Oknha Khleang Moeung 10k in Pursat 3 November
2007
Pre race info
The Department of Education,
Youth and Sport (DoEYS) in Pursat is organising its first ever 5km and 10 km
road-races, to promote sport in the province and to raise money for sport
equipment for schools. The race is named after Oknha Khleang Moeung, a
legendary 15th century army commander and Pursat’s most famous
(and only?) historical figure. ‘OKM’ succeeded in defeating the troops of an
invading Siamese army using the bizarre tactic of recruiting a ‘ghost army’.
The victory is commemorated every year in a ceremony in Pursat, at the Okhna
Khleang Moeung memorial (a few kilometres south-east of Pursat,
unfortunately not on the race route). A smaller OKM statue is in the
riverside gardens near the main bridge (Spean Thmor) on the national road.The
races will follow the riverside road along the banks of the Steung Pursat (Pursat
River). It’s a quiet, picturesque, winding road through the district of
Kandieng. In Pursat Town, the race will do a lap of the town before ending
up in the stadium
Transport will be provided for runners from Pursat Town to the start of the
race. Meet at 6.30 am at the stadium where vehicles will take runners to
the starting line in Kandieng district. The 5km race will start at 7.30 am
and the 10 km race at 8.30 am. There will be drinking stations along the
route. After the race there will be a prize-giving ceremony which will end
at around 11.00 am. All registered runners will receive a T-shirt. There
will be prizes (money and special T-shirts) for the top 8 males and the top
8 females, for both the 5km and the 10 km race. Entry to either race costs
$1 for Khmers and $10 for expatriates. You can register on the day, but to
make administration easier, please register in advance if possible.
Big thanks to the supporters of
this event: Pursat Dept. of Education, Youth and Sports; The Woolly Rhino,
Hagar Soya Ltd. and Handicap International Belgium.
The race itself
It was a fun event on a very
scenic course. Because the start was delayed, the sun came out and the
foreigners suffered. Too bad for the foreigners. The enthusiasm of kids and
teachers was great, and the number of girls that participated was very
encouraging. Not only that, there were also quite a few doing the 10k. Have
a look at the pictures below! Pursat's star athlete Sopheak won the 10k, his
younger sister the girls 5k. obviously a talented family.
Start of the 5k.
Warming up before the race: Roger, Organizer Steve Harknett, Ray (flipflop)
Warner, Luc (Bieze) van Wassenhoven and some school kids
The start of the 10k. Winner Sopheak in the middle
Still early in the race, moving to second place.
Results
1.
Men’s 10 km
Next
edition?
The Pursat 5 km
and 10 km races were a great example of a community event which gave a great
boost to young athletes in a rural province of Cambodia. Economical to
organise (around US$3,000), the event resulted in national publicity on TV
and national Khmer and English language newspapers. In 2008 the race is
going to be called the Steung Pursat race, because it will run
down one side of the
Pursat river, over a bridge, back along the other bank and over another
bridge. It will be a more picturesque route than last year,
and aims to involve
schools from neighboring provinces also, becoming a bigger and more
professional event.
More to follow
but in the mean time: make sure you reserve the date: 26 October 2008!!
