chow: 14 March, 1986 – 27 October, 2005

In loving memory of Elaine Chow our friend and colleague who in the early hours of the 27 October 2005 committed suicide by stepping off a building. Gone, but never ever forgotten!

Elaine was a wonderful, vibrant young woman, who brought joy to everyone she met. Her smile could and would brighten both the sunniest and dreariest of days.

When I asked if she’d like to turn her internship into a job she replied, amidst a beaming smile and joyful disbelief “You mean, you want to pay me to eat…” The memory of her beaming smiling face of disbelief as replied still brings a big smile to my face and a warm glow to my heart.

As I write this with tears running down my cheeks, my heart breaks as my mind replays the screams erupting from my phone, looking up and seeing Elaine falling – so fast, yet in slow motion – to her death. My brain cannot process the truth of what it sees and my legs will never be moving fast enough to reach her… The pain of those images never seems to fade, but nor thankfully do the memories of her smile and the joy she infused to all around her. RIP Elaine you are deeply missed.

********

Tragically almost 3 people a day, on average, commit suicide in Hong Kong. It’s the unseen killer across all ages,

Earlier this year many people rightly heaped praise on constable Ifzal Zaffar who talked someone down from a crane. But few wondered what happen to the person he saved. Did they receive the help they needed to resolve the problems that put them on the crane?

If you know someone who’s talking (even jokingly) about suicide talk to them. If you’re thinking of suicide, talk to someone first.
Samaritans Hong Kong: 2896-0000 www.samaritans.org.hk

Wine & Dine Festival @ Central Harbourfront – 26 October, 2017

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The annual Wine & Dine Festival returns to the Central Harbourfront this weekend fatter for all the fine wine and food indulged in, as the venue’s waistline expands to encompass half of Tamar Park.
Click on any photo for the full gallery of images. Click here for some ideas of dishes to keep an eye out for.

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