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Thanyapura Launches Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic 2017

PHUKET, THAILAND – A new mountain bike race through Khao Phra Thaeo National Park highlighting ecological tourist destinations comes to the island on 3 September 2017, following the highly-popular King of the Mountain Trail Run on the same day. The Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic features a new route through Northern Phuket’s 23 sq km rainforest. Bikers can test their endurance in four distances: the 4-km fun race, the 9-km, the 18-km (two loops of 9-km laps) or the 27 km (three loops of 9-km laps).

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park has attained royal status, making it more protected than other Thai national parks. The wildlife and forest reserve is a conservation space for Phuket’s wild animals and vegetation. Bikers will pass through roads surrounded by towering evergreen trees and rugged terrains.

Thanyapura Launches Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic 2017

Thanyapura Launches Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic 2017

David Escolar Ballesteros, pro mountain biker and Thanyapura’s Swimming and Triathlon Coach, said, “The course is designed to include a little bit of everything – flat sections, uphill climbs, downhill descents, normal roads, and technical sections. I recommend beginners start with the 9-km while the intermediate and advanced cyclists can race either the 18-km or the 27-km. The course is challenging for everyone.”

The mountain bike competition begins at Gate 3, in front of Thanyapura at 11:00 am with the Fun Race, followed by the other distances. The first male and female overall winners will receive a THB 3,000 cash prize and trophies. The top three finishers in the 9-km, 18-km and 27-km categories are awarded trophies. The minimum age to participate is 10-14 years for the 4-km fun race, 15+ for the 9-km and 18+ for other distances.

The race is limited to 100 participants. The registration fee is as follows: THB 450 for the 4-km fun race, THB 450 THB for 9-km, THB 550 THB for 18-km and THB 650 for 27-km (with 100 THB discounts for registrations before 1 August 2017). Participants who sign up for both King of the Mountain Trail Run and the Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic receive a THB 100 discount. To sign up, please register at thanyapura.com/events, visit Club Services at Thanyapura by 27 August 2017 or on the race day (subject to availability).

Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic is sponsored by Live 89.5, Khao Phuket, The Phuket News, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Sports Authority of Thailand.

Thanyapura Launches Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic 2017

 

Phuketindex team by — July 12, 2017 in Features 0
Honeymooners won Marathon Male and Female crowns

International runners dominate Marathon; Thai runners dominate Half Marathon at 2017 Laguna Phuket Marathon Honeymooners Nakajima Hiroki and Inoue Tomomi won Marathon Male and Female crowns

PHUKET, Thailand – More than 4,000 runners lined-up this morning to run the Marathon and Half Marathon distances at the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon. With a record turnout of almost 7,000 runners over the two day event, the Marathon and Half Marathon have proved the most popular and with more than 1,600 in the Marathon distance alone, it’s the largest field of Marathon runners ever at the Laguna Phuket Marathon.

Flagged off at 04:00, Marathon runners enjoyed the beautiful course and quiet lanes in the North of Phuket, the rolling hills, Sirinat National Park and running along Bang Tao beachfront and finally running through the grounds of Laguna Phuket to finish at Laguna Grove.

In the lead group early on was Thai ultra-distance specialist Sanya Khanchai who, after a seventh place finish in the 10.5km yesterday stepped up to his favoured Marathon distance today, but it was Japanese runner Nakajima Hiroki who stole an early lead and at the 10.5km split was more than 12 minutes ahead of the second placer.

Nakajima went on to extend his lead further and finish in a time of 02:34:57.6, beating last year’s winning time by almost three minutes, and more than 30 minutes ahead of second place finisher David Escolar Ballesteros (ESP). Cheng-Ya Sha (TWN) finished third. After a slow start Spanish athlete Zigor Iturrieta finished hard in fourth, just 50 seconds off the podium.

In the female race the early leader was Sabine Egger-Weickhardt (AUS) but as the temperatures soared Japanese long-distance specialist Inoue Tomomi reigned her in and was the runaway winner in a time of 03:10:34.6. Ana Ferreira (PRT), a full 20 minutes back, finished second ahead of Martyna Jakobczyk (POL) who finished in a time of 03:38:19.6

In the Half Marathon, yesterday’s 5km winner Rattakarn Lamanee (and last year’s 10.5km winner) stepped up and was amongst the early leaders but it was fellow Thai runner Danchai Pumkong who lead to the half way point and went on to extend his lead and run out the win in a time of 01:19:37.6. Danchai also finished second in yesterday’s 10.5km and won the Marathon at Laguna Phuket Marathon in 2012.

Picking up his pace in the second half of the race, Rattakarn came through for second ahead of Thirapong Yongthio (who finished second behind Rattakarn in yesterday’s 5km), making it a Thai 1, 2, 3.

Elsewhere in the Half Marathon race, Paralympic marathon champion and world-record holder, Mr Eitan Hermon from Israel placed sixth in the highly competitive 40-49 age group, and finished 13 overall.

In the female field, Phuket-based triathlete Elle Brookes from Australia did the early running but Sukanya Srisawad (THA) and Patteera Ruengjai (THA) kept her in their sights. However, Sukanya fell off the pace later in the race and fellow Thai Benjamas Phujit came through to take third in a time of 01:45:53:2, just nine seconds ahead of British athlete Annie Pedroni.

Celebrating a sixth consecutive participant record, close to 7,000 runners took part in the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon which is sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, and is organised by leading sports management company Go Adventure Asia with professional timing and results by Sportstats Asia, ensuring the highest of international standards.

Nakajima Hiroki (JPN)

Top three overall results in all distances:
Marathon (Male)
Nakajima Hiroki (JPN), 02:34:57.6.
David Escolar Ballesteros (ESP), 03:05:16.6
Cheng-Ya Sha (TWN), 03:09:03.5

Inoue Tomomi (JPN)

Marathon (Female)
Inoue Tomomi (JPN), 03:10:34.6
Ana Ferreira (PRT), 03:31:06.0
Martyna Jakobczyk (POL), 03:38:19.6

Danchai Pumkong (THA)

Half Marathon (Male)
Danchai Pumkong (THA), 01:19:37.6
Rattakarn Lamanee (THA), 01:23:51.7
Thirapong Yongthio (THA), 01:24:24.4

Elle Brookes (AUS)

Half Marathon (Female)
Elle Brookes (AUS), 01:38:38.4
Patteera Ruengjai (THA), 01:45:04.2
Benjamas Phujit (THA), 01:45:53.2

Marcus Ong (SIN)

10.5km (Male)
Marcus Ong (SIN), 00:36:24.4
Danchai Pankong (THA), 00:37:59.0
Mark Honsa (PHI), 00:38:32.2

10.5km (Female)
Immogen Simmonds (GBR), 00:39:41.1
Ling Er Choo (SIN), 00:43:56.8
Claire Adorna (PHL), 00:47:52.1

5km (Male)
Rattakarn Lamanee (THA), 00:17:38.0
Thirapong Yongthio (THA), 00:18:44.3
Samuel Canavan (AUS), 00:19:28.7

Hayley Newman (AUS)

5km (Female)
Hayley Newman (AUS), 00:20:26.6
Thirajit Boonsaen (THA), 00:23:39.1
Justina Zeng (SIN), 00:23:47.9

For more information, visit www.phuketmarathon.com or www.facebook.com/phuketmarathon.

Phuketindex team by — June 5, 2017 in Features 0
Amari Phuket wins cup at The 8th Thalang Chana Suek Mini-Marathon

Amari Phuket wins cup at The 8th Thalang Chana Suek Mini-Marathon

From left to right: Thirawan Sichuen (Manager, Housekeeping at Amari Phuket)
and Piraphol Hayeechema (Director, Finance at Amari Phuket)

Phuket, 15 March 2017 – Two representatives of Amari Phuket’s management team, Thirawan Sichuen – Manager, Housekeeping (left), and Piraphol Hayeechema – Director, Finance (right), recently participated in the Eight Thalang Chana Suek Mini-marathon to race for the royal cup of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The marathon was organised at Thalang Victory Monument in Phuket. Amari Phuket won the trophy for the 10.5-kilometre mini-marathon for females aged 45 to 49 years old.

Phuketindex team by — March 15, 2017 in Features 0
King of the Mountain Trail Run made its second successful year

King of the Mountain Trail Run made its second successful year

PHUKET, THAILAND – Thanyapura’s King of the Mountain was successfully held on Sunday, September 4, 2016, chaired by Virat Patee, Director of Sports Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office; Anoma Vongyai, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office; and Sirawee Waloh, Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Phuket Office with a large number of 610 attendees. The trail run offered each runner with a choice of three distances; 4 kilometres fun run, 8 kilometres and 15 kilometres along the steep and slippery muddy slopes, and beautiful natural waterfalls of Khao Phra Theao national park.

Phuketindex team by — September 7, 2016 in Features 0
Japanese Runner Champs in 11th Laguna Phuket International Marathon

2016 Laguna Phuket International Marathon Champion, Koji Nishizawa from Japan
2016 Laguna Phuket International Marathon Champion, Koji Nishizawa from Japan

Koji Nishizawa from Japan won the 11th Laguna Phuket International Marathon (2016LPIM) as the annual running festival took to the island’s roads. Recognized as Thailand’s 2nd largest marathon event and annually supported by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), this year’s race is once again record-breaking, with over 6,000 participants from 54 countries competing on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising.

Phuketindex team by — June 6, 2016 in Features 0
Born Free to Run by Thanyapura Phuket

Born Free to Run by Thanyapura Phuket

Triathlon Head Coach Ricky Ekkarat Phanthip in conjunction with Thanyapura Phuket recently held a “Born Free to Run Champions’ Party” to acknowledge the hard work and dedication the runners have made  last year while training at Thanyapura and joining the competitions around Thailand. 

Phuketindex team by — May 18, 2016 in Features 0
“Fastest man in Phuket” back in action

bornfreetorunRicky Ekkarat Phanthip announced his return to form with a win at the Powerman Malaysia Asia Duathlon Championships last weekend. The “fastest man in Phuket” saw action for the first time after taking a year off after knee surgery, but his patience and discipline were rewarded with a first place in his age group.

Phuketindex team by — April 8, 2016 in Features 0