KUCHING: The second edition of the Bung Sadung Climbathon Challenge saw more than 150 participants trekking through Bukar Sadung’s heritage nature trail on Mount Sadung yesterday.
Outdoor enthusiasts from different age groups took part in the various categories namely 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.
The climbathon’s patron — Agriculture, Native Land, and Regional Development Assistant Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn — who is also assemblyman for Tarat officiated at the event and flagged off the climbathon. He had earlier on contributed a total of RM20,000 for the event.
Also present were Serian District Council secretary Constantine Gerald David Jonas, Councillor Barnabas Kulor Kaoz D’junior, representative from Serian Resident’s Office Mahyuddin Hafiz, organising chairman Josiah Jiman, programme coordinator Albert Mao,n and secretary Dizon Gembang.
In his speech, Sagah commended the initiative of the organising committee for holding the climbathon as it would help generate interest on Mount Sadung’s bio diversity
“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 eco-system in the area,” he added.
Sagah also officiated at the newly refurbished Kampung Bunga Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the nearby newly built multipurpose hall which he assisted in funding RM150,000 and RM170,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, the climbathon concluded with a 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.
The 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 placing 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, cash prize and a finisher’s medal.
The climbathon was organised by Kampung Bunga’s development and security committee and the village’s Youth, Sports and Recreation Bureau with support from Majilis Daerah Serian, Serian Resident Office, Serian District Office and Sport and Recreation Club of Tarat constituency.
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 era.
