Malaysian Centurions
Race the World
Malaysian Centurions
A very unique band of Malaysian Centurions as the race no longer exists!
The first 100 mile race was held in August 2001 and then on alternate years - 2003, 2005 and lastly in 2007. Sadly, no results to report.
Consequently as the "race" to achieve all the Centurion badges, only Sandra Brown now holds all seven!
Not much is recorded about any of the races...but known facts are:
The inaugural race saw 11 new members.
The Malaysian Centurion are just 40 members. The club grew quickly and was one of the real success stories in ultra walking during its short lifetime.
A unique event in its way -
- it had a great mass participation and was a much bigger event numerically than other centurion events around the world
- it had firm Government support and offered cash prizes and subsidises overseas participants
- it regularly attracted large numbers of entrants from around the world
- any judging infringement incurred a 1 lap penalty
- it had a great mass participation and was a much bigger event numerically than other centurion events around the world
- it had firm Government support and offered cash prizes and subsidises overseas participants
- it regularly attracted large numbers of entrants from around the world
- any judging infringement incurred a 1 lap penalty
Historically, Malaysian race walking judge Khoo Chong Beng announced that Malaysia would host an inaugural 24 Hour Endurance Walk, offering Malaysia Centurion status to anyone reaching the 100 mile mark.
The event was held in August 2001 with a large field of over 180 starters, including 30 international walkers. Through sponsorship, the organisers were able to fund the trip for selected overseas entrants with subsidised airfares and all Malaysian accomodation costs covered. To some, it seemed at the time, that selection criteria was rather dubious.
The race venue was the Genting Highlands Resort at 5000’ altitude about an hour’s drive outside Kuala Lumpur and was judged differently to most Centurions qualifying races, with any waker given a penalty was "docked" a lap.
11 walkers completed the 100 miles within 24 hours including British Centurions Sandra Brown, Jill Green and German walker Herbert Neubacher.
Khoo Chong Beng subsequently announced that this new event would be held every two years.
August 2003 - 12 centurion finishers making 23 Malaysian centurions from 15 countries. Interestingly, organiser Khoo Chong Beng had decided that each finisher would be awarded a Malaysian Centurion number even if it was a second finish. This is the only Centurion Club which operated in this fashion. The other clubs only award a centurion number on the occasion of the first finish.
2005: 12 finishers meant a further 12 centurion numbers were added to the list with the 12 representing CZE, ESP, BEL, FRA, RUS, GER, NED, AUS, MAS and BLR.
2007: staged in central Kuala Lumpur. The tough conditions ensured that only 5 walkers reached the 100 mile target. Of the 5 successful walkers, 3 were Malaysian, indicating the increasing standard of local ultra walking within that country.
But despite the conditions, 40 walkers over the years did mange to complete the 100 miles in 24 hours. Mostly those who completed the course were experienced ultra 24 hour race walkers with only four Malaysian walkers actually ever completing the course.
The Malaysian organisers never recorded 100 mile times for those who reached that mark - they only recorded the final 24 Hour distance.
List of Malaysian Centurions [pdf] (courtesy of Rudi Schoors)