Disabled want other runs to include category

PARALYMPIAN Mat Sani Kasbun has urged local road race organisers to include a category for the disabled as well as the wheelchair-bound.
The 43-year-old Mat Sani, who won the men’s wheelchair category in the Seremban Half Marathon (SHM), said disabled athletes were often not given the opportunity to be involved in “We have won medals in international competitions. Malaysia is a developing nation but the needs of the disabled are forgotten. In the sporting arena, there are few events for the disabled community.
“As a Negri-born athlete, I am proud the SHM had included the disabled community from its inception in 1987. Why don’t other runs like the Ipoh Half Marathon and the Penang Bridge Run follow suit?,” he asked.
Mat Sani, a father of two, had not missed the SHM but hoped the wheelchair event would be extended to 10km distance or 21km.
“Although we are grateful to the organisers for including us, we could do with a more challenging race.
“In the past, I have participated in marathons in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. In fact, I have often managed to come within the top 10,” he said.
Husband-and-wife team Anthony Martin and Chow Mei Hsia, both disabled athletes, who had represented the country, shared Mat Sani sentiments.
“We look forward to participating in these events but sadly we don’t have as many options as our able-bodied friends,” said Chow, who won the first place in the women’s wheelchair category.
Martin finished behind Mat Sani. The SHM is one of the few runs in the country with categories for the disabled, mentally-challenged, wheelchair-bound and the partially blind, deaf and dumb.the mainstream sporting events.

Seremban Half Marathon: More scenic route for run

THE Seremban Half Marathon (SHM), which will be held for the 21st consecutive year tomorrow, will take runners through a more scenic route, said the run’s organising committee secretary, Loh Kim Heong.
He said the annual event — one of the biggest sporting events in the state — was held in conjunction with the birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Ja’afar and would have about 8,000 participants.
“This year’s edition is sure to be exciting, with the addition of the new route. This new route, through Forest Heights with its beautiful surroundings, will be refreshing for regular participants,” he said, adding that the event would begin at the MPS Hall in Seremban.
As in previous years, students will make up the bulk of participants in the 10km run.
“To encourage more students to take part in healthy activities like this, we are giving cash incentives to the school with the largest number of participants,” he said.
The run also has its fair share of foreign participants and this year, runners from Germany, Japan, India, Thailand and Singapore have already signed up.
Loh said most of the foreign participants, especially those employed in local companies, made it a point to sign up every year.
“We have many regulars this year — four from the Sunita Godara Fitness Trust in New Delhi.
“Sunita herself was the SHM women’s champion for three consecutive years from 1998,” he said.
The 21km run has three categories – (A) women’s open (19 years and above), (B) men’s senior (19 to below 40 years) and (C) men’s veteran (above 40 years).
The 11km run has eight categories – (D) women’s senior (19 to below 35 years), (E) women’s veteran (35 to below 45 years), (F) women’s senior veteran (45 years and above), (G) men’s senior (19 to below 40 years), (H) men’s veteran (40 to below 50 years) and (J) men’s senior veteran (50 years and above), (K) women’s junior (13 to under 19 years) and (L) men’s junior (13 to under 19 years).
The SHM also features special categories for the disabled, wheelchair-bound and a corporate fun run.
The run has a number of corporate sponsors, the latest being Carlsberg Marketing Sdn Bhd which recently contributed RM5,000 and 100 cartons of Nutri Malt for the runners.
Loh said surplus funds raised from the SHM would be channelled to various state sporting bodies to develop new talent in athletics.
“This is our way of giving back to the local community and it has been our tradition for some years now,” he said.
The run is organised by the Antah Group, the Seremban Municipal Council, Seremban Hash House Harriers and Negri Sembilan Amateur Athletic Association.
The Star is the official press sponsor for the event.
For more details and route map, visit www.serembanhalfmarathon.com or call Santha Chitty (03-2094 5099 ), Koong Lin Ngen (019-661 2605 ), or Loh Kim Heong (013-353 0322 ).

Seremban Half Marathon 2009

Date : 12 July 2009

Time : 6:45am

Distance : 21.1KM, 11KM

Venue : NS Padang, Seremban

Entry Form : Click Here

Website : Seremban Half Marathon 2009

Seremban Half Marathon 2009 Entry Form

Seremban Half Marathon expected to attract 9,000 participants

THE eagerly anticipated Se-remban Half Marathon (SHM) is back with more than RM11,000 up for grabs in prize money.
Scheduled to be flagged off by Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Jaafar on July 12 at the Negri Sembilan Padang in Seremban, this year’s run marks the 22nd instalment of the event that has built up a loyal following over the years.
Runners can take part in either the 21km run with three categories – (A) women’s open (19 years and above), (B) men’s senior (19 to below 40 years) and (C) men’s veteran (above 40 years).
The 11km run has six categories – (D) women’s senior (19 to below 35 years), (E) women’s veteran (35 to below 45 years), (F) women’s senior veteran (45 years and above), (G) men’s senior (19 to below 40 years), (H) men’s veteran (40 to below 50 years) and (J) men’s senior veteran (50 years and above), (K) women’s junior (13 to under 19 years) and (L) men’s junior (13 to under 19 years).
The SHM is also one of the few runs with a special category for handicapped and wheelchair-bound participants.
To add to the merriment, a corporate fun run and VIP run will also be held.
Following the success of the last run, the organising committee will once again reward the top 10 Malaysian finishers in the 21km run with double the prize money.
Organising chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said it was only fair to Malaysian runners as the event attracted a large number of foreigners, who often took the top spots.
“We did the same last year in a bid to encourage participation from local athletes.
“The fastest Malaysian to cross the finish line in categories A,B and C may come in fifth in his/her category but will be considered as the first Malaysian finisher and thus receive double the prize money offered to the winner,” he said.
Zainal said the top six schools with the largest contingents would be given cash prizes as an added incentive.
“We can expect at least 9,000 people to take part.
Schoolchildren make up the bulk of that figure and we feel they deserve a reward for their sporting spirit,” he said.
Entry fees are RM5 (for participants below 19) and RM10 per entry for others. There is no fee for the special run for the handicapped.
As with previous years, part of the run’s proceeds will be channeled into the Negri Sembilan Junior Athletes Development Fund.
“Every year a sum of money is given to different sports that need funds and we can only hope those who benefit from it will strive to become the best in their respective sport,” said Zainal.
The SHM 2009 is jointly organised by Syarikat Pesaka Antah, Seremban Municipal Council (MPS), Seremban Hash House Harriers and Negri Sembilan Amateur Athletic Association. The Star is the official press sponsor .
Those interested in taking part can contact Koong Lin Ngen ( 019-661 2605 ) or Datuk Loh Kim Heong ( 013-353 0322 ).
The public have until July 4 to submit entries while the deadline for schools is June 20.
Entry forms can be obtained from the secretariat at 11, Jalan Dato’ Lee Fong Yee, Seremban, and the MPS office or downloaded from www.serembanhalfmarathon.com.

More sponsors for Seremban run

SEREMBAN Half Marathon patron Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanky Ja’afar said this year’s run will probably the best ever.

“This is the best managed marathon we have had,” he said.

The success of the marathon will ensure that more funds will be donated to the Junior Athletes Development fund that promotes junior and disabled athletes in Negri Sembilan.

“Our main objective is to ensure that we have enough resources for the marathon itself while the second objective is to give all surplus proceeds to the fund,” Naquiyuddin said.

In the past 21 years, more than 12 state organisations and 15,000 sports people have benefited from the fund.

Naquiyuddin said the fund usually subsidised the athletes’ expenses like equipment, supplements and sometimes even transport for those travelling to other states.

To attract a larger crowd this year, more sponsors have come forward with cash contributions and gifts for participants.

ExxonMobil Subsidaries in Malaysia and Tint-Shop (M) Sdn Bhd will both be contributing to the event with the Tint-Shop also providing gifts for the lucky draw.

Exxonmobil has been supporting the Larian Istimewa categories since 1993 and their cash contribution will be used for the special needs runners’ vests as well as the rental of buses to transport the runners to and from the Negri Sembilan field in Seremban.

“It is a great way to give back to the society, especially to the needy and children,” ExxonMobil Subsidiaries in Malaysia chariman Liam Mallon said.

Royal Selangor International Sdn Bhd, the co-sponsor, will also be contributing to the run, including offering special discounts on the pewter medals for the run.

F&N Coca-Cola will be supplying free flow of 100 Plus Isotonic drinks on the day, plus cups and gifts for the lucky draw while Nestle Breakfast Cereals will provide breakfast cereals for the runners as well as donating boxes of cereals for the lucky draw prizes.

“This is a great platform for us to give back to our consumers,” F&N Coca-Cola (M) Sdn Bhd event and sponsorship manager Muhammad Fauzi Ahmad said.

Milo also chipped in with an extra RM3,000 that will be given to schools with the most number of participants who finish within the qualifying time.

The event that will be held on Aug 24 at 6.30am just before the month of Ramadan and will see about 9,000 participants this year.

The event is held as part of the birthday celebrations of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Jaa’far Tuanku Abdul Rahman who turned 86 on July 19.

For more details, contact Santha Chitty (03-2094 5099), Koong Lin Ngen (019-661 2605), Loh Kim Heong (013-353 0322) or visit www.serembanhalfmarathon.com.

SEREMBAN HALF

Seremban Half Photos

Seremban Half

Wake up at 3:45am by Ah Du again... as usual, light breakfast, shower then fetch my gang at 4:35am. We straight away moving to seremban. Since it is still early, i just follow have relax drive Seremban at 5:20am. By the time we reachedN.S Padang, it is still quite quiet and without many runners.
The race start at about the right time (cant confirm, coz watch already shift to sport timer), we just standing at the 2nd and 3rd line from the starting points. I starting the race with normal pace, coz want to reserve some energy after 11Km heard that it will starting with hilly run.
Quite upset at 2nd km, when saw someone selling the mineral water with Rm1 each... unfortunately this year they will be totally dissapointed coz the organiser got some improvements by providing 3 water stations and few sponging stations , plus few distance markers. TQ.
I meet up AP Tan when come to 3rd KM, whom i lost to him in IIR about 30sec.. This will be good opportunity for me to pace with him... at least can quite confident that my timing wont run too far from IIR if i am able to follow his pace.We even have short introduction at the 10KM..hehehe
We managed to continue until 11KM till the uphill....then, my nightmare happen, i start feel pain at my right side of abdomen and got a feeling toilet is waiting for me... my goodness... the feeling is become stronger and strongest and at the end before i reached 12km... the feeling turn into reality....sigh...
When i back to the race...i saw a lot of runners in front of me which all of them behind me for the first 11Km. This even make me more nervous and under extreme pressue...by the time i reached at 12sKm, it is already 1:08...i feel that it is time for me to calm down and plan for the other strategic, otherwise even 1:55, i dont think i can make it.
Saw ah cheng 100m away when i pass 13Km, decide to increase my speed to run side by side with him, he did a good job and i know that he is going to make sub 2 hrs if he can continue with the current pace... while ah Hoo still at the back which make me worry of his fighting spirit or could be still suffering with muscle strain. I managed to pass ah cheng and continue with my
pace and saw ccube just in front of me... first time i meet him..
After speeding race, it make me quite tired liao...but i just tell myself to carry on for the last 2KM, Meet Tey but really not much energy to say hi to him oredi... paiser paiser.
Turn to padang, i only managed to make it at 1:54:55 at the position of 39. while ah cheng at 1:56 position of 43, Hoo at 2:06.

Next Race : KL 10K

Seremban Half Marathon - Water Stations Every 3KM

source from THE STAR

FOUR more corporations have endorsed the Seremban Half Marathon (SHM) by sponsoring the annual event.
The four companies are Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd, Samsung Group Malaysia, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd and F&N Coca-Cola (M) Sdn Bhd.Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd contributed RM13,000 to the run that will be held on July 15 at the N.S. Padang in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
“Since we're running our business in Seremban, this is a good opportunity for our employees to join the run; it will give them a sense of belonging to the society,” said Samsung Electronics Display (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Cho Kwang Woo.
The company will be sending four teams to participate in the Corporate Fun Run category.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd will be sponsoring RM5,000, drinks worth RM2,000 and RM1,000 worth of exclusive products.
“We appreciate our long-term relationship with the Antah Group and the good cause of the marathon. We have some nice goodies to contribute as a token of appreciation to share with the runners, especially in the Corporate Fun Run category,” said Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd corporate communications manager Pearl Lai Ming Choo.
F&N Coca-Cola (M) Sdn Bhd will provide 100 Plus isotonic drinks to all runners and also at the water stations.
“We're delighted at the opportunity to work with SHM. We always try to support sporting events at all levels and this is also a chance for us to give back to our loyal customers,” said event and sponsorship manager Muhammad Fauzi Ahmad.
SHM organising chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the water stations and sponging stations would be administered in full force this year.
“We received some complaints on the water stations last year, so this year, things will be better. There will be stations every 3km,” he said.
He also said the top 10 national athletes in the men's and women's 21km category would be given prizes this year.
Tunku Naquiyuddin Tunku Ja'afar is the SHM patron.
The SHM is held in conjunction with the Yang-di Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan’s 85th birthday celebrations.
Proceeds from the SHM will go towards the promotion of the junior and disabled athletes in Negri Sembilan. Surplus funds will be placed in the Negeri Sembilan Junior Athletes' Development Fund.
The 21km run has three categories – women’s open (19 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years) and men’s veteran (above 40 years).
The 11km run has six categories – women’s senior (19 to below 35 years), women’s veteran (35 to below 45 years), women’s senior veteran (45 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years), men’s veteran (40 to below 50 years) and men’s senior veteran (50 years and above).
There is a 9km run for boys and girls (13 to below 19 years).
This year, there is also a 3km family fun run (comprising two adults and two children below 13 years).
The SHM is organised by the Antah Group, Seremban Municipal Council, Seremban Hash House Harriers and Negri Sembilan Amateur Athletic Association.
The Star is the official media and Suria FM, the official radio station.

Seremban Half 2007

Date : 15th July 2007
Time : 6:45pm
Venue : Padang NS
Distance : 21.1KM, 11Km

For those who are interested, the registration, collection of bib and T-shirt can be done on the spot at Section 14, PJ starting from next Wednesday, 11th July 2007.

Last year, they gave Selangor Pewter finishing medal's. Hopefully it will be the same for this year.

The address and contact detail as follow:

No.3 Jalan 19/1,
46300 Petaling Jaya

Tel : 03-79567045 (Miss Jenny)

20th Seremban Half Marathon 2007

Date : 15th July 2007 (Sunday)

Time : 6.45am


Venue : N.S.Padang, Seremban


Distance : 21.1KM, 11KM, 9KM & 3KM


Closing Date : 7th July 2007

Seremban Half - 15/7/2007

Source from : THE STAR

OVER the years, disabled participants have held a soft spot in the hearts of the Seremban Half Marathon (SHM) organisers.
The organisers of the upcoming 20th edition of the run will be making a strong attempt to attract those with special needs to be part of the occasion at the Padang N.S. Jalan Yam Tuan in Seremban on July 15.
And ExxonMobil has stepped forward again to support the cause with a RM18,000 pledge dedicated to the run’s disabled categories. The organisation has been a major sponsor of the event for the past 13 years.
“Our commitment as a sponsor in the run is a key part of our corporate social responsibility,” Mallon said, adding that two teams of 10 members each will represent the company in the corporate fun run category.
The four categories for the disabled are partially blind, deaf and dumb, mentally handicapped (13 years and below), wheel chair and non-wheel chair.
In the past, the disabled categories drew between 300 and 400 participants.
Naquiyuddin also received the sponsorship from Tint-Shop managing director S.K. Wong at the same ceremony.
Also present were SHM permanent chairman Tan Sri Chan Choong Tak, SHM secretary Loh Kim Heong and SHM sponsorship and promotions chairman Santha Chitty Bowman.
The three categories for the 21km run are women’s open (19 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years) and men’s veteran (above 40 years).
The 11km run has six categories – women’s senior (19 to below 35 years), women’s veteran (35 to below 45 years), women’s senior veteran (45 years and above), men’s senior (19 to below 40 years), men’s veteran (40 to below 50 years) and men’s senior veteran (50 years and above).
Secondary school students can participate in the boys’ and girls’ junior categories (13 to below 19 years) covering a distance of 9km.
“We are expecting 9,000 participants to take part this year, a record turnout,” said Naquiyuddin.
Besides injecting a carnival atmosphere for the event held in conjunction with Yang-di Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan’s 85th birthday on July 19, the family run comprising two adults and two children (below 13 years) is incorporated this season.
The organisers of the run are Antah Group, Majlis Perbandaran Seremban, Seremban Hash House Harriers and Negri Sembilan Amateur Athletic Association.
Other partners include The Star as official media and Suria FM as the official radio station.