About 1,500 people took part in the 12-kilometre race at Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung. And for the first time there was a new race category for former and retired police officers.

The day dawned cold and wet, but by the time ACP (Service Quality) Harry Blud, Chairman of the Police Sports Council, started the race, the weather had ameliorated into fine and dry running conditions.

Chief Inspector Andy Naylor was first in 41 minutes 42 seconds, after fighting off a strong challenge from Acting Sergeant Wong Wing-kuen of PTU HQ. The latter still holds the course record of 41 minutes five seconds.

The ladies were there in greater numbers than ever before and it was Woman Senior Inspector Tsang Chiu-tong of CIB who was the first across the finishing line, in the Ladies Open category, in a time of 55 minutes.

But the star of the ladies' race was Clerical Assistant Flora Li Yin-ping of PTS whose winning time of 53 minutes not only out-classed the Ladies' Open champion but gave her the Ladies' Senior category trophy and a new record as well. Flora Li still holds the Women's Open record of 52 minutes 11 seconds since 1999.

In the competition for seniors, Sergeant Chan Kei-tat finished 12th overall and first in the Seniors category. In the Veteran I (40 - 45 years) Senior Police Constable Ko Fuk-ming of CDIST did even better by finishing seventh overall and first in his age group.

Sergeant Tang Kwok-ming of MWDIV won the Veteran II (45 - 50 years) category, coming in fifth overall and first in his age group in a new record time of 44 minutes 13 seconds.

And in the old man's category (50 years plus) SSP P&D Stuart McDouall pulled off a fairly strong race in 49 minutes 49 seconds, coming in 46th overall and winning the Veteran III trophy. But the oldest senior officer on the course was David Tallon at the age of 55 years. He just pipped ACP Harry Blud at the post to win the coveted S.O.'s Mess Cup, presented by ACP IS Peter Halliday who won it in the previous year.

For the new race category, it was Ng Wai-kwan (former PC) who won in a time of 47 minutes 26 seconds, just beating Malcolm Phillips (former SP) to the line. Mr Malcolm, a former Chairman of the Police Athletics Club, presented the Malcolm Phillips Shield to Mr Ng.

The team event was mostly hotly contested this year. Coming out victorious in the end, for the 'Other' or 'Minor' units competition, was the KCDIST team with 174 points. Right behind them were EU KW, NTN HQ and MTRDIST.

The Training/Specialist Units team trophy as usual was won by PTU.

The Guest of Honour, DCP Operations Lau Yuk-kuen presented the major trophies.