Police Athletics Club Chairman Stuart McDouall reports on the Force's recent standoff with Mainland runners

The Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Bureau made a determined effort to beat the Police Athletics Club in a return-match cross country race around the Shing Mun Reservoir on May 12.

Police Sports Council Chairman Harry Blud gave the runners their starting orders at 9.30 am, with the two teams each comprising of seven men and four ladies. They shot off on the 8.4-kilometre route followed by about 30 PAC fun runners and a few of the local wild monkeys!

The results were very close with the PAC winning the men's team event by five points (50 to 55) and the PSB ladies winning by four points (16 to 20).

Individual winner and second place in the men's race went to the Police Tactical Unit's Chief Inspector Andy Naylor (31'54") and Sergeant Wong Wing-kuen (33'16") respectively. The PSB's Huang Chengye (34'43") and Zhou Jun (35'32") came third and fourth with a PAC runner following close behind in fifth.

PTU's Sean Ho Kit-ying took line honours in the ladies' event (42'36") with second and third going to the PSB's Lin Shaoxue (42'51") and Li Qiong (43'36"). Woman SGT Wong Yin-yee came fourth after hotly challenged by two PSB ladies in fifth and sixth.

Deputy Commissioner (Management) Dick Lee Ming-kwai and Mou Gaowang, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Bureau, presented the prizes.

The runners were part of 17 Zhejiang officers in Hong Kong on a four-day visit, staying at the Police Training School. Met at the airport by Assistant Commissioner (Information Systems) Peter Halliday, they were treated to a vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery.

After the run and a shower, the visitors enjoyed a Police Launch tour around the Western Anchorage, up to Tsing Ma Bridge and back through Victoria Harbour to Sai Wan Ho Marine Police Base. They toured the revamped North Point Police Station before heading to the Police Officers' Club for a banquet hosted by the PAC.

Director of Personnel and Training Robin Leung Fung-shun gave a welcoming speech as Guest of Honour, followed by the presentation of a silver plate from the PAC commemorating the PSB visit.

The runners assemble on the start line