KUCHING, Sept 15: The Bung Sadung Climbathon Challenge 2019 sees 150 participants and nature enthusiast trekking through Bukar Sadung’s heritage nature trail on Mount Sadung earlier today, unwavered by the haze.
Tarat assemblyman Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn who closed the event commended the initiative of the organising committee for holding the climbathon as this would help generate interest on the biodiversity potential on Mount Sadung.
“Through this climbathon, many would get to experience for themselves the flora and fauna on Mount Sadung and hopefully this will trigger research and studies on the ecosystem in the area,” he said.
The various categories competed were the 15km Men’s Open, 15km Women’s Open, 6km Men’s Veteran for 40 years old and above, 6km Women’s Veteran for 40 years and above, 6km Boy Junior for 13 to 17 years old, 6km Girl’s Junior for 13 to 17 years old and above and a 3km Fun hike.
Sagah had earlier contributed a total of RM20,000 for the event.
Meanwhile, the climbathon concluded with the prize-giving ceremony in which the Men’s Open was won by Mohd Asdi Weding followed by runner-up Mohd Azrin Shamsuddin and Aswari Mustafa in third.
Women’s Open was won by last year’s champion Chai Shiaw Fung. Following in second is Sofia Raidin and Umidie Bahari in third.
In the Men’s Veteran category, Rajeli Samar came in first, Tan Wee Ming in second and Hardy Suntol in third place whereas in the Women’s Veteran category, Tang Sii Eng finished first, Francesca Lim in second and Meria Rantis in third.
All winners received a trophy, a cash prize and a finisher’s medal each.
The climbathon was organised by Kampung Bunga’s development and security committee and the village’s Youth, Sports and Recreation Bureau with support from Majlis Daerah Serian, Serian Resident Office, Serian District Office and Sport and Recreation Club of Tarat constituency.
The climbathon aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle as well as to instill and inculcate a proactive attitude and stewardship towards the environment.
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 the Brooke’s era.
Meanwhile, Sagah also officiated the newly refurbished Kampung Bunga Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the newly built multipurpose hall which he assisted in funding by contributing RM150,000 and RM170,000 respectively. — DayakDaily
