This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
GRAMBEH Arip ran with a slight limp—a little ungainly, perhaps, and often barefoot. With a small build and a sort of offbeat running style, he wasn’t everybody’s idea of a track champion; but looks simply don’t tell the whole story.
Diminutive and unorthodox though he was, this grandfather of long-distance running had defied the odds to wear down bigger opponents with sheer guts and grit.
Hailing from Rumah Lunching, Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman, Grambeh served as a lance corporal in the Police Field Force (PFF). Although he represented the Force in shorter races and the 4x400m relay, it was in long-distance running that he truly excelled. In 1960 and 1961, he became Sarawak’s one-mile and three-mile champion. He claimed the 5,000m title in 1967 and 1968, and also earned medals in the long-distance events at the Borneo Games in the 1960s.
A dedicated and solitary athlete, Grambeh trained rigorously. He ran more than 10km daily, often by himself on the roads near his station at the 6th Mile Brigade headquarters. His training routes took him to Padang Sentral, the old Sarawak Turf Club racecourse, and the Jubilee Ground at Padungan. Even after his routine workouts, he would push himself further, circling the racecourse for additional laps to keep, in his own words, his “spare tank full.”
On the track, Grambeh’s strength was his ability to maintain a consistent pace, his endurance growing as the distance increased. He was a one-pacer, steadily overtaking his competitors lap after lap. The grandstand cheers of “C’mon Grambeh!” spurred him on, and he would respond with a victory bow after each race. His unwavering determination earned him the respect of his peers, including fellow PFF runner Francis Vaithilingam, who described him as humble, respectful, and fiercely competitive. Grambeh had a rare fighting spirit and often needed little water or rest between races, always ready for the next challenge.
Valentine, one of Grambeh’s eight children, spoke of his father’s passion for running. With no coach to guide him, Grambeh trained and competed on his own, dedicating himself to his sport. Valentine recalled how his father, a quiet and solitary man, was unbeatable in Sarawak.
Jemai Mesa, Grambeh’s daughter, shared memories of her father’s love for boxing and football, often taking her to watch boxing matches. After retiring from competitive sports in 1973, Grambeh injured his knee and did not encourage his children to take up sports as a career, knowing the sacrifices and hard training required in order to succeed.
Like many of his generation, Grambeh’s achievements have faded from public memory, but for those who knew him, he remains a long-distance legend. His modest nature and tenacity on the track endeared him to fans, and although he passed away in 1993, his never-say-die spirit will always be remembered by the older generation as the hallmark of a true champion. –DayakDaily
