100 participants take up inaugural climbathon

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Participants take off as the Bung Sadung Climbathon Challenge begins.

KUCHING: The inaugural Bung Sadung Climbathon Challenge saw around 100 outdoor enthusiasts from various age groups trekking through one of the heritage nature trails on Mount Sadung yesterday.

The event, which took place at Kampung Bunga in the Serian Division about 50km from here, was flagged off by councillor Barnabas Kulor Kaoz D’junior from Serian District Council.

Also present were organising chairman Josiah Jiman, project director Dizon Gembang and Kampung Bunga headman Ranger Surag.

The event featured various categories namely the 10km Men’s Open (summit), 10km Women’s Open (summit), 6km Male Veteran for 45years old and above, 6km Female Veteran for 45 years and above and a 3km Fun hike.

Coming in first in the Men’s Open was Mohd Feldarus Abdul Rahman who clocked 1 hr 15 min 54 secs followed by Muhammad Asdi Weding and Zulkarnain Saring.

The first three in the Women’s Open were Chai Shiaw Fung (1 hr 55:54), Mandy Chai Nyuk Thou and Liew Lee Phing.

For the Male Veteran category, first placing went to Tan Wee Ming (1:28:16) and Tan Siew Eng (2:13:00) won the male and female veteran categories respectively.

28-year-old Mohd Feldarus found that the Bung Sadung’s trail tough.

“It is quite challenging as the trail ascends all the way unlike the other trails I have been on where at some point of the trek it is levelled and that’s where you can take it easy a little. This was just uphill all the way. But it is a good challenge as it enables you to test your level of endurance,” he said.

Hailing from Terengganu, Mohd Feldarus said he started in endurance sports since 2015 to keep fit by leading an active lifestyle.

The climbathon was organised by Kampung Bunga’s development and security committee and its Youth, Sports and Recreation Bureau with support from Serian District Council, Serian Resident Office, Serian District Office, and Sport & Recreation Club of Tarat constituency.

Sarawak Energy and Hornbill Skyways served as sponsors to the event.

Mount Sadung is considered an inherited home reserve for the local Bukar Bidayuhs from the 26 villages surrounding the mountain. The mountain holds a heritage settlement site believed to be the ancestral ground for the Bukar Bidayuhs dating back to Rajah Brooke era.