Mt Kinabalu Climbathlon cancelled

KOTA KINABALU: The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon has been cancelled because of extensive damage to the race course – the trail up the summit – after the June 5 earthquake. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun announced this through his Twitter account yesterday. “Realistically climbing activities may only resume in early September,” he said. The 29th edition of the climbathon this year was scheduled on October 17 and 18. The extreme up and down the mountain race was first held by the Sabah Parks to select the fittest park rangers to be selected for the Mount Kinabalu National Park search and rescue team in the mid 1980s. It eventually became an open race and attracted the best local runners who were mountain guides, porters and farmers from around the foothills of the mountain. The race was also a major international event because of its USD55,000 cash prize for top winners. Over the years it has wooed top runners from Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Nepalese Gurkhas among others.

Source: New Straits Times